Invasive quagga mussels found in Lake Powell for first time

Posted on May 18, 2013 by Bob Berwyn
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Quagga mussels growing on a flip-flop. Photo courtesy NPS.

Biologists hopeful that the alien invaders haven’t started breeding yet

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Non-native quagga mussels have gummed up waterworks and fouled ecosystems across the country and now, for the first time, they’ve been confirmed in Lake Powell, the great southwestern reservoir that is a key part overall water storage in the Colorado River Basin.

The National Park Service recently identified 14 adult quagga mussels attached to moored vessels and dock structures at the Wahweap Marina in Lake Powell. None of the adult mussels were close enough together to mate for successful reproduction. All of the mussels were physically removed from the lake. (more…)

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New group aims to protect national parks from drilling

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Bob Berwyn

Retired park rangers call on the BLM to fully adopt national leasing reforms

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Mesa Verde National Park could be at risk from oil and gas drilling. NPS photo.

By Bob Berwyn

FRISCO — As oil and gas drilling rigs creep closer and closer to the borders of popular national parks around the country, a passel of retired park rangers has formed a new organization to try and protect cherished resources, including view sheds, air quality and wildlife habitat.

The idea is not to stop drilling. The ex-rangers acknowledge that energy development is needed. Rather, the group wants to hold other federal agencies — primarily the BLM — accountable to national guidance that requires smart, up-front planning when it comes to drilling around parks.

“We’re really concerned about the impacts if the drilling isn’t properly planned,” said Ellis Richard, a National Park Service veteran who ended his career as acting superintendent of Dinosaur National Monument, one of the park units potentially threatened by drilling. (more…)

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North Carolina dune buggy advocates try a congressional end run to restore motorized access at Cape Hatteras

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Bob Berwyn
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This image from the NASA Earth Observatory program shows where Hurricane Isabel carved a new channel across Hatteras Island in Sept. 2003.

Measure may get OK from anti-environmental House committee, but is unlikely to pass the Senate

By Summit Voice

FRISCO — Fans of motorized beach access in North Carolina are hoping that Congress will overturn a public National Park Service planning process with a bill that would re-open parts of Cape Hatteras National Seashore to dune buggies and other vehicles.

The House Natural Resources Committe, led by anti-environmental Republican extremists, this week will vote on HR 819, a measure that would roll back some restrictions on motorized access at the popular North Carolina beach.

As written, the bill would void a court-approved agreement that protects nesting and baby sea turtles and birds, as well as pedestrians at the seashore. (more…)

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Travel: Popular Grand Canyon trailhead gets a makeover

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Bob Berwyn

National Park Service touts expanded parking, better visitor service

The Bright Angel trailhead at the Grand Canyon has had a big makeover, with more parking and an expanded view area

The Bright Angel trailhead at the Grand Canyon has had a big makeover, with more parking and an expanded seating area.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — One of the most storied trails in the country has seen a partial makeover, and the National Park Service will celebrate the new look of Grand Canyon National Park’s Bright Angel Trail with a May 18 ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The renovation encompasses a 3.5 acre area at and surrounding the Bright Angel Trailhead. The work focused on creating an accessible and comfortable area for visitors that complements existing historic buildings including the Bright Angel Lodge and Rim Cabins designed by Grand Canyon architect Mary E. J. Colter.

With little work on the trailhead in the past 100 years, the National Park Service said visitors were having a hard time finding the trailhead, and there was no convenient or comfortable place for people to sit to either enjoy the view or prepare for hikes.  The renovation will greatly improve conditions at and around the trailhead, providing a much better experience for park visitors. (more…)

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Energy: Does fracking threaten national parks?

Posted on April 29, 2013 by Bob Berwyn

Conservation report outlines steps to mitigate potential impacts

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Oil and gas drilling near national parks could affect air and water quality in pristine, protected areas. Photo courtesy National Park Service.

By Summit Voice

FRISCO — After years of watching federal agencies haphazardly issuing leases for oil and gas drilling on public lands near national parks, conservation advocates say it’s time for a more systematic approach.

With the Bureau of Land Management currently updating national guidelines, the National Parks Conservation Association has outlined potential threats to parks in a new report.

“Our national parks are America’s most treasured places, and we need to treat them carefully as we develop the nation’s natural gas and oil,” said NPCA Vice President for the Center for Park Research Jim Nations. “Our research revealed that some national parks are already in peril. Unless we take quick action, air, water, and wildlife will experience permanent harm in other national parks as well.” (more…)

Filed under: air quality, energy, Environment, fracking, gas drilling, oil drilling | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments »

Travel: National Parks visitation surges in 2012

Posted on April 22, 2013 by Bob Berwyn

Rocky Mountain National Park is fifth-most visited

Great Sand Dunes National Park may not be one of the most-visited, but it's definitely one of the most intriguing. Bob Berwyn photo.

Great Sand Dunes National Park may not be one of the most-visited, but it’s definitely one of the most intriguing. Bob Berwyn photo.

By Summit Voice

FRISCO — Even though Hurricane Sandy forced the closure of some popular national parks in the Northeast late in the year, overall visitation to national parks surged to 282 million in 2012. National Park Service officials said it was the sixth-highest total ever, even though the agency estimated 2 million fewer visitors as a result of park closures caused by Hurricane Sandy. (more…)

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Environment: Longleaf pine grove, bunchgrass prairie designated as national natural landmarks

Posted on April 17, 2013 by Bob Berwyn
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The Zumwalt Prairie in Oregon. Photo via Wikimedia under a GNU Free Documentation License.

Rare ecosystems added to landmark register

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Designation of two new national natural landmarks will preserve examples of two ecosystems that have nearly vanished in the U.S. The new national natural landmarks are the Wade Tract Preserve in Thomas County, Georgia, and Zumwalt Prairie in Wallowa County, Oregon.

The Wade Tract Preserve is one of the last old-growth stands of longleaf pine left in the world.  Scientists believe the site illustrates what portions of this region of the U.S. looked like at the time of European settlement. Trees within the privately-owned landmark range from saplings to trees well in excess of 300 years old.

The Zumwalt Prairie  is the best example of bunchgrass prairie remaining in North America.  This large, high-quality natural area also contains aspen groves, riparian woodlands, sagebrush shrublands, and bottomland wet grasslands.  The size and diversity of the site allow it to support large populations of raptors and mammals.  The new landmark is owned by The Nature Conservancy and is located within a 100,000-acre preserve. (more…)

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Public lands: 2014 budget eyes slight boost for national parks

Posted on April 15, 2013 by Bob Berwyn

Overall park service budget has dropped 20 percent in past decade

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Badlands National Park. Bob Berwyn photo.

By Summit Voice

FRISCO — As national parks across the country struggling with sequester-driven budget cuts, there’s a glimmer of hope on the horizon. President Barack Obama’s proposed 2014 budget requests $2.6 billion for the agency, with a net programmatic increase of about $26.1 million over 2012, plus $30.5 million to cover fixed cost increases.

The budget includes a total of $2.5 billion for National Park Service programs that support the President’s America’s Great Outdoors initiative, including $2.3 billion for national park operations; a total increase of $48.4 million over 2012.

Key increases include $5.2 million to control exotic and invasive species such as quagga and zebra mussels, $2.0 million to enhance sustainable and accessible infrastructure across the national park system, and $1.0 million to foster the engagement of youth in the great outdoors. These increases are partially offset by programmatic decreases to park operations and related programs totaling $20.6 million. (more…)

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Icelandic, U.S. park rangers team up for training

Posted on March 24, 2013 by Bob Berwyn
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Iceland’s Vatnajökull is the largest national park in Europe. Photo courtesy Andreas Tille.

Program builds on long tradition of international parks cooperation

By Summit Voice

Icelandic park rangers and park partners visiting U.S. national parks this month learned a great deal to apply at home and discovered more than a few similarities with their American counterparts.

Hjorleifur Finnsson, a park manager at Vatnajokull National Park said he found the common ground in park management “astonishing, given the big differences between the two countries” – three compared with 398 national parks. “There is great value in comparing policy, methods and practical solutions as well learning we are actually doing some things right,” Finnsson said. (more…)

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Travel: Statue of Liberty to reopen for July 4th holiday

Posted on March 19, 2013 by Bob Berwyn
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Down, but not out. Photo courtesy National Park Service.

Damage caused by Hurricane Sandy to be repaired in time for the busy summer season

By Summit Voice

FRISCO — Along with inundating residential areas in the Northeast, Hurricane Sandy also caused extensive damage to the Statue of Liberty, destroying  docks, crippling the energy infrastructure on Ellis Island and wiping out the security screening system.

But Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today said this week that the National Park Service expects to reopen the Statue of Liberty to visitors in time for Independence Day.

 

“[W]e are fully committed to reopening this crown jewel as soon as it’s safe for visitors and not a second later,”  Salazar said. “Based on the tremendous progress we have made, Lady Liberty will be open to the public in time for the July 4th celebration.” (more…)

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