Colorado: Trail Ridge Road open for the season

Posted on May 26, 2013 by Bob Berwyn
Park staff dig out Alpine Visitor Center, 11,796 feet on May 23, 2013.

Park staff dig out Alpine Visitor Center, 11,796 feet on May 23, 2013. Photo courtesy Rocky Mountain National Park.

High-elevation visitor center and store to open next week

By Summit Voice

FRISCO — A series of late-season storms didn’t prevent national park crews from opening Trail Ridge Road right on time this year, although Rocky Mountain National Park rangers say there could be nighttime closures because heavy melting on the road during the day and freezing temperatures at night.

The Alpine Visitor Center and Trail Ridge Store are expected to open sometime next week, according to a release from the park. Trail Ridge Road historically opens on Memorial Day weekend. Last year the road opened early on May 14 after record warmth in March. (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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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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Death Valley NP earns dark skies certification

Posted on February 21, 2013 by Bob Berwyn

Starry skies alive and well in the desert

Photo by Alan Van Valkenburg

Death Valley dunes. Photo courtesy NPS/Alan Van Valkenburg.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Simple improvements to outdoor lights at Furnace Creek and Stovepipe Wells helped Death Valley become only the third U.S. national park to earn International Dark Sky park status, the park service announced this week.

Parts of Death Valley already boast some of the darkest night skies anywhere in the U.S. The new lighting guidelines will reduce energy usage, and cut sky glow and glare, leaving the stars untarnished in other areas of the park.

“Death Valley is a place to gaze in awe at the expanse of the Milky Way, follow a lunar eclipse, track a meteor shower, or simply reflect on your place in the universe,” said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. “We greatly appreciate the International Dark-Sky Association certification. It illustrates the park’s commitment to protect natural darkness and supports the wider mission to protect nightscapes in the entire National Park System.” (more…)

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Mesa Verde NP seeks to cut damage from stray cattle

Posted on February 17, 2013 by Bob Berwyn

‘Plan to control ‘trespass’ livestock in the works

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Spruce House at Mesa Verde National Park. Photo courtesy NPS.

By Summit  Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Increasing incursions by so-called trespass cattle at Mesa Verde National Park have prompted the National Park Service to solicit public input on a plan to curb the damage to public resources.

According to Park Superintendent Cliff Spencer’s Jan. 17 scoping letter, there about 100 to 150 trespass horses in an on the border of the park, with trespass cattle numbering about 10 to 20 per year.Park scientists have documented what they’re calling severe impacts to archeological sites, native vegetation, and soils.

Trespass livestock has also been documented out-competing native wildlife for water sources, and damaging park facilities. There have also been dangerous confrontations reported between trespass livestock and park staff and visitors. (more…)

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Colorado: Visits surge at Dinosaur National Monument

Posted on September 18, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Spiffy new visitor center helps draw tourists

Dinosaur National Monument visitor center. Photo courtesy National Park Service.

Dinosaur National Monument is well-known for its trove of fossils, but also features an impressive array of indigenous rock art. Photo courtesy National Park Service.

By Summit Voice

FRISCO — A new $13 million visitor center at Dinosaur National Monument has turned out to be a big attraction in northwest Colorado. The monument reported a huge surge in visitation in the first half 2012, up 47 percent from the previous year.

Recreational visits to the monument for the month of June alone totaled 44,847.

“While there is no way to predict what the monument’s visitation may be in the future, having the dinosaur quarry open to visitors again definitely increases the monument’s draw,” said monument superindentent Mary Risser. “Despite gas prices, the economy, above normal temperatures, and fires in many western states, people are still traveling and coming to the monument. Uintah County Travel and Tourism based in Vernal, Utah and Moffat County Tourism in Craig, Colorado have both been wonderful partners in helping spread the word about the monument and letting people know that the dinosaur quarry is open again.” (more…)

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Input wanted on Death Valley NP wilderness plan

Posted on August 13, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

High in the Panamint Mountains of Death Valley National Park. Photo courtesy National Park Service.

National Park Service eyes new development to add services, reduce impacts

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — A draft wilderness and backcountry stewardship plan for 3.4-million-acre Death Valley National Park tries to balance preservation of natural and cultural resources with recreational access, with “a wider range of visitor experiences and opportunities in specific locations,” than currently available.

Death Valley is the largest national park in the continuous 48 states and has been designated as an International Biosphere Reserve. More than 90 percent (3.1 million acres) of the park is designated wilderness.

The draft plan is open for public comment through Oct. 9, with the environmental study (four alternatives) and maps online at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/DEVAWildernessPlanEA.

The plan addresses management of  all Congressionally-designated wilderness lands in the park. It also includes non-wilderness backcountry concerns, such as backcountry road corridors and campsites, backcountry cabins near roads, and non-wilderness backcountry lands. The plan does not address developed or frontcountry areas within the park, nor does it address the Saline Valley Warm Springs area. (more…)

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Travel: Harvest time at Capitol Reef National Park

Posted on July 15, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Plums, pears and apples available to park visitors

Fruit orchards flank a campground along Capitol Reef National Park’s Scenic Drive. Photo courtesy National Park Service.

Capitol Reef National Park visitors enjoy a picnic in the Fruita rural historic district. Photo National Park Service.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — The famed national parks in Utah’s red rock country generally conjure up visions of lizards basking on sun-baked rocks, sandstone arches and gnarled juniper trees, but some of the parks have a softer side.

Capitol Reef National Park, for example, is home to the largest historic orchards in the national park system, encompassing more than 3,000 fruit and nut trees planted by early Mormon pioneers and settlers in the 1800s in what is now the historic Fruita rural historic district. (more…)

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Colorado: Visitor center at Dinosaur National Monument earns gold LEED certification for design and operation

Posted on July 9, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Visitor center construction incorporated salvaged materials

The Dinosaur National Monument visitor was recently awarded the Gold LEED certification. Photo courtesy National Park Service.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY —Skylights, low-flow restroom fixtures, photovoltaics and efficient utility systems at the new Dinosaur National Monument visitor center all helped the National Park Service gain Gold-standard LEED certification for the facility.

The new Quarry Visitor Center boasts new “green” energy saving aspects, including increased water efficiency, reduced CO2emissions, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts,” said superintendent Mary Risser. (more…)

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