National Park News

The Department of the Interior /National Park Service (NPS), the Friends of Yosemite Valley (FOYV), and the Mariposans for the Environment and Responsible Government (MERG) announced the completion of a formal Settlement Agreement last September regarding the litigation on the Merced Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive Management Plan (CMP).  The settlement resolved the decade long litigation on Merced River planning that began in 2000, and also resolved the complaint challenging the Yosemite Valley Plan (YVP).

Mammoth Cave National Park Superintendent Patrick Reed announced today that the park will close at 6:00 p.m. this evening (Friday) in response to a severe winter storm.   Park roads will be barricaded at the park boundary.  Park facilities will suspend operations overnight.

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve will host a Subsistence Resource Commission (SRC) meeting at the park Visitor Center on February 17th and 18th.

All Voyageurs National Park snowmobile trails are open.  However, brush and windfall debris from a recent storm has created some difficult trail conditions.

The National Park Service (NPS) published a Notice of Intent in the Federal Register on January 29, 2010, announcing the start of public scoping for the long-term Winter Use Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Yellowstone National Park.  This long-term plan will guide the management of winter use in the park to ensure that park visitors have a range of appropriate winter opportunities, that these activities are in a suitable setting, and that they do not impair or irreparably harm park resources or values.

Hiking to the top of Half Dome is one of the most popular hikes in Yosemite National Park.  The iconic granite monolith, at 8,842 feet above sea level, attracts people from all over the world who attempt to climb to the summit.  Most visitors ascend Half Dome via the cables, which are in place from mid-May through mid-October. 

The University of Utah Seismograph Stations reports that a pair of earthquakes of magnitude 3.1 and 3.2 occurred in Yellowstone National Park.  The magnitude 3.1 event occurred at 12:52 PM on January 27, 2010.  The magnitude 3.2 occurred on the morning of January 28, 2010 at 1:46 AM.

A free BBQ is planned later that day at the Nature Center.

Thirsting for Knowledge?
Try Tapping into Science
What: A new monthly series of presentations exploring current science in the North Cascades
When: Last Wednesday of each month
Time: 7:30 p.m. Bellingham

Thirsting for Knowledge?
Try Tapping into Science
What: A new monthly series of presentations exploring current science in the North Cascades
When: Last Wednesday of each month
Time: 7:30 p.m. Bellingham

During the February “From Shore to Sea” lectures, Anthropologist Dr. John Johnson will discuss new insights from recent research projects that indicate early native inhabitants of the Channel Islands likely thrived in greater densities than anywhere else in California.

The National Park Service is accepting comments through February 17, 2010 on the newly released "Foundation Statement for Kenai Fjords National Park."

Centennial Children’s Art Work Postcard Winners Announced

Great Smoky Mountains National Park managers and officials from the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) met Tuesday to develop plans to improve the traffic flow and safety of the mile-long detour that carries southbound US 441 traffic around Monday night’s rockslide. Currently the south-bound traffic is being diverted onto one of the two lanes that normally carry north-bound traffic, creating two-way traffic flow.

Mammoth Cave National Park recently teamed up with Edmonson County emergency response teams to host EMS skills refresher training using a mock-accident scene. The purpose of the training, which was held at Mammoth Cave, was to assess the capacity and resources of multiple organizations, test the effectiveness of inter-agency cooperation, and improve communications.

Grand Canyon National Park Superintendent Steve Martin today announced that the park will begin accepting applications for a commercial use authorization (CUA) for bicycle rental operations on Grand Canyon National Park’s South Rim. 

On December 17, 2009, Mammoth Cave staff homored three park staff ( two retirees and one superintendent)who each served 20 years as law enforcement officers.  Max Vincent, Richard Strange, and Superintendent Patrick Reed received special law enforcement creditials from the National Park Service.

The University of Utah Seismograph Stations reports that a pair of earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 and 3.1 occurred in the evening of January 24, 2010 in Yellowstone National Park.  The first event of magnitude 3.0 occurred at 11:09 PM and was followed by a magnitude 3.1 event at 11:21 PM.  Both shocks were located around 9 miles to the southeast of West Yellowstone, MT and about 10 miles to the northwest of Old Faithful, WY.  Typically, events of this magnitude are felt in and around the Park, but there were no reports of these particular events being felt.

The Twin Creeks Science and Education Center at Great Smoky Mountains National Park has just received certification at the Gold Level under the US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Rating System.

In 2009 during the Park’s 75th Anniversary celebration, Great Smoky Mountains National Park saw the largest number of visitors in almost a decade and recorded a 5 percent gain over 2008 visitation.

In conjunction with the development of the Denali Park Road Vehicle Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), the National Park Service has released the Denali Park Road Workbook for public review and comment.

The National Park Service (NPS) is considering the construction of a new small water system at the Green Mountain Housing Area to comply with Colorado State Department of Public Health and Environment potable water regulations.

Glacier National Park “Brown Bag” seminar held Tuesday, February 2

Centennial Children's Art Work Postcard Winners

Expect delays and temporary closures.

All roads within Yosemite National Park, including from Yosemite West to Wawona on Highway 41 (Wawona Road), are now open.  The Badger Pass Road and the Badger Pass Ski Area are also open. 

Almost all roads leading into Yosemite National Park have reopened after being closed due to snow, ice, and fallen trees.  Highways 120 (Big Oak Flat Road) and 140 (El Portal Road) were reopened at 8:00 a.m. this morning.  Highway 41 (Wawona Road) is also open from Yosemite Valley to Chinquapin but remains closed south of Yosemite West to Wawona due to fallen trees.

Join Glacier ranger-naturalists for intermediate-level cross country skiing on full moon evenings

Glacier National Park Hosting Lunchtime “Brown Bag” Seminar, Wednesday, January 27

Equipment has been moved onsite and repairs are set to begin, with the goal of reopening the road as soon as possible.