Park News August 20,2008

South Florida Parks

Tropical Storm Fay made landfall in the United States in South Florida yesterday and is currently moving up the state’s east coast:

• Big Cypress NP – Initial assessments have been completed and little damage has been found. As the time of the report yesterday afternoon, power was out but restoration of service was imminent; water service went out during the storm, but park staff had gotten it back on line – an important accomplishment because the park provides water to a number of private residences and businesses in the Ochopee area.


• Biscayne NP – As of yesterday morning, the park had not reopened due to the continuing tropical storm warning for the area. The park’s re-entry team was expected to return late in the day, though, as it appeared likely that the warning would be lifted on Tuesday afternoon. Only minimal damage is expected. If all goes as planned, the park will likely reopen by tomorrow morning, if not sooner.


• Everglades NP/Dry Tortugas NP – Dry Tortugas reports no damage. The M/V Fort Jefferson will be returning to Key West from Miami today when sea conditions improve. Everglades fared well, too, with only minor tree damage and flooding reported. Park staff returned to their residences in Flamingo last night. The power is still out at the Trail Center on the Tamiami Trail. Both parks will reopen to visitors this morning.


• Canaveral NS – The park is closed.

 

Grand Canyon National Park

The eleven individuals previously reported missing in the Supai Canyon flood area have been located and all are safe. As a precaution, Coconino County Sheriff’s Office officials are currently crosschecking information with those who were evacuated and those who left the area through the exit checkpoint over the past few days. As of yesterday, approximately 426 people had been evacuated by helicopter from the canyon. No fatalities or serious injuries resulting from this incident have been reported to the sheriff’s office.  Some residents of the Supai Village chose not to be evacuated and remained in the canyon. On Monday, a flyover was conducted and officials found no one in need of assistance. Water levels in the area are still too high to conduct an extensive ground search, but search and rescue personnel from several agencies plan to do a more extensive search when the water levels subside. The Red Cross reception center housed eight residents of Supai Canyon on Monday evening. Another sixteen elders are staying at a local lodge and the Red Cross is providing meals for them.  All of the evacuated tourists have left the area.  Supai Canyon residents should be able to return to their homes today.  All lifeline systems are currently operating in the canyon, including water, power and telephone services. The Hualapai Tribe has received three truckloads of donated supplies from St. Mary’s Food Bank and the National Relief Charities.  Items include meal kits, blankets, water, Gatorade and hygiene products.

 

Grand Canyon National Park

Late on the afternoon on Saturday, August 16th, Havasu Canyon, a popular side canyon of the Grand Canyon, flash flooded as a result of heavy, localized, monsoon rains. That evening, park dispatch received word that five unmanned rafts had been seen floating down the Colorado River with supplies and lifejackets aboard. Initial investigation by park staff revealed that these rafts belonged to a single, private boating party of 16 people whose itinerary would have put then in the vicinity of Havasu Canyon at the time of the flood. Around 11 a.m. on Sunday morning, a park helicopter found the party stranded on a ledge at the confluence of Havasu Creek and the Colorado River. There were short-hauled, one at a time, from the ledge to the shore of the Colorado River, where they could be picked up by helicopter and flown to Hualapai Hilltop. From there, the group was transported by bus to a Red Cross shelter in Peach Springs. To ensure the safety of park visitors, river rangers also contacted groups who were still upriver from the confluence of Havasu Creek and the Colorado River to inform them of the conditions at the confluence, and aerial checks of the river corridor were also conducted. Commercial river operators carry satellite phones which worked well throughout this event. No other reports of difficulties due to these flood conditions were received by the park. No park roads or facilities were damaged, the park remains open and fully operational. For more information on the effects of this flood in Grand Canyon National Park, contact the Public Affairs Office at 928-638-7958.  For information on continuing efforts to aid those affected by the flood within Havasu Canyon and Supai Village, contact the Incident Information Center at 928-679-4161.  If you are checking on family members with permits to float the river or backpack in the backcountry of Grand Canyon National Park, please contact Grand Canyon’s river information line at 928-638-7884.

 

Lowell National Historical Park

On the afternoon of August 9th, ranger Matt Collins heard a radio call from Lowell PD reporting that someone had just jumped off the Bridge Street bridge into the Merrimack River. When he arrived at the bridge, he could see a man swimming towards the bank of the Concord River about 200 yards downstream. He climbed a 12-foot-high iron fence, headed down a riverside walkway toward the man, and found him clinging to a tree in the river. Collins threw a lifejacket with a lifeline attached to it to the man and told him to hold onto it and the tree until other rescuers could arrive on scene. A Lowell PD officer threw a life ring to the man, who was able to secure it with his other arm. Collins and the officer then pulled the man to shore, and, with the assistance of a second city officer, got him up onto the river walk. He was taken to a local hospital. An eyewitness told a Lowell officer that she told the man not to jump, but that the man had told her that he didn’t want to live. The rescue was complicated by recent heavy rains and a river flow of over 22,000 cubic feet per second.

 

Niobrara National Scenic River

Dan Foster, currently the chief of resource management at Wind Cave National Park, has been selected as the new superintendent for Niobrara National Scenic River.  Foster will report for this new assignment on September 15th, replacing Paul Hedren, who retired from federal service last year.

“Dan’s strong background in managing resources, developing partnerships, and creating innovative programs is ideal,” said regional director Ernest Quintana. “His experience working with multiple agencies, tribal governments, military, and private individuals to develop programs and manage resources owned by other entities will serve him well in this new assignment.”  

Foster began his NPS career in 1992 as a resource management specialist at Bryce Canyon, where he worked for nearly four years. He moved to Nez Perce as chief of resource management in 1996, then took his current assignment at Wind Cave in 2002.  Prior to federal service, Foster was a wildlife biologist and geologist for the Utah Department of Natural Resources for 11 years.

 “I am humbled by the selection to serve as superintendent of Niobrara National Scenic River,” said Foster. “I look forward to working closely with park staff, friends, partners, and visitors in our stewardship to care for and enjoy this phenomenal resource.”

While at Wind Cave, Foster was instrumental in the successful reintroduction of the endangered black-footed ferret to the park, after a 30 year absence.  To date, nearly 50 ferrets have been released in the park, and plans call for annual releases over the next three to five years. 

Foster was awarded both the Pacific Region’s and Director’s Awards for Resource Management in a Small Park while at Nez Perce. He partnered with both the U.S. Army and the Nez Perce Tribe to restore badly-damaged lands on Whitebird Battlefield, where the Nez Perce and the U.S. Army fought the beginning battle of the Nez Perce War in 1877. The four-year effort culminated in completion of restoration work and reburial of human remains and funerary items on the battlefield.  

Foster has authored numerous publications and environmental papers on topics ranging from coal production and oil and gas monitoring to vegetation distribution, Geographic Information Systems, and automated mapping.

Born in Valparaiso, Florida, Foster graduated from high school in Bowling Green, Kentucky and received a bachelor of science degree in wildlife and range management from Brigham Young University.  He and his wife Trena have three children, Sean (wife Chandra), Tonia (husband Peter), and Ryan.  Foster is an avid fly fisherman, and enjoys fly tying and playing American Indian flutes.  An Eagle Scout himself, he has been a leader with the Boy Scouts of America for over 25 years, and is also a member of the Civil Air Patrol.

 

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park is currently seeking qualified applicants for a GS-0201-9/11 human resources specialist position. A copy of the announcement with full details on duties and the application process can be obtained by clicking on the link below. The announcement closes on August 28th. For more information, contact Naomi Gillespie at 415-561-7039.



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Ozark National Scenic Riverways

Ozark National Scenic Riverways is seeking candidates to fill a GS-9/11 ecologist position in its fire division. The closing date is September 16th. For a copy of the announcement, OZAR-DEU-08-32, click on the link below. The park contact for additional information is  Leslie Richardson, Human Resources Assistant, 404 Watercress Drive, PO Box 490, Van Buren, Missouri  63965 (573-323-4236 ext. 234).



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