Park News September 16,2008

Midwest/Intermountain/Southeast Regions

Some parks in Midwest Region that were hit by the remnants of Hurricane Ike have reported in, with others are unable to communicate yet due to power and phone outages. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Lowell, which came ashore in the U.S. from the Pacific Ocean, has caused closures and evacuations at Big Bend due to rising waters in the Rio Grande. Here’s today’s update:

Big Bend NP – Due to significant rainfall, from Pacific Tropical Storm Lowell in west Texas and northern Mexico, the Rio Grande is at flood stage. Mexican officials continue to release water from reservoirs into the Rio Conchos. That flow combined with rain has forced the evacuation of low-lying areas in Presidio, Texas, 70 miles upstream from Big Bend NP. Roadways adjacent to the river are closed due to high water. Backcountry roads and campsites along the river are impassible due to water and mud. Two riverside campgrounds in the park, Cottonwood at Castolon and the campground at Rio Grande Village, are closed due to high water. River levels at Castolon yesterday morning were at flood stage at 20.0 feet. River levels at Rio Grande Village were at 21.20 feet, with flood stage there occurring at 13.00 feet. The National Weather Service is predicting the river will crest at 33.00 ft on Friday. Predicted river levels may reach the Forever Resorts store, the visitor center, and employee housing and maintenance areas at Rio Grande Village later in the week. The NPS will be evacuating the Rio Grande Village area, including a 100-site class A campground, visitor center (which is closed May through October), concession operated store, laundry, and shower facility. The store also runs the Rio Grande Village 25 site RV hookup campground (the only RV hookups in the park.).

Big Thicket NP – The park has suffered some damage to facilities and infrastructure, but not all facilities have been checked yet. A preliminary damage assessment of employees’ housing has been completed and is being used to prioritize actions to prevent further damage to these residences.  Two employee residences have sustained damages (trees in houses and blown-out windows) that are being repaired – phase one of this repair effort was completed on Sunday and phase two was underway yesterday. The Central IMT is now at the visitor center ICP.  The finance team, which has been operating out of Jean Lafitte NHP&P in New Orleans, was to return to the park  yesterday. The park ICP at Village Mills lost telephone and network communications yesterday, but the IT specialist is working on having communications restored.

Indiana Dunes NL – The northwest Indiana area was subjected to the impacts of the remains of Hurricane Ike last weekend. The park received over 10 inches of rain and sustained winds in excess of 35 miles per hour. Because of the torrential rainfall, all rivers, creeks and waterways overflowed their banks, and some minor flooding occurred in isolated areas of the park. The most significant issue was damage that occurred when several small marinas could not hold their own against the current and debris from the storm. Parts of these facilities broke apart and were flushed down the Burns Waterway into Lake Michigan. Due to the strong north winds, a significant amount of debris was forced up onto park beaches. This debris included over a dozen boats, pieces of marina docks, fuel tanks and natural material. A work barge and small crane also broke loose and ended up on park property. This debris was being battered along the shoreline yesterday by four to six foot waves. Salvage of some boats may be possible once the waves subside, but most are broken beyond salvage.  Rangers on scene early Monday morning chased off several looters who were risking serious injury or death in an attempt to take property from the damaged boats. The area around the new Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk is now under guard. The park will be assessing the options for cleanup and recovery, but initial estimates are those costs will be significant.

Dayton Aviation Heritage NHP – Severe high winds caused power, phone and internet outages and caused the park to close. It remains closed.

Jefferson NEM – The park reports that the Mississippi River is expected to crest at 41 feet on either Wednesday or Thursday, which will flood the lower section of the Grand Staircase.  The high flow is supposed to pass through very quickly, though.

 

Mount Rushmore National Memorial

On September 9th, the park was advised that a climber had fallen while climbing behind Mount Rushmore in the South Seas area of the park. Rangers quickly found the injured man near a popular climbing route by Wrinkle Rock. The climber had made his way up a 60-foot face, then slipped and fell approximately 20 feet before his protection stopped his descent. During the fall, his foot got caught in a crack in the rock formation and was severely broken. Members of the injured climber’s party were able to lower him to the ground and called for assistance. Rangers immediately began providing emergency medical care and preparing the climber for an overland carryout. ALS units from the Rapid City Fire Department arrived on scene and began administering pain medication. With support from Pennington County Search and Rescue, the climber was carried out to a waiting ambulance and taken to Rapid City Regional Hospital for treatment.  The backcountry of Mount Rushmore has become internationally known for its world-class climbing areas, with massive granite spires and large rock faces. More than 6,000 climbers now visit the park annually, staying in the park for two to three days.  

 

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

Ranger Bill Tadych was on foot patrol in a remote section of the park known to contain a large amount of wild growth marijuana on September 7th when he located several plots that appeared to have been "adopted" by someone just outside the park’s boundary. The ground around the plants was cultivated and surrounding vegetation cleared to allow sunlight to reach the marijuana. Many of the plants were over 10 feet tall. Additional patrol of the area later in the day revealed a newly arrived mountain bicycle chained to a nearby tree. Additional rangers were called to the area to search for suspects. Within 10 minutes, rangers saw a 41-year-old man inside one of the plots, harvesting leaves from the plants. He was stripping the leaves off the plants and putting them into several gallon size plastic bags. Using their county deputizations, rangers Rich Eshenaur and Jennifer Jackson took the man into custody without incident. He admitted that this was not the first time he had harvested from the site. He was turned over to local authorities for prosecution. A mutual-aid eradication is planned for the area. 

 

National Capital Region

The National Park Service is seeking an experienced, dynamic and energetic individual to serve as the associate regional director for administration for National Capital Region. The person in this position has direct line authority for planning and policy development and technical oversight of the execution, management and supervision of all administrative, information systems (IT), and financial management activities throughout the region. The announcement closes on October 1st.  For a copy of the announcement, including a detailed job description and application procedures, please click on “More Information” below.



 More Information...

 

Horace M. Albright Training Center

The staff at Horace M. Albright Training Center held an open house last week to welcome their new superintendent, Lisa Eckert. 

The Albright Center is part of the WASO Learning and Development Division and in 2006 celebrated its 50th anniversary of employee training.  Jerry Simpson, assistant director for human capital, and Kathy Hanson, chief of learning and development, attended "virtually" and on-hand personally, Grand Canyon National Park superintendent Steve Martin also shared kind words of congeniality and support for Lisa's talents and selection.

Past superintendents of the center were:

• Frank F. Kowski, 1957-1966


• Wayne B. Cone, 1966-1970


• Lemuel A. Garrison, 1970-72


• Q. Boyd Evison, 1973-75


• James W. Coleman, III, 1975-77


• Gene V. Daugherty, 1977-79


• David O. Karraker, 1980-1992


• H. Gilbert Lusk, 1994-96


• Edward D. Carlin, 1996-2002


• Constantine J. Dillon, 2002-07.

 

United States Park Police

The United States Park Police regrets to report the death of retired Sergeant Al Capasso, age 94.  He died at a hospice facility in Hawaii on Sunday, August 31st.

Al entered on duty with the United States Park Police on June 16, 1942. During his career, Al was a patrolman in the National Capital Region.  His assignments included being on foot patrol at Meridian Hill, "Section A" of the Rock Creek Parkway in Cruiser 14, and other areas. Al worked many historical events, including the Navy Day Parade in October 1944, the inaugural detail for Franklin D. Roosevelt in January 1945, and General Eisenhower's and General Wainwright's details for their arrivals at the conclusion of WWII.

Al was promoted to sergeant around 1950. He became involved in the administrative side of the Park Police and was instrumental in several improvements.  Al was instrumental in the passage of legislation to improve retirement benefits for members of the U.S. Park Police covered by the District of Columbia Police and Firefighter's Retirement System.  He was instrumental in the helping the U.S. Park Police take control of purchasing and procurement for uniforms and all U.S. Park Police equipment.  Al was also elected president of the Police Association of the District of Columbia.  This honor served to enhance the reputation of the United States Park Police.

Al also taught new recruits in the U.S. Park Police rookie school at 6th and Independence Avenue.  A memorable quote one of his students recalled was “A short pencil is much better than a long memory.”

Al was also assigned as a motor sergeant in the Motorcycle Unit.  He retired on May 31, 1963.  He had a solid reputation as a real tactician and mentor to many.  Many thanks the Retired United States Park Police Association members for their contributions to his memory.

Al is survived by his wife of 68 years, Rosalie, and daughter, Barbara Jean.  Al's brother, O. Louis "Lou" Capasso, retired from the U.S. Park Police in 1960, and resides in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Al is also survived by two sisters – Rita of St. Louis and Velia of Houston.