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I just saw in the Samoa News that American Samoa, including the National Park of American Samoa [NPSA] has had their tsunami warning lifted. Earlier, per the online edition of Samoa News, many of the people in the lowlands like Pago Pago and Leone - hard hit by the 2009 tsunami - were moving to higher ground and fishing ships were standing offshore watching for high water.

Mar 11th - 16:43pm | Bob Janiskee

In the Lower 48, the tsunami warning included shoreline areas along the entire West Coast from the Canadian border southward to Point Conception (Santa Barbara County) on California's Central Coast. That would include Olympic National Park on the Washington coast and Golden Gate National Recreation Area in and near San Francisco.

Mar 11th - 16:20pm | y_p_w

I think Olympic NP was also in the warning area, as would be parts of Golden Gate NRA.

Mar 11th - 13:44pm | Rick B.

Here in Alaska, we got the tsunami advisory over the net, the local radio, and a pre-dawn phone call from my mother-in-law, but no problems.

Mar 11th - 11:43am | tomp2

Nothing visible here at Cabrillo NM, even on the west-facing tide pools. I expect the same was true for Channel Islands & Point Reyes. I hope Redwood, Ebey's, Glacier Bay, Aniakchak, and the rest in Alaska are ok.

Mar 11th - 10:27am | tomp2

I'll try to get photos at Cabrillo NM in a couple of minutes, but be prepared for them to be underwhelming. The wave will arrive ~15 minutes after low tide (+1.0) and regular surf is only 2-3'. Point Loma protects San Diego Bay pretty well from tsunami waves coming from the northwest (versus captured & funneled the wave from Chile last time).

Mar 11th - 10:12am | Inquiring mind

I have a friend onsite in Emergency Operations in Crescent City and they are taking the threat EXTREMELY serious.

Mar 11th - 10:03am | Bob Janiskee

I'm a member of the Early Riser Brigade, Steve. If I'm not out of bed by 4:30 or 5:00, the day feels pretty much ruined.

Mar 11th - 09:48am | Steve Nelson

Bob, you're up early and working!

Grand Canyon National Park Superintendent Steve Martin Hanging Up His Hat

Mar 11th - 11:23am | Sheryl B

I did not know of this issue of the loss of the day rides. I surely wish we'd experienced it while we had a chance. What a collosal shame. Mr. Murph, what are you doing now?

Groups Announce Intent To Sue Over Big Cypress National Preserve ORV Plan

Mar 11th - 10:44am | Ron Saunders

SSI When you asked if the conservation groups would pursue closing the beach to ORV access, Did ANY of the representatives respond "No". Please note that pedestrian access will automatically be assured where ever orv access is retained. Thus, show me the need to single out pedestrian access. Mute point, I'd say.

Mar 11th - 10:08am | Inquiring mind

Yes, Matt, and those EVIL Republicans are looking more like the People's Party, LOL. Why don't we just get to the "ultimate preferred alternative" that these enviro groups would like and see where that fits in. The pendulum swings both ways at pretty similar trajectories. People are tired of the litigation that is more a career path for the strident.

Mar 11th - 09:00am | Matt Stubbs

"They did not propose any alternative access or pedestrian access compromises." The ORV community was not planning on closing the beaches, So they did not have to allocate alternative access for specific groups. "They proposed an incredible small amount of non-vehicle access of very limited wilderness/esthetic value. "

Mar 11th - 07:57am | Southern Shores 1

I have no way of knowing what the Conservation groups or the ORV access groups will do in the future.

Mar 11th - 06:54am | Matt Stubbs

SS1 the below exerpt was written by Kurt R. on our freind the Judge...

Mar 10th - 18:44pm | Ron Saunders

To correct my previous comment. It was intended to be addressed to SS1. My apologies to justinh. Ron (obxguys)

Mar 10th - 17:58pm | Ron Saunders

Justinh

Mar 10th - 16:11pm | Southern Shores 1

justinh The conservative republican judge (Judge Boyle) that was appointed by Bush didn’t close all the beaches to ORV access because Defenders, Audubon and SELC didn’t pursue that outcome. There interest was solely in resource protection. They do not have an agenda to keep people out of the Park as ORV access supporters suggest.

Mar 10th - 15:25pm | justinh

"In fact the judge (Terrance Boyle) on this case has specifically tried several times to end ORV's on the beaches and he has stated so in court."

Mar 10th - 15:06pm | Matt Stubbs

"the beaches at CAHA will NEVER be closed to people, and saying that is just ridiculous and obscures the facts." DO the Math 19 plover nest at 1,000 meters apart is >the islands available beaches. Simple, but you are saying that the NPS will have to accomodate the people for recreation? where is that written in any form? Enough data Lee?

Mar 10th - 13:07pm | justinh

"there will be another suit from the enviros side because they did not get their way and they will find a way to bend and shape the rules to fit" I suppose this would be an issue if the "enviros" were also the ones ruling on their suit.

Mar 10th - 12:43pm | Lee Dalton

Matt, your arguments are hard to swallow even if there may be some validity to them. When you start using hyperbole such as, ". . .. why he cannot see all of this beautiful seashore without thousands of signs blocking his view," you lose a lot of credibility.

Mar 10th - 12:28pm | Ryan

Matt, the beaches at CAHA will NEVER be closed to people, and saying that is just ridiculous and obscures the facts. I can understand your concern, but half the NPS mission is for recreation, that will secure people's use of the beaches until the Organic Act is re-written or CAHA ceases to be a unit of the NPS.

Mar 10th - 11:10am | Matt Stubbs

Agreed but nieve. You simply will not recognize a simple mathmatical fact that these birds can (and will according to the numbers wished for in the recovery listed in the DEIS) shut down the beaches. I too have deep roots within this seashore in terms of multiple yearly visits from 3 to 12 times in fact over the last twenty years (lived in Michigan before that).

Mar 10th - 10:29am | Ryan

Matt, I disagree, I do get it. I have a strong connection to CAHA, I got married on the beach there, and my family has been going there for 40 years! I can always find a place to walk on the beach...if any area is closed, I find another, not a big deal to me.

Mar 10th - 10:22am | Matt Stubbs

Ryan you do not get it. You cannot walk on the beaches closed for the birds. By elitist I mean people who recreate with a spotting scope. These groups (in my opinion) version of recreation is one step above a video game playing teenager or a peeping tom. Like all who state they wish to access parks I will say I agree there is nothing like being emersed in nature.

Mar 10th - 10:12am | Lee Dalton

I recently visited Ft. Bowie in Arizona. This is a very remote place and access to the visitor center and the fort's ruins are via a 1-1/2 mile foot trail. But before anyone gets all into a tizzy, the FOBO brochure adds that anyone with access issues may call the visitor center for directions on how to drive to the VC.

Mar 10th - 09:04am | Ryan

If walking in a National Park is elitist, than put me down as one!

Mar 10th - 08:36am | Southern Shores 1

Matt I disagree with your opinion on ORV regulations at CHNS. Your facts to support your opinions should be true. Attacks on groups whose opinion differ from yours are unproductive. For example from one of your other comments on a different article you contend that environmental lawyers choose their cases by

Mar 10th - 08:33am | Matt Stubbs

Is there not somewhere within those 41 miles that you can enjoy the seashore?"

Mar 10th - 07:54am | Kurt Repanshek

Matt, if you've studied even a little about the founding of the National Park Service you know that public enjoyment of the parks was very high on the founders' list. As for your claims about the restrictions on your "recreational freedom," you'll be happy to know that I plan to visit Cape Hatteras this summer to see for myself how your ability to move about has been impacted.

Mar 10th - 07:09am | Matt Stubbs

"Around the system more and more accessible trails are being installed, and at Cape Lookout National Seashore, for example, the Park Service can even provide a beach wheelchair if one is needed."

Mar 10th - 00:14am | Anonymous

I was told by a USFS worker that about half of all thier budget is spent on lawsuits. What a waste of tax payer dollars. One tort law change would double the NFS and NPS budgets!

Reader Participation Day: Should Costs Of Operating Special Programs In the Parks Be Shared By All?

Mar 11th - 04:05am | MRC

The basic services should be covered by taxes. I'm not happy with fees at all. Neither entrance fees, nor "special fees" for backcounty permits or some guided tours (e.g. Fiery Furnace in Arches National Park).

Grand Teton National Park Will Be Backdrop For The National Park Service Academy

Mar 10th - 22:52pm | Megaera

I wish I'd known about programs like this back when I was in college thirty years ago.

National Park Mystery Photo 33 Revealed: If You're Afraid of Heights You Won't Get This Photo

Mar 10th - 20:27pm | Anonymously-Yours

I take it they were on a similar sloped roof with "widow's walk" to the one shown? Too bad they didn't include a shot of old faithful so we could see the view too.

Are We Nearing The Day When Yellowstone National Park Allows A Bison Hunt Inside Its Boundaries?

Mar 10th - 17:02pm | Bob

Lee, I hope you know that the kind of Native American hunt I was talking about was the one that jsmacdonald describes a little later on. There have been legal decisions in the Department of the Interior over the years that ruled that treaty hunting rights don't go away when lands become a national park. The NPS has rejected those, and has won a few court cases on that point.

Mar 10th - 05:10am | Bob Janiskee

Thanks for clarifying the meaning of the word "hunt," Bob. It's a darn shame that so many people don't know what hunting actually is.

Update: Kilauea's New Eruption Strengthens and Spreads

Mar 10th - 15:56pm | Me

Mother Nature is beautiful.

Issue Of Climbing Fees At Denali National Park Raises Questions Of Fee Equity

Mar 10th - 15:41pm | Anonymous

It is the height of arrogance (pun intended) to assume other park visitors care one whit about climber's activities on the mountain. If there is a "rich climbing history" to be interpreted to park visitors it occurred before today's climbing veterans were even born.

Where To Look For Spring Wildflowers in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Mar 10th - 12:39pm | wbritten

Great summary of the spring wildflower season in the Smoky Mountains. I live in Gatlinburg, on the edge of the Smokies and publish a daily Smoky Mountains news and photo blog.

Discovering Grizzlies and Wolves at Yellowstone National Park

Mar 10th - 12:37pm | Anonymous

These people are exhausting. Get off your butts and do some research instead of whining at your keyboard. Solution!!! Think of One....

Women's History Month is Celebrated in the National Parks

Mar 10th - 11:33am | Random Walker

Ruth Kirk has climbed to the summit of Mount Rainier five times and traversed the peak along the 93-mile-long Wonderland Trail. She has (along with her husband Ranger Louis Kirk) lived in, explored, photographed and written about Death Valley, Yellowstone, Crater Lake, Mount Rainier, and Olympic National Parks.

Mar 10th - 08:29am | Bob Janiskee

We'd love to hear from more readers who have information and views on women's lesser-publicized contributions to the national parks and the National Park Service.

Mar 10th - 08:15am | Marjorie

I find it facinating that the Fred Harvey Company had two powerful women exectutives: Mary Colter, architect, and Alice Steele, head of personnnel, and neither of these CEOs were allowed to vote until 1920. They could help run a company, but were not trusted to help choose a representative.

Mar 10th - 08:06am | Me

On July 30, 1909 a Mountaineers Club party climbed Mount Rainier from the northeastern side and flew a flag on top bearing the words “Votes for Women.” (The Mountaineers Club was founded in 1906 with a charter membership of 77 women and 74 men.)

Bluffs Lodge and the Best Coffee Shop in a National Park

Mar 10th - 08:16am | Bruce W. Bytnar

I agree with the assessment of the Bluffs Coffee Shop. While working as a park ranger in this memorable areaof the Blue Ridge Parkway I spent many a lunch break there. The work records of Kathryn Joines and Ellen Smith are incredible and I would venture pretty high on the list of unbeatable in National Park Concessions.

Isle Royale National Park's Wolf Population Loses Two Packs, Moose Population Steady

Mar 10th - 08:14am | jones boi

what is the population of wolf and moose on isle royale, michigan

Eastern National Celebrates 25th Anniversary Of National Parks Passport With Special Edition

Mar 10th - 05:46am | Sabattis

Several years ago, a group of Passport enthusiasts formed the National Park Travelers Club (www.parkstamps.org).

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