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Reader Participation Day: What If You Could Wave a Magic Wand?

Aug 10th - 12:09pm | y_p_w

Restore Hetch Hetchy Valley and get rid of that bathtub ring. Of course this would be something complex, including magically creating agreements for water rights for the City and County of San Francisco at Lake Don Pedro. But the magic wand would be all powerful, right?

Aug 10th - 12:00pm | R. E.

A broader brush :) but may the wand touch and transform our leaders (inside and out of NPS) AND citizens, rely on true wisdom in their decisions.  That should cover it, I believe.  Lot at stake.

Aug 10th - 11:10am | rdm24

I'd support a lot of the proposed projects here in California, like the San Gabriel Mountains National Recreation Area, the Sand to Snow National Park, etc. There's a lot of land left to protect out here, and the pressures are just increasing rapidly.

Aug 10th - 09:44am | Chris Elbert

More national parks in my home state of Oregon: Mt. Hood/Columbia Gorge, Hells Canyon/Wallowa Mtns, Steens Mtn, and Owyhee Canyonlands would all be fine national parks.

Aug 10th - 09:06am | AnonymousD

My first thought is to do something for the rangers. I think "a big pot of money" is a cheat on the magic wand question, so I'm not doubling their salaries, as much as I'd like to.

Aug 10th - 05:58am | Bob Janiskee

Interesting choice, Lawrence, but wouldn't you want to first make the Pinelands a national park? The 1.16 million-acre Pinelands National Reserve (Pine Barrens) in southern New Jersey is an Affiliated Area, not a National Park System unit.

Aug 10th - 05:50am | Lawrence J. Caldwell

Buzby's Genreral Store in Chatsworth, NJ is for sale.  It is on the registry of nationally historic places - built in 1865.  It lies in the heart of the Pinelands National Reserve.  I would buy it and turn it into the first Visitor's Center in the Reserve.

National Park Mystery Spot 27: On a Hill It Stands

Aug 10th - 11:49am | Bob Janiskee

Spelling issues aside, ed-123 (12:11 pm) has named the correct park. He seems to have named the mystery spot too, but there's room for doubt.

Aug 10th - 11:26am | RangerLady

I'm going to guess it's the White House because John Hay, who lived there as Lincoln's secretary, wrote a biography with John Nicolay on Lincoln. Don't ask me how the goats or rocks play into this guess. [Sorry, RangerLady; it's not the White House. Quizmeister]

Aug 10th - 09:07am | Bob Janiskee

Brad got the park right, but not the mystery spot itself. (Remember that the mystery spot is not a national park; it is a place/thing/structure/whatever in a national park.)

Aug 10th - 06:23am | Bob Janiskee

Eric has nailed this one too.

Aug 10th - 05:11am | Bob Janiskee

GeorgeS ID-ed the mystery spot at 5:37 a.m.  Anon 6:09 soon followed. I think that might be the all-time record for puzzle-unraveling speed.We'll embargo the answer, as usual, and give other readers a crack at it. (Aside to Susan: You submitted a blank comment. Want to try again?)

At Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Birds, Turtles, And Humans Have Created An Air of Controversy, Part II

Aug 10th - 09:47am | Anonymous

[color=#000000]Kurt,  Defenders of Wildlife, represented by the Southern Environmental Law Center are well on their   way to destroying the greatest  National Park in the country at Cape Hatteras. Over the past six months I have made several unsuccessful attempts through the FOIA to find out how many American Tax dollars have been paid to DOW.

Aug 10th - 06:50am | Anonymous

Kudos to anyone who cleans up litter and double kudos to those that, “leave only footprints and take only memories.”

Aug 9th - 17:24pm | Ron Saunders

Does anyone notice the scarcity of comments from a certain view point or is it just me. Brings to mind the words from an environmentalist leaning gentleman (I am repeating this second hand)  "How does it feel to be a loser, we got everything we wanted". Hope I got it right, I think that is close, someone please correct me if I am wrong. Ron (obxguys)  

Aug 9th - 14:50pm | Ginny

See page 21 for the environmentalists' view of what should happen.  Actually sounds pretty neat unless you are one of the 4,000 residents who would have to try to survive without any roadway or bridge.  Reality?  Can you spell Portsmouth?  But it is only 4,000 working class people and less than $100 million in impact!

Aug 9th - 12:05pm | Cathy

Statistics are numbers that can easily be manipulated to prove a point. Anyone who has taken a basic statistics course can tell you that. The FEIS relies on "statistics" to justify what amounts to draconian measures in the name of protection/conservation.

Aug 9th - 11:59am | samsdad1

The point is unique access is being offered there and the same area could have been left as wilderness and provided homes to animals that are otherwise forced to live in alternate areas of the park.

Aug 9th - 11:50am | Kurt Repanshek

Matt, there's been more than a decade of legal activity over snowmobiling in Yellowstone. And yes, it's a balancing act between conservation and recreation. And if you can point out a threatened or endangered species whose population is at threat of being pushed to extinction by the boardwalk around Old Faithful, I'm sure you could find a group that would sue.

Aug 9th - 11:43am | samsdad1

"values is left unimpaired" Did this stop the paving over areas of Yellowstone so people could access these areas??? I am sure that the endangered creatures would love to live in those exact locations, so what is stopping groups from suing to clean this little mess up?

Aug 9th - 11:38am | Kurt Repanshek

Matt,

Aug 9th - 11:24am | samsdad1

Ron... Let me clarify further  the specific boundary is 1,000 meters in all directions so we can safely double the amount awarded a bird to 2,000 meters.

Aug 9th - 11:18am | Ron Saunders

Please note that I found the bumper sticker, displayed at the beginning of the article, somewhat distasteful (no pun intended), though I can understand what created it. One might find it 'out of line'. Then again, with further thought, one might also say that it goes pretty well with some of the proposed regulation. In fact, one might say it 'fits right in' for that very reason.

Aug 9th - 10:26am | Ron Saunders

For clarity, the 1000 meter buffer is 3280 feet (well over 1/2 mile). Three football fields is 900 feet. 1000 meters is a long way. But, who are we to question it ? We are just .... What are we anyway, have they told us yet ? 

Aug 9th - 10:15am | Kurt Repanshek

Anonymous, the Great Lakes population is listed as "endangered," while the Atlantic Coast population, including those at Cape Hatteras, is listed as "threatened" by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Aug 9th - 10:12am | Anonymous

This article is incorrect when they state " The piping plover, a threatened species," Piping Plovers are an ENDANGERED species.  The Great Lakes population is ENDANGERED.

Aug 9th - 10:08am | Kurt Repanshek

You raise an interesting point on wilderness, Ginny.

Aug 9th - 09:58am | Ginny

Cape Hatteras National Seashore was not to have any designated wilderness areas despite the language of its own authorizing legislation. The Park Service considered the seashore a recreational area and, besides, the area had long been inhabited and most villagers on Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands sought to escape

Aug 9th - 09:42am | Ginny

Soon after the dedication ceremonies at Cape Hatteras, Senator Richard L. Neuberger submitted a series of articles about Cape Hatteras National Seashore to the Congressional Record in support of efforts to create the seashore at Oregon Dunes. The articles had appeared in the Register-Guard inone of the major benefits from the series of

Aug 9th - 09:34am | Ginny

Lyn we didn't move here.  We were here hundreds of years before the park service.

Aug 9th - 09:32am | Ginny

One of the most important land acquisition issues to be resolved, the matter was not controversial, but Ronthaler noted that the Park Service should not be given authority by this action to restrict the traditional right of sports and commercial fishermen

Aug 9th - 09:17am | Lyn Ridenour

I get really frustrated with people who move into wild habitat areas and then complain about the wild habitat doing what they have been doing all their lives, and is programed into them.

Aug 9th - 08:48am | James Higham

The enabling legislation says areas that are especially adaptable for recreation "shall be developed" for that purpose.  The enabling legislation also states that CHNSRA was created for the "benefit and enjoyment of the people".  Looking at the above signage, "no entry" means just that.  How can no access benefit the people.  In reference to the Organic Act, at the end of the Organic Act it sta

Aug 9th - 07:14am | samsdad1

I am truly amazed at the limited memory of mr murray... ""Should we go out and bulldoze ponds in different locations? Youve got to recognize that it'd be adverse modification of piping plover habitat," Superintendent Murray said. "If the habitat is naturally occurring there, you can't go mess it up in order to ensure access and

At Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Birds, Turtles, And Humans Have Created An Air of Controversy

Aug 10th - 06:35am | SS1

Ron it wasn’t my intention to take you to task before. Even though I usually have a different opinion than you about ORV management at came Hatteras I’m miffed by your latest posts. You said, “Someone driving an ORV appears to have run over a turtle.”

Aug 9th - 07:34am | samsdad1

"How in the world did the visitors access the Seashore in the 50’s, 60”s and 70’s when only a select few had ORVs?" They Drove their cars please use google and search and you shall find many images of this.

Aug 8th - 21:47pm | Ron Saunders

Ok, SS1. this is the last one. EYE ON DARE, July 31st What a picture. Lots of people. Lots of vehicles. Why do you suppose they are even there?

Aug 8th - 21:28pm | Anonymous

@SS1   Actually the inlets and ocean beach can all be quite rough and dangerous not just for small children but all but the most experienced ocean swimmers.  

National Park Travelers Club To Meet in Washington, D.C.

Aug 9th - 23:29pm | Anonymous

If anyone is interested in attending next year's NPTC convention, please watch the preview video located here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeXN_OHEwbs

Body of One of Three Victims Swept Over Vernal Fall In Yosemite National Park Found

Aug 9th - 21:42pm | Anonymous

The NPS has a very effective sign at the Visitor's Center of the Grand Canyon North Rim.  There is a photo of a young woman with the caption "Can you run the Boston Marathon?"  The rest of the sign goes on to tell that this 24 year old woman who had run the marathon, 26 miles in a little over 3 hours (a very good time) had died in the canyon on the North Kaibab Trail.  She was confused as to ho

Aug 9th - 18:41pm | LEB

Having been a campground host at national parks for a couple of years now I think the most amazing thing is how many people don't think the rules apply to them.  They apply to everyone else but not them.  So I am not sure putting up pictures of injured or dead people will help.  It may discourage some people from doing stupid things, but most will continue to do them.  Just as these three climb

Concessionaire Teams Up With National Park Foundation To Offer End-of-Summer Trips

Aug 9th - 19:29pm | Kurt Repanshek

You ask a tough question, Will. Your logic is sound, however. Here's rule No. 12:

Aug 9th - 19:24pm | Will

It would seem inapplicable to "Like" a national park on Facebook if one is not on Facebook. However, the instructions seem to assume membership. Since I do not have a Facebook account, am I unable to enter the contest?

Aug 9th - 18:57pm | Kurt Repanshek

Rule No. 3: 3. How to Enter. If applicable as part of entry, “Like” Shenandoah National Park Lodging on Facebook, and any additional partner(s). Fill out the required entry form, limit one entry per person and per e-mail address. Entrants must have a valid e-mail address.

Aug 9th - 18:56pm | RangerLady

Never mind....I can't read!

Aug 9th - 18:55pm | Will

Is membership on Facebook required to enter the contest? The rules say an e-mail address is required, but seem to assume membership in Facebook without stating that it is required.

Aug 9th - 18:53pm | RangerLady

I can't get the one for Shenandoah to work. It sends me to their facebook page but there is no mention of this anywhere that I can find. 

Jennifer Pharr Davis Hoping To Thru-Hike Appalachian Trail In Record Time

Aug 9th - 13:23pm | mrsangelrr

I personally don't care about setting records, I have never been the competitive type, and I can honestly say I have never done the AT. My father-in-law with lymphedema (from surgical removal of nodes due to melanoma) completed the entire AT in something like 5-6 months.

Politics Raise A Potential Roadblock to Creation Of A "Maine Woods National Park and Preserve"

Aug 9th - 08:07am | R. E.

Reality today is the needless loss of $2,000,000,000,000 in value of peoples financial portfolio in the last few days.  Faced with that loss to security and benevolence I can only imagine the loss to NPS budget both from Congress, individual and corporate support.  Might be a good idea to not be so hard (maybe even encouraging) on the private sector in thoughts and words.

Woman Dies in Fall from Half Dome

Aug 8th - 23:49pm | Anonymous

Man.. Who paid for that rescue of a dead body?

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