| Page 1156 | National Parks Traveler

Matt, you are a future generation, but there was not 2 million people visiting the areas 50 years ago. Also, I made a point of saying impacts from any activity because in terms of wildlife, pedestrians can have, in some case, more impacts on wildlife than any form of motorized recreation (flushing birds off nests, walking on/over dunes, etc).

Jan 10th - 12:03pm | Anonymous

"Later this week we'll report on a survey of how businesses predict the new management plan will impact them. It's not encouraging." Well, that report ought to be a big "duh"...

Jan 10th - 11:51am | Matt Stubbs

Show us the degradation with proof it was and is caused by ORV's... And if you can please explain why pedestrians are being punished the same way? And by the way no one has stepped to the plate to say who they were talking about 50+ years ago when they said "Future Generations"?

Jan 10th - 11:47am | Ryan

Well, that is certainly arguable...but beside the point. So impacts to wildlife, regardless of activity is not an impact? How do you define "historical" and "traditional"?

Jan 10th - 11:32am | Anonymous

"Just because an areas managed by the NPS has "recreation" in its title does not allow for the degradation of the particular site. All NPS units are still required to adhere to the 1916 Organic act, not arguing here, just stating facts."

Jan 10th - 10:43am | Kurt Repanshek

Visitation statistics are interesting creatures, but they can be incredibly soft and lead to more questions than answers.

Jan 10th - 10:34am | Ryan

Just because an areas managed by the NPS has "recreation" in its title does not allow for the degradation of the particular site. All NPS units are still required to adhere to the 1916 Organic act, not arguing here, just stating facts. From the 1916 Organic act that created the NPS (which, just as a reminder, CAHA is a part of):

Jan 10th - 10:18am | Matt Stubbs

I have also heard that a large amount of visitation lately is due to the economy with people attempting to recreate in Cape Hatteras versus flying somewhere. This of coarse is only temporary as the economy should improve and the beaches will only close more and more areas for breeding.

Jan 10th - 09:03am | Ginny

From Kurt "July's vacation rentals along Cape Hatteras were at a record high; the motels, hotels, B&Bs, and campgrounds took in $101.7 million in July, a 16 percent increase over July 2009 revenues."

Jan 10th - 08:52am | Ginny

Add to logging and livestock, the USFWS. They created impondments, wetlands, and burn vegetation annually. If it weren't for their efforts I bet Pea Island would look more like the heavily vegetated area between Avon and Rhodanthe/Salvo/Waves. Note, there is never overwash in this area.

Jan 10th - 08:21am | Matt Stubbs

Another undereducated ANON.... Look into your Cape Hatteras history a little more and please keep things in context better.

Jan 10th - 07:38am | Anonymous

It has always interested me in this controversy that the ORV advocates point to the environmentalists as the unreasonable side who started this mess. Who filed the first lawsuit in this controversy? It was the ORV groups who filed the lawsuit challenging the designation of critical habitat for the plover on the Seashore.

Summering at Cape Lookout National Seashore: The Logistics

Jan 10th - 12:50pm | Ranger

@Ron Saunders: This is one of the many reasons why we like you so much Kurt. There, I fixed it.

Jan 9th - 14:00pm | Kurt Repanshek

I try, Ron, I really do try....

Jan 9th - 13:48pm | Ron Saunders

This is why we like you so much Kurt. You're OK bud.

Jan 9th - 09:17am | Kurt Repanshek

Jan is absolutely right, said the editor with the sheepish grin on his face. The initial lighthouse photo accompanying this story was of the Highland Light at Cape Cod. We had posted a story on Cape Cod's 50th anniversary just the other day, and I used that photo to help illustrate that.

Jan 9th - 08:30am | NCresident

The Cape Lookout has one of the more interesting daysmarks. The lighthouse appears to change colors depending on the side you see. From the www.nps.gov/calo/planyourvisit/upload/Lighthouse2006.pdf brochure:

Jan 9th - 08:05am | NCresident

Pretty lighthouse picture, but which lighthouse is it? It's not Cape Lookout nor even Ocracoke.

Jan 9th - 07:58am | Jan

The info on this page is excellent for first-time visitors to Cape Lookout, one of my favorite places in the world! However, they might be surprised to see a lighthouse that looks nothing like the photo at the top. Cape Lookout Light is painted with black and white diamond shapes... see picture at http://www.nps.gov/calo/index.htm.

Political Lineup For House Natural Resources Committee Sure to Produce Fireworks Over Public Lands

Jan 10th - 11:50am | Anonymous

I find it very interesting that the comment about "finding ways to sustain a satisfactory quality of life while using less energy and wasting less energy" was referred to as an extreme argument. This is a very reasonable argument! If people do not realize that this is what we as a nation must dedicate ourselves to accomplish, they are the extremists.

Dan Wenk Moving From NPS Headquarters to Yellowstone National Park as Superintendent

Jan 10th - 10:07am | Rich Teer

Everybody is worried about snowmobiles making noise. What about thousands of Harleys, and class A motorhomes

Trickle of Documents Highlights National Park Service's Mistakes In Hubbell Trading Post Investigation

Jan 10th - 09:49am | Field Ranger

Wow, what a sensationalized bit of reporting. Perhaps enough to make me not wish to read the "Traveler" any longer.

Jan 10th - 08:25am | Rich Granberg

The Hubbel affair has erie similarities to another effort spearheaded by, the now retired, Mr. Martin. The lack of transparency by NPS and the concessionaire under Superintendent Martin involving FOIA and the willingness to answer direct questions that could illuminate the real motivations for gutting the Grand Canyon Mule Rides, is very familiar to those close to the issue.

Rooms At Yavapai Lodge in Grand Canyon National Park Get Makeover

Jan 10th - 09:21am | Anne in Canada

Our family is beginning to plan a trip to the Grand Canyon. Thanks for this post. We just booked into Yavapai Lodge and were a bit disappointed that Bright Star was unavailable. Your post has put our mind to easy. Looks like a great room at a reasonable price.

Piping Plover Production Up At Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Jan 10th - 07:40am | Matt Stubbs

Kurt I will simply add this. Yes 15 chicks fledged, but 16 were killed (none by ORV) This is less than 50% survival rate with ORV's and pedestrians subdued by draconian closure buffers.

Jan 8th - 13:59pm | anonymous

Kurt, Your numbers would have been the same if the Point was open last year. No piping plovers or chicks ever came near Cape Point according to National Park data. Again, it's the outrageous buffers that has everyone divided. Most of my birding books call Cape Hatteras the southern most nesting area for piping plovers. I serious doubt ideal conditions will prevail two years in a row.

Jan 8th - 11:01am | Kurt Repanshek

Jeff, when you start citing Fox news I can only scratch my head. This issue isn't so cut-and-dried that it can be summarized entirely fairly or accurately in sound bites, and Fox doesn't exactly have a reputation for being unbiased.

Jan 8th - 09:45am | Dave

You are right about the animals, sadly it happens everyday at the Cape Hatteras National Recreational Seashore. However, within the next few months the killings will really pick. So will the non-science buffers and zero access to historic places like Cape Point. Don't ever think it's just a ORV issue....it means for CLOSED EVERYONE PERIOD!

Jan 8th - 08:44am | Jeff Johnston

Kurt, you're obviously an intelligent guy. It must be difficult to be in your position and have to spread this propaganda. These posts are dead on...no pun intended. Even the NPS has documented over 1400 animal "kills" to protect what, 8 pairs of birds, who are nesting out of their range anyway. And the human cost because of it is outrageous.

Facebook Promotion With Lowe's Could Gain Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars for National Park Foundation

Jan 10th - 07:07am | Connie Hopkins

I voted too and posted a link on Face Book for all of my friends to go and vote as well!

Jan 9th - 10:56am | Anonymous

I voted! You can vote daily. Well worth the effort. Good luck, National Parks!

Echoes of the Cold War in the Tropical Warmth of Everglades National Park

Jan 9th - 19:55pm | J North

Nick, also looking but for Brty B. 24E20,SP-5, only there 6 months from ROK (C-1-44). I have been looking via google earth but alot has changed since '78. From what I can recall I was thinking between Flordia City and Homestead, East. The NASCAR track might be the area.Good Luck !

Florida Officials To Install Panther Detection System With Hopes of Slowing Road Kills

Jan 9th - 17:57pm | Anonymous

The tribes were only a part of reason it wasn't built. Defenders of Wildlife and FDOT made a nice back room deal to transfer millions of dollars to the oversight of a non-governmental organization. They were arrogant enough to even put in in print. Once the local media and state reps found out the party was over.

Interior Secretary Sets Aside 17 Fee-Free Days Across the National Park System

Jan 9th - 14:58pm | Ron Saunders

Kurt, Yours and "For Hatteras Open Access" are both basically accurate information depending on what and when NPS policy measures are initiated which is a little up in the air right now as you know. The glaring fact that these posts bring out is that a place, liki Cape Hatteras, that has been loved for its simplicity is being so drastically changed.

Jan 9th - 09:51am | Kurt Repanshek

Fisherman, whether closures will be in effect, and where, during mid-April is difficult to say at this point.

Jan 9th - 08:51am | For Hatteras Op...

Sorry Fisherman. April is a wonderful time to visit Cape Hatteras National Seashore and RECREATION Area. (CHNSRA) and since it's inception it has had FREE access to the beaches. ORV use, contrary to all the hype, has been extremely respectful of the environment. But this year the NPS will be enacting their favorite "PLAN".

Jan 8th - 22:58pm | Fisherman

Getting folks out to our parklands should not be as expensive as it is. Many get tax breaks, but I pay no income taxes and yet I pay park fees. What is the difference? I am looking at April 2011 and the prospects of four FREE days as a draw to get me to North Carolina Hatteras Island and do some surf fishing.

Jan 8th - 00:10am | Megaera

I have to agree with sabattis and anonymousD. The parks need the revenue. And with that in mind, something needs to be done to get fees for the Great Smoky Mountains. It's been free 365 days a year for far too long, and it's a drag on the rest of the park system.

Yellowstone National Park’s ‘Psychedelic’ Wolves: Using Thermal Imagery To Study Disease

Jan 9th - 14:41pm | Judith Reese-Deyoe

Hello - I have been doing thermal imaging on wildlife for sometime and would love to help or work with a field team at any point in the future. I am also a medical thermographer and we actually use this technology on human to pick up internal injuries; inflammation; infections and diseases. It works faily well even with furred animals...elephants are awesome too.

Should Congress Direct the National Park Service to Rebuild the Upper Stehekin Valley Road in North Cascades National Park?

Jan 8th - 15:01pm | James

I believe Blitzer is on to something. Since the Sierra Club and others have realized the income that can be realized by verbalizing the word"environment," it's hard to decipher the difference in motivation between them and the reputation that open pit coal mine executives have.

Jan 8th - 12:20pm | Jim Stevens

I support the preservation of Pacific Northwest rivers, including the Stehekin River in North Cascades National Park. For decades, the National Park Service (NPS) has managed the Stehekin River in order to protect the public from the DEVELOPER MINDSET such as those of Doc Hastings who failed in his attempts to develop the Hanford Reach.

111th Congress Did Well When it Comes to National Park Wilderness, But It Could Have Done Better

Jan 8th - 09:51am | Dave Crowl

Kurt, I was just wondering if the newly added wilderness in the 4 places you site, were run by the NPS before, or will there be new costs in it's management. And if there are new costs, does the legislation come with a boost to the budget. As I have said before, I am all for our parks growing...I just see it a problem when they want to shrink the budget.

Jan 7th - 17:34pm | Anonymous

Actually Craters of the Moon has had designated wilderness since 1970 - it was one of the first wilderness areas administered by the NPS. http://www.nps.gov/archive/crmo/wildpurpose.htm

Jan 7th - 17:22pm | y_p_w

Kurt Repanshek: Has the senator's rider fundamentally changed things? It doesn't direct the Interior Department to extend the lease, but only gives it the authority to do so.

Jan 7th - 16:40pm | Kurt Repanshek

Has the senator's rider fundamentally changed things? It doesn't direct the Interior Department to extend the lease, but only gives it the authority to do so.

Jan 7th - 15:43pm | y_p_w

Kurt Repanshek: y_p_w, I cut-and-pasted the docs in their entirety, and linked back to them, to avoid charges that I selectively edited them.

American Indians in the Civil War? Petersburg National Battlefield is Part of the Story

Jan 7th - 17:11pm | Artfd

There is no one document that gives adequate coverage to Co. K, 1st Michigan Sharpshooters. I have created a QuickTopic page to put links I have found most useful, here: http://www.quicktopic.com/45/H/kWBSkXrMZycKa Anyone who subscribes to it will be notified by email of new postings.

What Are The Top Issues Confronting The National Park System?

Jan 7th - 14:25pm | Grizz

Anti-federal government rhetoric is higher than I can recall. It ramped up starting when Reagan declared that the federal government is the problem. Current rhetoric from the tea party types is that the federal government can't do ANYTHING right. Joe Miller, the tea party candidate from Alaska thought Denali should go to the state.

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