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What Were the Top Stories Across the National Park System in 2008?

Dec 22nd - 18:06pm | Lepanto

Dear Ted Clayton: Your's is a non-answer answer: ITEM: There was no reduction of the NPS budget during the time of the economic meltdown. Your original thesis is that Kurt's list was entirely composed of matters that were, in fact, determined by the economic meltdown. This plainly is not true.

Dec 22nd - 15:22pm | Ted Clayton

Anonymous protests:

Dec 22nd - 15:03pm | Ted Clayton

Dear Lepanto, I know that it has for years been the norm among Parks-aficionados to ascribe the failure of the government to fund the Parks at the level sought by Parks & their boosters, to "politics", as though this is a special and even nefarious situation.

Dec 22nd - 14:29pm | Anonymous

If Bush is checking out, what's the real need in even mentioning him anymore? Too bad you still suffer from BDS. I'd just as soon move on and not read about it everywhere, including here. He's old news.

Dec 22nd - 01:42am | Lepanto

Dear Ted Clayton: I am unaware of any changes in the NPS funding during 2008 that were cut or affected by the economic meltdown, except perhaps fundraising. Were there any cuts because of federal revenue shortfalls? I do not think so. It seems to me, failure to fund parks has been a political decision.

Dec 21st - 21:29pm | Ted Clayton

I think that by far and away the dominant National Parks story of 2008, is the economic meltdown. Several of the nominees for top story of 2008, are actually sub-plots of the unraveling economy. Everything that President-elect Obama tries to think about, now & going forward, will be framed & driven by economic considerations. Including the Parks

Dec 21st - 12:25pm | Lepanto

Kurt -- thank you for mentioning both Valley Forge, and also the inclusion of the proposed "Patterson Great Falls National Historical Park," as part of the death, temporary or otherwise, of the Omnibus Land Management Act of 2008.

Dec 21st - 10:54am | jsmacdonald

And, in Yellowstone, we also had the largest slaughter of wild bison than at any time since the 19th century. Snowmobiling in Yellowstone is a constant issue and does get more ink across the nation; if that's the measure, then it's certainly a top story (over the buffalo issue).

Heavy Rains and Flooding from Hurricane Ike Remnants Left a Mess at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

Dec 22nd - 09:02am | Anonymous

Save the Dunes has lobbied several times to try to get a name change for this national treasure. While our Congressman has been very supportive, the Interior Department has not. Maybe with this new administration they will try again. I hope so.

Elk Population Growing at Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Dec 22nd - 07:10am | Anonymous

Please bring back the Red Wolves. I seen a red wof as a teenager & have never forgotten it. It was the most memorable event in my life. Sooner or later the ungulate population will get too large and offset the natural order & huntin IS NOT THE ANSWER!!!! Thanks

At Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, Old History Made Way for New History

Dec 22nd - 06:31am | Bob Janiskee

Ann, I think only a very tiny minority of Americans consider the Arch boring or think of it as a symbol of hardship and horror (the suffering of the pioneers, the slow motion Holocaust that was the Indian Wars, the environmental devastation in the prairies and mountains, etc.). The history-polishing has been very successful.

Dec 22nd - 00:50am | Ann

Lost to many, but not all, and I never saw the arch as glorified. Once it made it past boring-yearly-field-trip status, it became a glistening monument to the hardship and horror of pushing white men Westward. It became a monument to the ability to polish history into a happy, child-friendly, textbook-like story.

Comment Period Reopens on Whether National Park Visitors Can Arm Themselves

Dec 21st - 22:35pm | Ted Clayton

Dec 21st - 16:23pm | Random Walker

Then there are the studies of the study:

Dec 21st - 14:15pm | Hiker Joe

I have been carrying concealed since before the license was available. I figure if I ever have to use it, I have bigger problems than a fine or even jail time. If it saves my life I will gladly pay the fine or do the time. A friend once told me it’s better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6. I only use a gun in self defense.

The Interior Building in Washington, D.C. Gets a "Green Roof"

Dec 21st - 21:08pm | Ted Clayton

Walks like a duck, quacks like a duck ... and most likely is a fad. Eric "Griz" Grunwald offers the rejoinder: Don't all roofs eventually leak? Yes, true enough, but the impervious layer that needs fixed isn't covered by a layer of soil, preventing inspection & access.

Dec 21st - 20:04pm | griz

Don't all roofs eventually leak?

Dec 21st - 19:30pm | Roger

Drip, drip, drip...roof will eventually leak costing taxpayers $$$$ for this nonsense.

Dec 21st - 12:55pm | robmutch

Nice article Jim. Rob Mutch Executive Director, Crater Lake Institute www.craterlakeinstitute.com

Twenty Boats Destroyed by Fire in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

Dec 21st - 20:15pm | Ted Clayton

"Investigators pull burned boats from Lake Powell marina" Seattle had an environmental terrorist group torch newly-built (even unfinished) multi-million dollar elite homes, fairly recently. Difference here was (as is often the case), they signed their handiwork.

Dec 21st - 09:44am | Chas

Maybe Santa Arsonist came early. The boat owners with paid up insurance will probably be very happy they won't have to worry about making another loan payment. What would those boats be worth ten years from now when the lake's almost gone?

Dec 19th - 23:50pm | Anonymous

Anyone have information about affected slips, or the section that caught fire

Dec 19th - 15:41pm | JimB

Given the time of night and year, the remote location, and the unusual challenges (and dangers) presented by a fire in a marina, the staff did an incredible job in this situation! Under the circumstances, it's amazing that they saved the majority of the boats.

Alexander Hamilton's "Country Home" on the Move in New York City

Dec 21st - 12:06pm | JimInNewYork

Thank You, RogerB34 for this amazing picture. I think you are on to something in implying that the location is not the 20th Century location for Hamilton's Grange, on Convent Ave.

Dec 20th - 18:38pm | RogerB34

Here's a link to a Life photo collection including the Hamilton house December 1888, labled as Covenant Ave. Timbers supporting the foundation for the move are clearly seen. The surrounding area is being filled with stone. From the original drawing above, it is more likely the house in its original location being prepared for the 1889 move.

Updated: Dueling Judges Push Yellowstone National Park Snowmobile Limit Back to 720 Per Day

Dec 21st - 10:22am | Anonymous

That judge in DC should be the one to decide, in the interest of all the people hence the word National Park; not the locals with their own agenda!!!!

Robin Winks on the Evolution and Meaning of the Organic Act

Dec 20th - 15:11pm | Ted Clayton

Kurt, I am going to 'pull' this outstanding compilation of considerations of the National Parks Organic Act into the current thread-display, since it is so germane to present discussion on National Parks Traveler. I have only scanned this, and must return to snow-control work as we have a new storm approaching this afternoon, but I will explore it in detail. Ted

Bush Administration Publishes Proposed Rule For Mountain Biking in National Parks

Dec 20th - 14:58pm | Ted Clayton

Kurt, Snow? Yeah, we're bulldozing the road, and I still can't get on my trail-routes ... but it is a lot of fun. ;-)

Dec 20th - 14:37pm | Zebulon

Fred, I hear you, but much to your dismay, cyclists crave single track not fireroads. In my experience, I've found fireroads to be way more dangerous than single tracks simply because it's a lot easier to go fast on a fireroad and encountering a family walking 4-5 across the road can be a problem.

Dec 20th - 14:10pm | Olallie

Thank you, Kurt, for your reasoned comments on the proposed mountain bike rule. I agree that there is a place for bike use in the parks, ideally on old jeep roads such as the White Rim in Canyonlands, where conflicts with hikers are minimal. Possibly also on new, dedicated trails outside of proposed wilderness areas.

Dec 20th - 10:23am | Rick Smith

My goal as an NPS employee, supervisor and manager was to attempt to accomplish in every park to which I was assigned three fundamental tasks: preserve and protect resources; provide high quality visitor services; and to maintain productive relationships with park interest groups. Among those interest groups were the communitiies that surrounded the park areas.

Dec 20th - 09:24am | Kurt Repanshek

Ted, Wish I had more time to delve deeply into this, but all the fresh snow of the past few days is too inviting to ignore;-)

Dec 20th - 01:17am | Ted Clayton

Kurt I admit that 'local authority' is hardly a panacea for or protection against mismanagement. Blagojevich is not an aberration, but one of many symptoms in a long history of local-authority-gone-bad, in the Chicago & Illinois region. Louisiana has a reputation for harboring squalid corruption, shielding it behind 'local authority'.

Dec 19th - 21:15pm | Kurt Repanshek

Ted, with all due respect, I disagree that the discretion over park-specific activities should be given over to the local parks.

Dec 19th - 19:45pm | Ted Clayton

Zebulon,

Dec 19th - 14:04pm | Zebulon

There are some simple solutions to cut down on the user conflicts. Some places have instituted an even-odd day regulation for some more crowded trails. On odd days, horse riders can use the trail, on even days, cyclists can use it. Hikers can use it all the time, but also know what kind of other users they'll encounter.

Dec 19th - 12:12pm | BigEye Dave

I try to do it all: fish, hunt, bike, bird, photograph, sleep, eat, etc. What I recognize is that groups do not self-regulate and we tolerate idiots in the ranks. As a result I struggle with the mountain bike "issue" in the parks, particularly Yellowstone, in the event bikes are permitted on trails.

Dec 19th - 11:54am | Kurt Repanshek

Apology accepted, Zeb, not that it was entirely necessary. This can be a rough and tumble place from time to time;-) I do sincerely invite you to stick around and weigh in on some of the other issues when the mood strikes. There are some important ones out there.

Dec 19th - 11:29am | Zebulon

Agreed. Long day, short fuse, my comment was inappropriate. I sincerely present my apologies to Kurt. I had a longer reply typed, but an operator error erased it. :) At any rate, I am certainly an one issue type of guy, not that I'm insensitive to some of the other challenges that the national parks are facing.

Dec 19th - 10:13am | Ted Clayton

Zebulon, I'll even tolerate people who cherry-pick their one-issue agenda ... but start slinging the hate-accusation, putting on the hair-shirt and disdainfully looking somebody else's gift-horse in the mouth ... well, no.

Gun Rules for The National Parks: Will They Really Make It Easier To Pack in the Parks?

Dec 19th - 15:28pm | Ted Clayton

Kurt wonders: ... if this rule change really wasn't intended to be an economic stimuli of its own. In English & Spanish, right? Don't we have regulations for the mounting of signage? What do we do about buildings that don't offer proper mounting surfaces/structures? Rebuild them!

Dec 19th - 14:04pm | Kurt Repanshek

You know, I wonder if this rule change really wasn't intended to be an economic stimuli of its own. Think of all the signage that will have to be changed throughout the national parks: gun ban signs at entrances, at trailheads, etc, etc.;-)

Dec 19th - 13:48pm | Ted Clayton

Gary Slider said: [The law (18 USC 93) says] they must post the building if they don't want anyone carrying. You're right, unambiguously. Certainly, I see these postings when I go to 'real' Federal Builds & Courts, in the big city ... but I don't see them on many Park-buildings.

Dec 19th - 12:36pm | Gary Slider

Ted, I agree and I read the law that way also. I read it even if the building is posted I can still carry there if I have a permit/license that makes it legal for me to carry in the state the National park is located in. The law also states they must post the buildings. If they post them and they say it applies to those with a legal permit/license to carry is what we have to find out.

Dec 19th - 11:27am | Ted Clayton

Here is an easier-to-read copy of 18 USC Sec. 930.

Dec 19th - 10:22am | Gary Slider

You need to read the US Code below and especially (3)(h) The National Parks will have to post all their buildings except for the Park Offices which fall under the law as defined below.

Upon Further Review – Does the River Run Downstream?

Dec 19th - 14:31pm | Anonymous

People with this lack of experience should not be out alone ----- travel with others to gain knowledge before heading out alone.

An Ancient Road System Still Puzzles Us at Chaco Culture National Historical Park

Dec 19th - 14:14pm | Barky

Thanks for the article. I just visited Chaco Canyon in October, and was astounded. I still have a hard time understanding how such a large native population could seemingly thrive in such a difficult (i.e. dry & hot) climate. The ruins there are spectacular, the American version of Tikal. ===========================================

More Fishers Soon To Be On the Loose in Olympic National Park

Dec 19th - 13:28pm | Ted Clayton

First of all, it does seem like a very good idea, to focus on species-reintroductions that are less controversial & polarizing. The fisher is being used in this way in many places across the U.S.A, and it's a good thing.

Sen. Salazar Seems to be the Interior Secretary Pick For the Obama Administration

Dec 19th - 10:42am | Ted Clayton

Frank C., Although I am as wary as anyone of the weaknesses & foibles of Government, I don't see any unusual crisis at the moment, and feel no unique urgency to respond to their depredations.

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