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Do We Need to Rethink The NPS?

Mar 14th - 16:55pm | John D.

In defense of Craters of the Moon NM, I think that it is one of the most unique locations in all of the United States, and because of that uniqueness, is worthy of preservation. There are, after all, only a handfull of lava fields in the US - and I believe that Craters of the Moon is the largest.

Reaction to Rethinking the NPS

Mar 14th - 16:44pm | John D.

Myrna Johnson is absolutely right that any look at revamping the National Park Service aught to encompass a broader look at the organization of Federal Lands.

What Yellowstone Rangers Say, and Don't Say

Mar 14th - 16:19pm | George Wuerthner

How do I sign up to get regular blogs from you?

Mar 1st - 19:37pm | John D.

Although the "tease" for this article on the main page is a big dramatic, you at least do concede on the back pages that it is certainly reasonable for any employer, including the federal government, to prevent on-duty employees from criticizing the employer to the general public. I'm also not convinced that the 1st Amendment is really designed to protect off-duty comments.

Time for a New Interior Department Logo?

Mar 8th - 19:05pm | Jeff DeMeester

My question is why would this site give so much exposure to PEER? PEER seems to me to support it self with doom and gloom articles that only gives half truths. This type of extreme spin does nothing to help the environment. I Looked at Jeff Ruch's site and he has not one positive Idea to help.

Mar 8th - 10:50am | jersu

I bet they'll receive a number of very creative ideas. I'm sure a number of them will involve a snowmobile in some form, or at least a nod towards the commercial end of the Interior's recent activities.

Funding the Parks: A Mixed Bag

Mar 7th - 06:15am | Arthur Allen

A local park has 50 permanent vacancies. They are hoping that retirements will occur so that they can keep the remainder of the staff. Meanwhile the appearance of the park is worsening because of a decimated maintenance staff. Parks should quit trying to keep services at "normal" level and shut down facilities commensurate with the parks ability to maintain them properly.

Director Mainella Pats Herself on Her Back

Mar 6th - 12:01pm | Rick Smith

Shouldn't Director Mainella's legacy be that the national park areas that she manages are in better shape than they were when she assumed her position? Now that would be a legacy about which to be proud. Sadly, that's not the case and almost everyone knows it.

Yellowstone Bison Numbers Plummet

Mar 5th - 09:22am | Jeff DeMeester

"Yellowstone Bison Numbers Plummet". These are the Kind of headlines that give most of the cubicle people a misunderstanding of the goals of the experts in charge. They Culled most of those Bison. "Opponents of the management plan continue to criticize the way officials are dealing with the issue". What would be their plan?

Last Child in the Woods....

Mar 3rd - 13:45pm | Dan

Great post. Another factor here is that most middle-class kids have their lives managed to a very high degree by parents concerned that every possible opportunity for enrichment be realized. It's certainly possible that nature can be scheduled into kids' lives this way and is; but still, parents are busy and convenience is a big decisionmaking factor.

Mar 3rd - 12:02pm | Tillerman

Thank you for highlighting this important issue. As a baby boomer and a new grandfather of a "whatever the 200X generation will be called" this has given me the inspiration to make sure that my granddaughter does not grow up with nature deficit disorder.

Mar 3rd - 07:33am | x-ranger

You sold me on it Kurt! This looks like an important and interesting book. I've got to read it still of course, but it seems that kids these days have a lot to keep them from both entering and exploring they're public lands.

Coalition Calls for Extension of Comment Period

Feb 27th - 18:57pm | Jeff DeMeester

I contacted the NPS tey refered me to these reports. http://www.nps.gov/yell/stats/index.htm http://www2.nature.nps.gov/mpur/index.cfm http://www.nps.gov/yell/stats/historical.htm

Feb 27th - 08:26am | Arthur Allen

It appears that more than 75,000 members of the public took the time and energy to comment by snail mail or by electronic means. We can only hope that the NPS will eventually divulge the number that actually reached their inbox.

Blue Ribbon Coalition Takes Offensive On Yellowstone Snowmobile Debate

Feb 25th - 13:33pm | repanshek

I don't think casting aspersions is the answer to solving West Yellowstone's problems. As Alan points out, the town exists solely because of the park, like so many other gateways towns across the national park landscape. They exist to serve the parks with lodgings, restaurants, gift shops, etc., and to deny them a right to earn a livelihood would be wrong.

Feb 25th - 11:45am | Alan

West Yellowstone very much exists solely through the presence of the national park. It is, in effect, subsidized by the park and the park's visitors. It's akin to Dick Cheney preaching the evils of big government while accepting pay (tax dollars) from it over his entire adult life.

Feb 21st - 19:43pm | Jeff DeMeester

I was hoping to get some Ideas on how to move more people through Yellowstone with less pollution. One idea I have is to use ski resort lift technology. Move them on people movers and cables. What is happening in West Yellowstone? It always looked out dated and like a goast town to me. Are the local kids moving to CA?

Feb 21st - 00:09am | John M.

I live in West Yellowstone Montana, the west entrance to Yellowstone National Park. I was a Yellowstone Park snowmobile guide for two seasons. I watched the buffalo being run up and down the roads by ignorant "bubbleheads". Smoke filled the air at the gate, around Old Faithful and rangers in the pay stations had to wear respirators. On calm days the air is so fowl in town I have to leave.

Feb 20th - 20:36pm | Jeff Demeester

It is one thing to point out all the problems of human interaction with the wilderness. It is time to point out the true efforts of most environmental groups and that is to limit access to our wilderness. They Skew the Reports. It is also time to come up with answers needed to alow more people to enjoy our wilderness.

NPS Extends MP Comment Period

Feb 24th - 08:07am | Bill Wade, Cha...

This implies that the reason for the brief extension is because of the volume of the comments being received. The real reason is that the site has been "down" at least three times and unable to receive comments (presumably because of the volume).

FWS: Yellowstone Cutthroats on Their Own

Feb 23rd - 17:33pm | Alan

Sounds like another "starve-the-beast" episode in the making, i.e., cut an agency's funding to the point where it can't do anything but close offices, lay off staff, cut corners, do without, etc. Well, anyway, that's what Fish and Wildlife has been doing throughout the tenure of Bush the king. And the direction-finding starts at the top.

Glacier Bay Lodging Packages

Feb 21st - 17:54pm | Jeff Demeester

Whow you are right the Lodging is expensive in Glaicer bay. If the meals cost $30.00 per plate for food that will still leave $300.00 per person for a room x 2 that gives them $600.00 per night for a room. That should keep out the riff-raff.hope it doesn't rain or is foggy or you will miss it. I would suggest staying atleast a week to give the weather a chance to break it is beautiful

They Shoot Snowmobilers, Don't They?

Feb 19th - 23:05pm | Me

John Sacklin should be removed from making any further decisions.

Should Glacier NP Be Considered Endangered?

Feb 19th - 17:57pm | Jeff DeMeester

Global warming would get more exposure if the city folks could afford to go to the parks. These Friends of Franchise's

Feb 18th - 08:56am | repanshek

Are Glacier's glaciers remarkable? Probably not when compared to the areas cited by John. But I think most folks associate glaciers with the far, far north, remote and wild lands, not the Lower 48, and so Glacier NP conjures all these incredible images of somewhat mystical places (mystical in terms of pure, untouched wilderness with their full complement of wildlife).

Feb 17th - 18:13pm | Alan

Yes, it's certainly not a dire-consequences thing. But it's still a hot-button issue that could well grab public attention and lead to the refocusing of efforts to push the Bush administration into gear on the overall climate change policy (non-policy, perhaps, is a better way of putting it).

Feb 17th - 16:49pm | John D.

I hesitated for a moment to comment on this, as while there is no doubt that global warming is occurring - a significant portion of this country continues to not acknowledge this, nor the substantial evidence of that warming which has accumulated since 10 years ago, let alone 20 years ago.

Lady Liberty Held Hostage...by the U.S.?

Feb 16th - 18:24pm | John D.

One of the untold stories in all this is that visitors to Liberty Island don't just have to pass through a metal detector - they have to pass through security procedures that are more stringent than at an airport. Unfortunately, too many security procedures in this country seem defined more by what they *can* do to restrict access, rather than what is reasonable to do.

Congress Can't Afford its Appetite for National Parks

Feb 16th - 17:41pm | John D.

I think that this entry is a little misleading, as it doesn't really distinguish between the establishment of the different types of Parks. On one hand, there is the commitment of establishing a true "Unit" - one of the so-called "388" that, with a few exception, generally involves NPS ownership, management, and operation.

Does Niagara Falls Need the Park Service?

Feb 16th - 16:58pm | John D.

The National Park Service is the custodian of our nation's treasures... but Niagara Falls has for too long been the most prominent exception to that.

Should Park Entrance Fees be Eliminated?

Feb 16th - 16:52pm | John D.

I don't think the USS Constitution Museum experience is at all comparable to the Yellowstone experience. Indeed, although Parks like Yellowstone do have entrance fees - a great many Parks, places like San Antonio Missions Cumberland Gap, do not.

Secretary Norton Urged by 36 House Members to Stop Management Policies Overhaul

Feb 16th - 16:37pm | repanshek

Jeanne et al, The other signatories are: Nancy Pelosi Sam Farr Raul Grijalva Rush Holt Vic Snyder Chris Van Hollen Tom Udall Mark Udall Pete Stark Ed Case William Delahunt Bob Filner Ed Markey George Miller Ellen Tauscher Major Owens Jay Inslee Barbara Lee Allyson Schwartz Michael McNulty Ben Chandler Doris Matsui Robert Andrews Barney Frank Dale Kildee

Feb 16th - 16:06pm | Jeanne

Do you have a source for this letter? I would like to know the other representatives who signed it.

House Subcommittee Told There's No Need for Mangaement Policies Rewrite

Feb 16th - 13:04pm | x-ranger

Here's a question for you Kurt: Why would Delaware North testify in favor of what most American's view as a disastrous weakening of the Park Service's Management Policies as they did this past Thursday? A park concessionaire in my mind shouldn't flex it's political muscle on issue so important to the American people. Their support is in bad taste and is tacky.

Feb 16th - 07:43am | Bill Wade

During the testimony yesterday, Mr. Bill Horn (formerly Asst Secy of Fish, Wildlife and Parks and now a paid attorney and lobbyist for snowmobile and other OHV interests) revealed information that surprised even Deputy NPS Director Steve Martin. Horn said that within two weeks after the current administration took office, the 2001 NPS Management Policies were targeted for review and revision.

Ursack: A Welcome Alternative to Food Canisters

Feb 11th - 16:12pm | M. Barbara Graham

Kit - Thanks for your info and links you've sent to Annette. I'm one of the "possibles" for the July backpack trip on the JMT. I grew up in California and have hiked Mt. Whitney, and now I live in Colorado Springs and have hiked Pikes Peak several times. Also I hiked up St. Patrick's mountain near Westport Ireland last May! What a journey. No bears any of those places yet.

Feb 8th - 10:13am | Tom Cohen

As the inventor of Ursack, I am not familiar with the specific photos referred to by Kit at Sequoia, but I have several comments. 1. The Hybrid is a new design, and there is no record of a bear anywhere getting into one. 2. The original Ursacks, starting in 2000, were made of Kevlar, which like Vectran is yellow. There were some failures of the Kevlar bag.

Feb 7th - 11:34am | Kit Stolz

I dislike carrying the traditional cylindrical bear cannister, and would be thrilled to be able to use an Ursack instead, but last time I was in Sequoia-Kings Canyon, at one ranger station (I can't remember which one) they had posted pictures of more than one Ursack ripped up by bears. Hence I'm surprised to read they were approved for the Sierras...perhaps the Hybrid is a new design?

President Bush's Budget Proposes $100 Million Cut for NPS

Feb 7th - 12:18pm | x-ranger

Great summary Kurt.

Are Park Inholdings Good Partnerships?

Feb 2nd - 09:41am | repanshek

Thanks for clarifying the status at Isle Royale, Supt. Longstreet. The distinction between inholders and leaseholders is major, one I had overlooked. With dwindling federal dollars, and more on-the-ground necessities to address, parks no doubt will have to search for those innovative partnerships you mentioned to preserve places like the homesteads at Isle Royale and elsewhere.

Feb 1st - 18:20pm | Jlongstreet

There's a critical distinction between INHOLDERS and LEASEHOLDERS in national parks. Inholders own their land and whether or not the NPS should acquire that land is indeed a valid debate. In the case of Isle Royale and many other parks, however, the NPS long ago purchased the land, and often the buildings, of the former owners and was required by law to pay fair market value.

New Survey Shows Park Visitors Enjoy Quiet, Wildlife and Scenery

Feb 1st - 17:49pm | Alan

I'm not at all surprised at the survey's findings. People often tell me (I'm the outdoors columnist for a daily newspaper in PA) that solitude and quietness are chief among their reasons for visiting state parks in our vicinity. The appreciation of quietness -- of being able to listen to the wind, not human-caused racket -- is a very much underappreciated and un-fought-for resource.

Did IMBA Negotiate in Good Faith With NPS?

Jan 26th - 18:12pm | Alan

So the parks are really all about having fun -- dirt-and-dust versions of the Vegas-style temple of fun and entertainment. That, apparently, is what the IMBA has concluded. Why stop with mountain bikes? Why not put water slides on the slopes of Mt. Rainer. And why stop with canoes on the Delaware River as it winds through Delaware Water Gap NRA? Jet Skis would so much more "fun!"

How Big Is the Park Service's Backlog?

Jan 26th - 07:44am | DSmith

Thanks for the information. I hope President Bush and Congress gives our parks the funds they need. P.S. I enjoy your site very much. Reading your posts are part of my daily routine. It's great to be informed about the Parks I have come to cherish.

Jan 25th - 09:54am | repanshek

Excellent question. I should have included some examples to reflect the maintenance problems.

Jan 25th - 08:14am | DSmith

In the last year I visited Acadia, Bryce, Cedar Breaks, and Zion. They all looked just spiffy. Yet I constantly hear how about how are parks are falling apart. Understand, I love our National Parks so I ask this question out of concern and a genuine desire to understand. Where is the problem?

Jan 23rd - 19:17pm | jersu

Great article Kurt. I've always been bothered by the dollar figure discrepancies quoted for the maintenance backlog. The number seems to change with every article I read on the subject. The Park Service should put extra effort into nailing down an exact figure. It's hard to ask for help if you can't define the problem.

Has Public Lands Preservation Become Obsolete?

Jan 23rd - 07:26am | x-ranger

The simple truth of the matter is that hunting, fishing, horseback riding and other outdoor pursuits is declining. Until the conservation community and low-impact recreationists make greater headway in working together, more and more public lands will be developed and opened up to noisy recreation, and fewer places for solitude and peace will remain.

Jan 21st - 11:03am | Alan

I've been lamenting the apparent passing of the "John Muir" movement for a few years now. Having lands to wreck-re-ate on is a fine thing. Hell, public lands! That's where the future of fish-and-wildlife conservation is. But when places are saved because of their recreation potential (whether for ATVs, mountain bikers, hikers, what-have-you), we're in trouble.

Newspaper Suggests Pennsylvania Take Valley Forge Back

Jan 20th - 09:17am | tom berriman

I actually testified before the House Subcommittee in 1975, favoring absorbtion of VFP, attended President Ford's bill signing and worked as a congressional staffer against the NPS introducing entrance fees to the park located less than a half mile from my childhood home.

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