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Talking Points...and Points of Concern

Apr 14th - 06:08am | John D.

I think that they are greatly misrepresenting that "96% satisfaction" statistic. Of course it would be hard to go to some place as amazing as Yellowstone and "not be satisfied" - but they shouldn't kid themselves that people don't notice outdated exhibits, or that it is harder than ever to spend time with an experienced Park Ranger while in the Park.

Park Visitation Trends: Is There a Problem?

Apr 14th - 05:52am | John D.

Kurt - Thanks for posting these additional numbers. One thing that jumps out at me from them is that with visitation bottoming-out in 1990, and visitation peaking in 1990, its clear that economic conditions affect visitation. I think you're right that fees can also affect visitation.

Apr 13th - 07:27am | repanshek

For what it's worth, after NPS visitation peaked at a record 287.2 million in 1987, it plummeted all the way down to 255.8 million in 1990, rebounded a bit to 274.7 million in 1992, and then slid again to 265.8 million in 1996 before climbing back up to 287.1 million in 1999.

Apr 12th - 19:34pm | John D.

Actually, I think that declining visitation to the National Parks is something worth being concerned about. From 1986 - 1988, National Park visitation consistently topped 280 million recreational visits, and the NPS has never topped the 287.2 million recreational visits recorded in 1987 - coming closest in 1999. In 2005, the NPS only had 273 million recreational visits.

Apr 11th - 10:53am | jersu

In light of a giant maintenance backlog, falling operational budgets, and fewer park personnel, it is surprising that the Govt would be worried about lower visitation numbers to the NPS. If anything, they should be exploring ways to restrict public access to the parks until there is a budget that can support the numbers of visitors today.

Apr 11th - 06:50am | Kris

In the last ten years, the federal recreation fee programs have increased entrance fees, some of them have doubled. This could be a key factor impacting visitation. However, 277 million Americans continue to visit parks and are willing to pay for the experience.

Park Visitation, Part Two

Apr 13th - 07:14am | repanshek

John, while you raise questions in need of answers, I didn't intend to suggest that NPS trends mirrored those at New Mexico's state parks or vice versa. Rather, it was simply to point out that just as NPS visitation goes up and down, so does that at New Mexico's state parks yet Tourism Secretary Michael Cerletti didn't seem as concerned about that in his testimony.

Apr 12th - 19:17pm | John D.

Some aspects of this post don't ring true. For example, Kurt wonders if Carlsbad's remote location has been a factor in its declining visitation - but unless Carlsbad Caverns have moved recently, its location should not have played any role in declining visitation.

Secretary Norton's Farewell

Apr 7th - 07:44am | yellowstoner

Get off the snowmobile issue. They are vile, loud, smokey, and intrusive! But more damage is done to back country features by skiers tracking through runoff chanels, or climbing to the top of geyser cones for pictures with the tips of their skis poking the fragile geyserite. We need an honest evaluation of how to use the parks that is inclusive - not exclusive.

TWS Wants Kempthorne To "Correct" Norton's Damage

Apr 7th - 06:47am | Yellowstoner

Love your Kempthorne picture.

How Long Will the Parks Last?

Apr 4th - 21:10pm | John D.

Its a shame that this amateur column is getting publicity, as this piece is pure scare-mongering. Mr.

Mar 28th - 04:47am | Alan Gregory

Mike does a good job of encapsulating the whole Norton-era debacle. It will only get worse under Kempthorne. I've been watching him for years. I'm a native of Idaho.

Keeping the Night Dark in the Parks

Apr 4th - 20:55pm | John D.

Readers interested in the issue of light pollution should check out the International Dark Sky Association at http://www.darksky.org , and which is dedicated to combatting light pollution.

Mar 28th - 04:49am | Alan Gregory

I saw the Milky Way (our galaxy!!) while standing in the surf after dusk at Popham Beach, Maine, last September, fly fishing for striped bass. I hadn't seen the galaxy like that for years, not since leaving New York's Adirondack region.

Gulf Islands National Seashore Still Recovering

Apr 4th - 20:48pm | John D.

I wonder, though, given all the needs of the National Park System, if a road has been destroyed by hurricanes in two consecutive years, should we really spend the money to rebuild it? The article reports that the lack of human activity on the fragile seashore - activity which used to include bustling campgrounds and commercial concessions - has produced an increasing abundance of wildlife.

Blue Ridge Head Scratcher

Apr 4th - 20:40pm | John D.

What's truly astonishing about this proposal is that the Blue Ridge Parkway already boasts 11 Visitor's Centers, not counting the facilities at Mabry Mill and the shared Oconoluftee VC with Great Smoky Mountains, which I believe makes it the Nationl Park with greatest number of Visitor's Centers in the System.

Apr 3rd - 11:52am | jersu

I agree with you. Why build a multi-million dollar centerpiece on top of a crumbling infrastructure? I think this politician is going after the "sexy" headline grabbing project for his community, rather than the more prudent but less noteworthy long term solution. I have seen the effects of funding cuts along the Parkway.

Denver Post Has Suggestion for Kempthorne

Apr 4th - 20:30pm | John D.

And of course, the ironic thing is that the so-called Revised Management Policies still do far too little to recognize the sheer diversity of sites within the National Park System.

Entrance Fees Going Up

Apr 4th - 20:26pm | John D.

The good news, however, is that I believe that Park Pass money is all sent back to the Parks. I have to believe, though, that the 2007 Parks Pass will be a bit more than $50 - which will be good for the Parks....

Has Secretary Norton Opened the Way for OHV Use in Parks?

Mar 28th - 06:08am | Howard Gross, ...

Thanks for your reporting the dangers of Norton's guidelines and dissecting this latest RS 2477 chapter in a clear and thorough manner.

That Road To Nowhere

Mar 22nd - 13:53pm | Alan Gregory

The good congressman's stance, I'd be willing to bet, has less to do with enhancing the transportation alternatives available to a handful of constituents than it does with accommodating some very special interests -- those who've kicked in campaign dollars to his re-election warchest. No, no, that couldn't be the case. Or could it?

Cedar Breaks National....Park?

Mar 21st - 16:45pm | John D.

This post ends with the question "can the NPS afford another National Park at this time?" One thing about the maze of designations within the National Park System is that ultimately I don't think that there would be much cost difference in the way a Cedar Breaks National Park would be run from the way Cedar Breaks NM is being run right now.

Global Warming's Impact on Glacier NP to Be Discussed By UNESCO

Mar 19th - 23:11pm | HANK HOWARD

ADVISE THAT THE SHIP IS SINKING AT DOI AND THE RATS ARE FLEEING. NEXT IN LINE BUREAU OF RECLAMATION JOHN KEYS ANNOUCED RESIGNATION EFFETIVE APRIL 15, COULD FRAN MANELLA BE NEXT. INTERESTING FOUR DAYS AFTER SEC. NORTO ANNOUNCEMENT. HANK HOWARD BOR CRITIC

Park Lodging Bargains Beginning to Sprout

Mar 17th - 10:19am | Bonnie Avonrude

Zion National Park: Stayed @ Best Western in Mt Carmel, about 9 miles from Zion....$50 including tax! Great place, clean, and reasonable!

Funding the Parks: A Mixed Bag

Mar 15th - 16:28pm | Former ranger

Having worked as a seasonal ranger at Mesa Verde relatively recently, I doubt that Mesa Verde is any better funded than any other park. The summer I worked there, the park administration saved money by not leasing government vehicles and requiring interpreters to drive their own vehicles to and from tour sites.

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.

Reaction to Rethinking the NPS

Mar 14th - 19:20pm | jersu

I agree. How is anyone supposed to know which federal agency manages the many scattered National Monuments across our country. The distinction is very important. Mt. St. Helens National Monument is managed by the Forest Service, and within the monument Weyerhaeuser presumably still holds some logging rights.

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.

Do We Need to Rethink The NPS?

Mar 14th - 17:20pm | repanshek

John,

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.

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.

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.

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