Vol 4, #10

   Friday, February 4, 2000

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YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (NPS) -- Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Michael V. Finley has announced that the park is soliciting comments on the issues and alternatives to be considered in an environmental assessment (EA) for construction of the Yellowstone Heritage and Research Center, a curatorial storage facility that will consolidate Yellowstone's museum and archival collections, research library, historic vehicles, and herbarium into one facility.

Yellowstone's museum, research library, and archival collections are among the finest in the National Park Service and have gained a national and international reputation for the critical role they play in documenting the national park movement, the park's history, and the condition of its natural and cultural resources. Collections include many rare, one-of-a-kind, and irreplaceable objects.

Currently, these important resources are located in several facilities that do not allow for the proper care and expansion of the collection. The facilities lack space, environmental controls, security and fire protection, and do not meet federal guidelines for collections management. Additionally, the facilities are inadequate to meet the public and park's need for access to collections.

The National Park Service is considering several facility site locations within park boundaries and within or adjacent to existing developed areas. One proposed site is located at the northern park boundary (on park land) adjacent to the Gardiner School. Another proposed site is located along the esplanade in the Mammoth Hot Springs Historic District.

To assist the National Park Service with the Yellowstone Heritage and Research Center project, you are invited to comment on the issues and identify alternatives or other concerns that need to be considered in this process. Please send your comments by July 17, 2000, to: Planning Office, Yellowstone Heritage and Research Center Project, P.O. Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming 82190.

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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS AND COLUMNISTS

Ralph Maughan
Kim Steinbacher
Kevin Sanders
Steve Brashear
Clint Wilkes
Tim Gourley
Hon. Bob Gammage
Ruth Colter-Frick
Lee Whittlesey
Tom Mazzarisi
Russ Finley
David Monteith
Denise Elmer
Dr. Bob Bara

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (NPS) -- Thanks to a generous $24,900 donation by the GE Fund to the Yellowstone Park Foundation, Yellowstone National Park staff will now be able to move forward with the design and installation of new interpretive displays along the two Mount Washburn trails and inside the fire lookout station located at the summit of the mountain. Current signs along the trail are in disrepair and outdated, and signs in the lookout station had to be removed over a year ago because of their poor condition. Planning and design of the project is already underway, but additional funding was necessary to complete the project. Displays should be completed and installed by the fall of 2001.

Each year, more than 10,000 park visitors hike the popular three-mile-long trails that pass through spectacular alpine habitat to the summit's fire lookout station where breathtaking views of many of the park's most prominent features (including Yellowstone Lake, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River, Hayden Valley) can be observed. New porcelain enamel displays will provide visitors with information about the park's history and natural resources, backcountry safety, and hiker etiquette. They will also interpret Yellowstone fire ecology and explain the visible evidence of wildfire on nearby slopes.

"We are deeply appreciative of the GE Fund's donation to the Yellowstone Park Foundation," Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Michael Finley noted. "GE has a long, impressive history of supporting educational projects--including environmental education--throughout the country. GE's contribution assures that park visitors will have the enhanced educational experience they richly deserve." In 1999, the GE Fund, the philanthropic foundation of the General Electric Company, made grants totaling nearly $40 million, primarily in support of education at all levels.

The exhibit project is a cooperative undertaking between the park, the GE Fund, the Yellowstone Park Foundation, the Yellowstone Association, and the family of Brian Matthew Ceto. Brian, who died of leukemia in 1995, loved his visit to Yellowstone National Park--particularly his hike up Mount Washburn. The Ceto donation will fund new panorama exhibits in the Lookout station which identify the prominent natural features that are visible from the lookout.

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Continued studies of cutthroat trout from Yellowstone Lake have revealed that many of the fish throughout the Lake are affected with whirling disease, an exotic parasite that cripples young trout.   Some 20 percent of cutthroat netted in the process of removing Lake Trout from the Lake have tested positive for the disease.  Most of the tested trout were older trout, so continued studies are needed to determine the impact on younger trout.  The only portion of Yellowstone Lake that appears immune to the disease is the West Thumb area.  Biologists will continue to research the impact of the disease upon the Lake's cutthroat population, as it is considered a significant threat to the trout population.

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HELENA, Mont. -- The state of Montana is seeking applications from people who would like to serve on a council that will help the state wildlife agency develop a wolf management plan.  The plan will be prepared against the backdrop of a future removal of the wolf from the Endangered Species list.  The citizen plan will help the state prepare for this anticipated eventuality.  Montanans wishing to serve on this council should send a letter to Pat Graham (Montana FWP), P.O. Box 200701, Helena 59620-0701.

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