|
||||
| MONDAY Sept 4, 2000 Vol 4, # 56 |
|
|
||||
| MONDAY Sept 4, 2000 Vol 4, # 56 |
|
|
. | |
| Site Search | Support Yellowstone! Discussion Free Internet, Email, More Email Newsletter | |
YELLOWSTONE ROAD
REPORT PUBLISHER EDITOR-IN-
|
 PROTECTING YELLOWSTONEby Bruce Gourley Yellowstone is a national treasure which is owned by the American public. Protecting Yellowstone is the responsibility of the American public. This weekly feature will help identify and explore the issues which are crucial to the ongoing, healthy existence of the "Crown Jewel" of America's National Park system. YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK (YNET) -- Yellowstone is one of the most intact natural ecosystems in America, as is evidenced by the abundant wildlife which inhabits the Park. And although the large animals, such as the bison, elk, moose, grizzly and wolf generally get most of the attention, there are many more varieties of wildlife which inhabit the Yellowstone ecosystem, including many species of birds. One such bird, the trumpeter swan, is suddenly receiving a little more attention than usual. The wildlife group The Fund for Animals has submitted a petition calling for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to declare Yellowstone's trumpeter swans endangered. The petition seeks to make sure that the swans' critical habitat area is protected. Trumpeter swans are the largest waterfowl species in North America and the largest swans in the world. The petition maintains that lack of adequate habitat protection for Yellowstone's swans has resulted in the swans no longer migrating, and that long-term survival of the birds depends upon them being able to migrate into areas such as northern Utah, Nevada and California. The swan petition follows several months after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed to allow a permanent trumpeter swan hunting season, a move which angered many wildlife groups. Trumpeter swans have graced the Yellowstone region for many years, although many, if not most, Park visitors never see the giant birds. One pair of birds which has been nesting on the Madison River between Madison campground and West Yellowstone, Montana, is oftentimes readily visible from the roadway, however. (Yellowstone Net provides you opportunity to voice your opinion regarding the various Yellowstone issues to your congresspersons and to editorial sections of magazines and newspapers by clicking here.) |
|
| . | . | . |
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS AND COLUMNISTS Ralph Maughan
|
UPDATE ON
BURN VICTIMS SALT LAKE CITY, Utah -- Last week a memorial service was held in Oregon for Sara Hulphers, 20, who died from third degree burns she suffered when she fell into Cavern Spring in Yellowstone National Park. The incident happened two weeks ago. Sara's two companions, Tyler Montague and Lance Buchi, both 18 and both from Utah, survived the ordeal but remain hospitalized in Salt Lake City where they are in critical but stable condition. Montague and Buchi, both with third degree burns on over 90% of their bodies, continue to fight for their lives as people from around the world pray for the two young men and their families. The August 21 incident, in which the three Amfac employees fell through thin crust into the boiling hot pool below, marked the first time in Yellowstone's history that three people were seriously scalded in a hot spring at the same time. |
|
| , | . | . |
| WILDFIRES UPDATE by National Park Service YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. -- Due to rainy, damp weather and the prediction of additional moisture in the park over this past weekend, SOME fire restrictions are being lifted INSIDE Yellowstone National Park. As of Saturday, September 2, at 8:00 a.m., wood and/or charcoal fires will be allowed at frontcountry campsites, picnic areas, parking areas, and employee housing as long as they are limited to established fire pits or grates or as long as fire pans or barbecues are used. Smoking restrictions in the frontcountry have also been lifted. All backcountry restrictions will remain in place until further notice. Highway 212, outside the Northeast Entrance, otherwise known as the Beartooth Highway, has reopened, although some delays may occur. The Northeast Entrance to Yellowstone National Park and the Chief Joseph Highway (Highway 296) to Cody, Wyoming, remain open. Flagg Ranch, located in the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway, reopened August 28. Grassy Lake Road, located south of Yellowstone, reopened Friday. No-stopping restrictions on the South Entrance Road have also been lifted. Yellowstone National Park officials report that no new fires have been found within Yellowstone over the past few days. Yellowstone’s fires are located in remote backcountry areas and are not threatening any developed areas at this time. Following is information on current fire activity in the park. There are approximately 52 people assigned to Yellowstone fires. The Plateau Fire, located in a remote area of the southwestern portion of Yellowstone near Boundary Creek, is estimated to be 2,600 acres. This fire, burning towards the northeast, has been putting out a visible column of smoke during the past few days, noticeable to residents of West Yellowstone and central Idaho. This fire is not threatening any developed areas. Firefighters are working to protect a backcountry patrol cabin 1-2 miles from the fire as well as continuing a confinement strategy on the west flank. The Moose Fire, located near Moose Creek south of Shoshone Lake, is estimated at 1,200 acres. Previously burned areas from the 1988 Yellowstone fires are helping to naturally keep this fire from significantly spreading. This fire is being monitored. The Boundary Fire is located along the South Boundary of the park near Grassy Lake. This fire is estimated at approximately 265 acres and is burning in an area that was burnt during the 1988 Yellowstone fires. Earlier this week, park staff established plots to monitor how the 1988 Yellowstone fires were affecting the behavior of this fire. Efforts are being made to confine this fire north of the park’s southern boundary. The Unlucky Fire, located in the southwest portion of the park in the Bechler area, is now estimated to be approximately 2,350 acres. This fire is mostly burning fuels within its perimeter and is not substantially expanding. It is being monitored. Before determining whether firefighters will suppress an individual fire, fire managers take a number of factors into consideration, including weather conditions, human safety, terrain, and available resources. Some of these fires are located in areas that present a great safety risk to firefighters, with rugged terrain and heavy fuels. All fires are closely monitored and mapped on a daily basis by park staff on reconnaissance flights. Yellowstone fire crews are also assisting with higher priority fires outside the park in Montana and areas surrounding the park—fires that have the potential to affect human safety or damage manmade structures. There have been a total of 34 fires during the 2000 fire season, 4 of which were human-caused; the remaining 30 were lightning-caused. All of these fires, except those mentioned above, have been declared out. Overall, park fire danger is rated as high. |
||
| YO | . | . |
| GLACIER PARK UPDATE News Brief GLACIER NATIONAL PARK, Mont. -- Glacier National Park does remain open in the midst of one of the worst fire seasons that the state of Montana has experienced. And although the Park is open, visitors are finding out that there is a long list of activities which are currently prohibited. Most hiking trails, for example, are open but fires and open flames of all kinds are prohibited. Some trails and even some roadways, such as portions of the Inside North Fork Road, are closed to the public. However, the main highway, the Going-to-the-Sun road, is open. |
||
| |
||
