For immediate release – July 26, 2010
Contacts: David Barna, (202) 208-6843, David_Barna@nps.gov
Patrick O’Driscoll, (303) 969-2839, Patrick_O’Driscoll@nps.gov
Wessels Named Intermountain Regional Director
Will lead one of seven National Park Service regions
WASHINGTON – National Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis has named John
A. Wessels as the Service’s Intermountain regional director, responsible
for leading 5,000 employees and 92 national parks visited by more than 42
million people annually. Wessels, who serves as the region’s associate
director for administration, business and technology, assumes his new
position in Denver in August.
“John has an incredible track record of tackling tough issues and finding
innovative solutions,” Jarvis said. “Results-oriented and goal-driven, John
manages by inclusion, building a collaborative work ethic among employees
and with partners. He strives for the highest standards of transparency and
accountability. He has an easy grasp of the big picture and is dedicated to
the effective use of new and emerging technologies to meet the needs of the
National Park Service. As the National Park Service looks toward its second
century, he will be a valuable member of our national senior management
team.”
“Serving as the Intermountain regional director is a tremendous honor,”
Wessels said. “The region is home to some of this country’s most
spectacular landscapes and most compelling stories, places that have been
entrusted to the National Park Service by the American people for nearly
100 years. It is our privilege to care for the natural and cultural
resources in parks and to work with communities around the region to help
them preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational
opportunities for their citizens.
“For me, this is an opportunity to support employees in their dedicated
efforts to care for these special places and engage park visitors,
partners, and communities. I will listen carefully to their voices as we
work together to preserve these places, engage the public, draw young
people to the parks, and provide meaningful experiences to our diverse
audiences.”
As the regional associate director for administration, business and
technology since 2004, Wessels oversees a regional annual operating budget
of $500 million and the largest concessions contracting operation in the
National Park Service, more than 200 contracts that gross over $425 million
annually.
Over the last 18 months, he has also led the investment of $200 million in
American Reinvestment and Recovery Act funds in priority park projects
across the region. He was the key figure in developing a virtual
acquisition strategy that has improved accountability and empowered the
workforce with more flexibility for purchasing and contracting. He was
responsible for overseeing property management for 43 million acres of
public land and more than 2,000 park structures.
Wessels joined the National Park Service in 2000 as the Intermountain
Region’s comptroller, where he managed all finance and budget-related
activities and developed a web-based system to integrate financial systems
data and project information to provide park managers with real-time access
to critical income and expense data by park.
During his career he has served as acting deputy superintendent at Golden
Gate National Recreation Area in San Francisco, acting deputy Intermountain
regional director, acting associate director for business services at the
National Park Service headquarters in Washington, D.C., and most recently
as acting superintendent of Grand Teton National Park and the John D.
Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway in Wyoming.
From 1989 to 2000, Wessels worked for U.S. Department of Commerce’s
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Boulder managing
financial and administrative functions and systems for the national physics
laboratory.
He was selected as a Presidential Management Fellow in 1985 and served in
the Office of Management and Budget where he become a permanent employee
(1985-1989) serving as the budget examiner for the $4 billion U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development. At OMB, he staffed two
presidential commissions – Management Improvement and Integrity and
Efficiency – and was the lead analyst on the Enterprise Zone Empowerment
Program, an initiative to spur investment in economically depressed
communities. In 1987, Wessels was commissioned as an ensign in the United
States Naval Reserve and served for six years as a reserve intelligence
analyst.
Wessels earned bachelor and master of science degrees in public finance and
policy analysis from Carnegie-Mellon University and a second master of
science degree in computer information systems from Regis University, where
he has served as an adjunct professor of business and information systems
in the College of Professional Studies since 1998.
He lives in Denver with his wife, Mary, and their children Grace and Jack.
Note to Editors: The National Park Service’s seven regional offices provide localized policy, leadership, and technical support to parks and communities. The Intermountain region is the largest region in the National Park Service, spanning the states of Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma. The region includes 92 parks encompassing 11.1 million acres; employs 6,000 permanent and seasonal employees, and generates one-half of all National Park Service concession revenues. It has more than 230 national historic landmarks and more than 11,000 properties listed in the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places.
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My Tags: America, Arizona, Colorado, Denver, Montana, New Mexico, News, Oklahoma, Park, Rat, Texas, Washington, WyomingRelated posts
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BLM TRAILHEAD PROVIDES ACCESS TO COLORADO’S LARGEST BAT COLONY MONTE VISTA, Colo. — Easy trail access to one of Colorado’s most fascinating natural wonders – the bat roost at the Orient Mine in the San Luis Valley – has been provided through a team effort of the Colorado Division of Wildlife, the Orient Land Trust and the Saguache Field Office of the BLM-U.S. Forest Service.
During July and August, about 250,000 Mexican free-tailed bats make their summer roost in the former iron-ore mine. Just before dusk each evening, the bats – mostly males – make an out-flight to begin their daily search for food. The column of bats during the out-flight continues for nearly an hour.
A viewing area near the mine allows wildlife watchers to witness this daily event at Colorado’s largest bat colony. Entering the mine is prohibited.
"This is a safe place for people to observe bats," said Kirk Navo, a DOW conservation biologist and bat expert. "Entering old mines is dangerous for people. But also, disturbing bats in their sensitive habitat environments can cause problems for these animals."
In other areas of the U.S., "white-nose syndrome" is killing bat colonies. The disease is caused by a fungus and appears as a white dusting around the muzzle and elsewhere on the bats. It was first found in bats in a cave in New York in 2006 and has been spreading south and west. It has been found in bats as close to Colorado as northwestern Oklahoma.
There is concern nationally that humans who explore caves and mines used by bats can inadvertently spread the spores that cause the disease. Navo said that’s not a concern at the Orient site because people are not allowed to enter the mine.
"The spores cannot be spread by viewing the out-flight. The fencing keeps people at a safe distance from the mine opening and there is no direct contact with bats," Navo said.
Navo recommends that people stay out of mines and caves to prevent any inadvertent spreading of the fungus.
The Orient Land Trust and the DOW worked in cooperation with the BLM-USFS field office to ensure that the public could park at the Black Canyon Trailhead and hike from there along a marked trail to the Orient Mine and bat roost site. The trail can be accessed from Saguache County Road GG, which is located just north of the intersection of U.S. Highway 285 and Colorado Highway 17. To get to the trail go east on Saguache County Road GG and follow the signs to the BLM Black Canyon trailhead. The trail to the mine is just over a mile from the parking area and is a moderate walk.
Hikers and backpackers can access the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness from the trailhead.
The mine can also be accessed farther up the road through the Valley View Hot Springs. Hikers are cautioned that the hot springs facility is clothing optional.
Through August, guides will be at the Black Canyon trailhead a few hours before dusk or about 5 p.m., Thursday through Sunday. They’ll then lead wildlife watchers on an interpretive hike to the viewing area. The trail is also open the other days of the week.
"This is a very unique and interesting glimpse of nature," said Amy Trainer, land conservation specialist and former executive director of the Orient Land Trust. "The best viewing opportunities are during July and August. By mid-September the bats have left for the south and warmer weather."
The land trust received a financial grant from the DOW and Great Outdoors Colorado to ensure improved public access to the mine viewing area.
The Orient Land Trust owns 1,800 acres in the area, including a working cattle ranch, the Valley View Hot Springs and the Orient Mine site. The Colorado Division of Wildlife owns 10 acres adjacent to the mine.
For more information, go to www.olt.org. For more information about Division of Wildlife go to: http://wildlife.state.co.us. My Tags: Colorado, Conservation, DOW, Forest, New York, Oklahoma, Outdoors, Park, Ranch, Rat, Wildlife
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]]>Parktips – June 2010
Parktips is a monthly compilation of newsworthy items and story ideas from the National Park Service. A new edition is posted on the first week of each month at http://www.nps.gov/news/index.htm. Just click on the Story Leads link to access Parktips. You can view past issues of Parktips. You can also receive a personal copy of Parktips, via e-mail or fax, by registering at our website.
Habitat Protectors of Yosemite
(California) — Yosemite National Park is seeking volunteers for the weekly Habitat Protectors of Yosemite (HaPY) volunteer stewardship projects.
Volunteers work with Resources Management & Science Division staff on various projects on Wednesday mornings between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
The projects present a great opportunity for families to volunteer together and create memories while helping to manage the park’s resources. Please visit the HaPY webpage for more information:
http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/hapy.htm. Also for more information, please contact Scott Gediman at 209-372-0200 and Niki Nicholas at 209-372-0472.
Learn to Play the Cajun Way
(Louisiana) — Free workshops in playing accordion, fiddle, and guitar Cajun-style, and in Cajun dance, will be offered by the Cajun French Music Association Acadiana Charter Chapter of Eunice at the Prairie Acadian Cultural Center of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. The workshops will be at 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, June 1 through 17.
For more information, please consult www.nps.gov/jela or contact Kristy Wallisch at 504-589-3882 ext. 225.
Summer Night Cruise Tours of Liberty Island (New York) — On eight Thursday nights during June, July and August, Liberty Island will be open to the public. The evening tours will be on June 3 and 10; July 8, 15, and 22; and August 5, 12, and 19. There will be 1,200 tickets available for each night. Ticket prices include round-trip ferry transportation from Battery Park, a full dinner on Liberty Island, and interpretive programs offered on the island. Visitors can tour the grounds but will not be allowed into the statue. They may spend as long as two hours on Liberty Island but can return after one hour. In the event of inclement weather, the Ellis Island Immigration Museum will substitute for the Statue of Liberty National Monument. The National Park Service, Statue Cruises, and Evelyn Hill, Inc. are collaborating to offer this summer program. For more information, please contact Michael Burke of Statue Cruises at 551-655-0405 or Darren Boch of the National Park Service at 212-668-2252.
Arts-y & Craft-y Summer Fun
(Texas) — Join the staff of Chamizal National Memorial each summer month to explore different crafts from Mexico. Participants will learn basic concepts of art while delving into cultures south of the border. June’s craft is Huichol Yarn Art, which teaches an art lesson on lines. Sessions will be held on June 3 at 9:30 a.m., June 10 at 11 a.m., June 18 at 2:30 p.m., June 23 at 10 a.m., and June 29 at 1 p.m. All sessions are free of charge and offered on a first-come basis. For more information, please contact Michael Groomer at 915-532-7273 ext. 124.
Golden Anniversary of Bent’s Old Fort
(Colorado) — An opening reception on Friday, June 4, followed by a day (June 5) with speakers, living history demonstrations, a grand banquet, and a fandango in the plaza of the fort will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the law that established Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site, which President Eisenhower signed on June 3, 1960. The event will commemorate the site’s transformation from ruins into one of the premiere living history sites in the United States. For a full schedule of events, please see the park’s website, www.nps.gov/beol. For more information, please contact Rick Wallner at 719-383-5024 or Greg Holt at 719-383-5023.
National Trails Day
(Nationwide) — June 5 is National Trails Day. Events include guided hikes affording breathtaking views at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park (11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Lower Town). From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Valley Forge National Historical Park’s Betzwood Picnic Area, visitors can hike along the River Trail, participate in educational clinics and fitness assessments, view partner exhibits, and more. The activities at Valley Forge are free and open to the public. For more information about events at Harpers Ferry, please contact Marsha Wassel at 304-535-6748. For more information about events at Valley Forge, please contact Ernestine White at 610-783-5384 or Ernestine_White@nps.gov. For more information about National Trails Day, please contact Elise Cleva at 202-208-6843 or Elise_M_Cleva@nps.gov.
Grand Opening—Victory Woods Trail
(New York) — On Saturday, June 5 at 11a.m., join National Park Service staff at Saratoga Monument for an opening ceremony and a guided walk along the new one-mile Victory Woods Trail in Saratoga National Historical Park.
The new trail features a universally accessible boardwalk. Light refreshments and presentations by community organizations will be offered at the grand opening between noon and 1:30 p.m. For more information, please contact Gina Johnson at 518-664-9821 ext. 227 or gina_johnson@nps.gov.
Ride, and Remember the Trail of Tears
(Arkansas) — Park rangers from Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site will lead bicycle tours along the Trail of Tears (on the Arkansas River Trail) on June 5 and June 19. The tours begin at 10 a.m. on the Arkansas River Trail by the Trail of Tears exhibits in Riverfront Park.
Little Rock and North Little Rock formed a major stop during the removal of American Indians, via the Trail of Tears, from the East to what is now Oklahoma. On the bicycle tours, ranger-guides will speak about the origin of the trail, the methods of travel, the conditions during removal, and slavery on the trail in Arkansas. For more information, please contact Laura Miller at 501-374-1957.
Wildflower Eruption
(Idaho) — Witness the annual eruption of spring blooms on a ranger-guided hike through the volcanic wonderland of Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve. June is the peak of the wildflower season at Craters of the Moon, and special walks will be offered on Saturdays, June 5, 12, and 19. June is also the start of the daily schedule of ranger-guided activities. Visit http://www.nps.gov/crmo/planyourvisit/events.htm for details. For more information, please contact Ted Stout at 208-527-1330.
Grand Opening of Western Arctic Parklands Visitor Center
(Alaska) — Western Arctic Parklands will celebrate the opening of its new visitor center on June 5 in Kotzebue. The center hosts exhibits and cultural demonstrations by local residents and orients visitors to the four park areas it serves: Bering Land Bridge, Cape Krusenstern, Noatak, and Kobuk Valley. The opening day activities will include children’s programs, Native dancers, a community supper, and presentations in the theater. For more information, please contact John Quinley at 907-644-3512.
Get Back to the American Revolution at Cowpens National Battlefield (South Carolina) — Cowpens National Battlefield will hold several special events in June, all of which are free and open to the public. On June 5 and 6, participants in the 1st Maryland—Southern Campaign reenacting unit will present a living history weekend. These re-enactors, who portray Maryland Continental Soldiers during the Southern Campaign of the American Revolution, will demonstrate how soldiers lived in the 18th century. On Saturday, June 12, the South Carolina Independent Rangers will demonstrate musket and rifle firing at 10:15 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m.
The Independent Rangers portray Revolutionary War backwoods militia and demonstrate military and civilian life in the 18th century in the South Carolina backcountry. On June 27, the park will have volunteers demonstrating a variety of historical or hands-on activities at the Robert Scruggs House from 1:30 to 4 p.m. For more information, please contact Donna Davis at 864-461-2828.
Party with the Stars
(Arizona) — The 20th annual Grand Canyon Star Party will be held from Saturday, June 5 through Saturday, June 12 on the South and North rims of the eponymous feature of Grand Canyon National Park. Amateur astronomers from across the country will volunteer their expertise. Free slide programs will be offered, and numerous telescopes will be set up to view planets, star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies at night, and the sun by day. For more information, please contact Public Affairs Specialist Shannan Marcak at 928-638-7958.
Summer Saturdays Return to Federal Hall
(New York) — Summer Saturdays are back by popular demand. Federal Hall National Memorial will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the following days:
June 5, 12, 19, and 26; July 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31; and August 7, 14, 21, and 28. This summer, the National Park Service teams up with the National Parks of New York Harbor Conservancy to offer the guided audio walking tour New York Freedom Trail. The tour will be offered at 11 a.m. each Saturday.
To learn more about the New York Freedom Trail, please visit www.nyharborparks.org. For all other information regarding Summer Saturdays, please call 212-668-2208 or e-mail mindi_rambo@nps.gov.
A Landscape Gardener’s Time in Maine
(New York) — On Sunday, June 6 at 2 p.m., renowned landscape architect Patrick Chassé will give an illustrated talk entitled “The Maine Work of Beatrix Farrand.” He will discuss the landscape gardener’s life and work in Maine from her childhood through her retirement at Garland Farm. The lecture covers a number of private commissions that are rarely seen by the public. The talk, one of the Bellefield Design Lectures, will be held in the Henry A. Wallace Visitor Center, located at the Home of Franklin D.
Roosevelt National Historic Site and the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum. The lecture will be followed by a garden party at Bellefield (a house from the 1700s that now provides workspace for the National Park Service) amid hundreds of peonies in bloom. Heirloom plants, books, and garden treasures will be on sale at the party. The fee for the lecture is $30 per person and $25 for members of the Beatrix Farrand Garden Association & Garden Conservancy. For more information, please call
845-229-9115 ext. 26.
Grand Opening of New Exhibits at Hampton
(Maryland) — One of the oldest buildings in Hampton National Historic Site will soon boast new exhibits. The lower house, which sits among surviving farm buildings, was first constructed in the mid-1700s. It will re-open with brand new interpretive exhibits on June 10. With these exhibits and other efforts, the National Park Service is trying to diversify the stories told at Hampton National Historic Site, which was once part of a 25,000-acre estate owned by the Ridgely family. The public is invited to attend the grand opening of the exhibits on Thursday, June 10 between 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. For more information, please contact Hampton National Historic Site at 410-823-1309 ext. 251.
Science Café
(Texas) — Come join the fun at Beaumont’s first Science Café from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on June 10 at Sertinos Café (5657 Eastex Freeway, Beaumont). Dr.
Paul Tinerella will present a five-minute PowerPoint presentation on aquatic truebugs, followed by a five-to-10-minute talk. The evening will conclude with a 20-minute group discussion. Begun in Europe in the early 1990s, science cafés offer a relaxed forum for the exchange of scientific ideas. Anyone can come to this friendly setting to sharpen his or her knowledge of the modern sciences. No reservation is required. For more information, please contact Leslie Dubey of Big Thicket National Preserve at 409-951-6700 or leslie_dubey@nps.gov, or Linda Brindle at 936-274-1181 or Director@bigthicket.org.
White Sands Institute
(New Mexico) — White Sands National Monument and New Mexico State University—Alamogordo (NMSUA) are teaming up to offer two field seminars focused on New Mexico’s extraordinary White Sands. In “New Discoveries! The Moths of White Sands” (June 11 to 12), participants can set traps and make their own discoveries. Join entomologist Eric Metzler for this exciting field class and learn about the 14 species of moths that have been recently discovered at the White Sands and the moths’ amazing adaptations to this unique environment. Friday evening will include setting moth traps.
Saturday morning will hold a collection of the traps and a wrap-up lecture.
On June 18, postdoctoral researcher Jeanne Robertson will teach “Evolution in Black & White: White Lizards at White Sands.” Robertson is a biologist specializing in animal adaptations. Students can participate in supervised hands-on activities during this field lecture at White Sands National Monument. Dr. Robertson will present both indoor and outdoor lectures about the current research in animal adaptations presently occurring at White Sands. Each seminar costs $55 per person. For more information or to register, please call Community Education at NMSUA at 575-439-3842 or send an e-mail to commed@nmsua.nmsu.edu.
Big Thicket National Preserve Biodiversity Day
(Texas) — Celebrate Biodiversity Day at Big Thicket National Preserve.
Learn more about the biodiversity of Big Thicket and the on-going All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI) of the national preserve. The activities begin on Friday, June 11 with night walks and continue on Saturday, June 12 with seminars, demonstrations, scientist-led field trips, and other events.
Saturday events will meet at the Field Research Station in Saratoga. The Friday night walks will be by reservation only, and attendees will meet at a designated location. Space will be limited; make your reservations early.
For more information, please contact Leslie Dubey at 409-951-6700 or leslie_dubey@nps.gov, or Linda Brindle at 936-274-1181 or Director@bigthicket.org.
Species Count … Can You?
(New York) — Come to Gateway National Recreation Area’s Jamaica Bay Unit from 3 p.m. June 11 to 3 p.m. June 12 to measure the health of one of the most important urban national parks. Work closely with teams of scientists and naturalists as part of BioBlitz 2010. A BioBlitz is part contest (racing against a 24-hour clock), part educational event, and part scientific endeavor. By observing as many plants and animals as you can, you’ll help to create a snapshot of the biodiversity and wildlife in our own backyard. To register to participate in the scientific survey or related public programs, please visit http://jamaicabay.ciesin.columbia.edu/bioblitz. For other information, please call 718-354-4607 or e-mail jane_ahern@nps.gov.
Experience Colonial Life with St. Paul’s Church (New York) — Join the staff of St. Paul’s Church National Historic Site for colonial music, dancing, crafts, games, and arms from noon to 4 p.m. on June 12. There will also be special tours of the church’s bell tower and of the colonial section of the cemetery, and a recital on the historic pipe organ. For more information, please call 212-668-2208 or e-mail mindi_rambo@nps.gov.
Ride the Rockies
(Colorado) — Colorado National Monument will be Day One for “Ride the Rockies,” a major cycling tour sponsored by the Denver Post that changes routes annually. More than 2,400 cyclists will ride historic Rim Rock Drive on Sunday, June 13 as their Day One ride.
The tour last rode in the Monument in 2005. Cycling has dramatically increased at Colorado NM since that time. The park sees approximately 15,000 cyclists annually, with more each year. The website www.nps.gov/colm offers additional information for cyclists regarding the nature of Rim Rock Drive, the three unlighted tunnels, and the necessity of lights on bicycles going through the Monument’s tunnels. For more information, please contact Joan Anzelmo, Superintendent of Colorado National Monument, at 970-858-3617 ext. 301.
“Sunday Concerts in the Park”
(California) — The concert series kicks off at Peter Strauss Ranch on June
13 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Come out for an afternoon of rousing music and family fun! Join Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and Topanga Banjo and Fiddle for an afternoon of Southern California bluegrass, old-time, and folk music in the mountains. The free concert series will continue throughout July, August, and September. For more information, please contact Lauren Newman at 805-370-2343 or lauren_newman@nps.gov.
“Barking Up a Tree” at Biscayne National Park Gallery
(Florida) — Close-up photography of the patterns and textures of some of South Florida’s trees will be on view at Biscayne National Park’s Dante Fascell Visitor Center Gallery from May 24 through August 22. A “Meet the Artists” reception slated for Sunday, June 13 from 1 to 3 p.m. will feature a talk by the artists as well as refreshments. While searching for national champion trees (the largest of their species in the United States), South Florida naturalist Bob Showler began to notice the special qualities of each tree’s bark. He teamed up with photographer Tim Taylor to produce this unusual exhibit, titled “Barking Up a Tree.” For more information, please contact Ranger Gary Bremen at 305-230-1144 ext. 007.
Public Archeology
(California) — From June 14 to 23, members of the public can help the National Park Service conduct archeological investigations and stabilization of World War II-era landscaping at Manzanar National Historic Site. Volunteers can work at Merritt Park, the largest internee-built landscape feature remaining at any of the country’s 10 World War II relocation centers. There will also be archeological jobs within the residential blocks at Manzanar, at the sites of gardens created by internees. For more information, please contact Manzanar Volunteer Program Manager Carrie Andresen at 760-878-2194 ext. 2714 or Carrie_Andresen@nps.gov.
LEED and Historic Buildings Training
(Louisiana) — The National Center for Preservation Technology and Training
(NCPTT) is partnering with the Louisiana National Guard to provide training to National Guard members from across the country on the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system. NCPTT will also help identify ways in which the National Guard can incorporate sustainability and energy efficiency into its buildings. The training is scheduled for June 14 to 18 at Jackson Barracks in New Orleans. For more information, please contact Andy Ferrell at 318-356-7444 or Andrew_Ferrell@nps.gov.
Science Month
(Texas) — In June (Science Month), Chamizal National Memorial is offering two workshops for teachers about science and the memorial. “The Science of Sustainability” (June 15, 9 a.m. to noon) covers the topics of recycling, renewable and non-renewable resources, the wise use of lab materials, and the National Park Service’s focus on sustainability. “All About Earth Science” (June 16, 9 a.m. to noon) will help teachers incorporate new Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) standards in a field trip to Chamizal National Memorial. Each workshop is free of charge and limited to 25 participants. Chamizal is CPE-certified, and all teachers from Texas will earn three Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits for attending each of these sessions. For more information, please contact Michael Groomer at 915-532-7273 ext. 124.
“Views & Visitors: the Yosemite Experience in the 19th Century”
(California) — This exhibit, featuring paintings, prints, artifacts, and ephemera from Yosemite National Park’s early years, will be on display this summer in the Yosemite Museum gallery. Photographs and paintings of visitors and the landscape, early publications and memorabilia, historic hotel registers, and the Grand Register of the Cosmopolitan will be on view. The exhibit, made possible by a grant from The Yosemite Conservancy, includes an interactive kiosk featuring entries from the Cosmopolitan Register and a digital slideshow of historic views of Yosemite visitors and hotels. The opening reception on June 15 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. is open to the public. The exhibit will be open from June 16 to September 30 daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and from October 1 to 31 daily from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. For more information, please contact Barbara Beroza, Curator of Collections at Yosemite National Park, at 209-372-0297.
Horse Sense and Survival
(North Carolina) — Cape Lookout National Seashore’s first wild horse tour of the 2010 season will be on Wednesday, June 16. Trips in the Horse Sense and Survival program are walking tours following the wild Banker horses of Shackleford Banks. Join Dr. Sue Stuska, a wildlife biologist who specializes in horses, for a day-long walking trip. Dr. Stuska’s intimate knowledge of the horses makes for an exciting and enlightening glimpse into the relationships, family bonds, behavior, and daily life of these animals.
For more information, please contact Wouter Ketel at 252-728-2250 ext.
3005.
Lectures, Lunch, and Lemonade
(Pennsylvania) — The Friends of Valley Forge Park’s Lunch and Learn Series begins June 16. The talks take place in Valley Forge National Historical Park’s Education Center on Wednesdays from noon to 1 p.m., according to the following schedule. June 16: “The Philadelphia Campaign” * June 23:
“Carpenter’s Hall” * June 30: “Archaeology,” for which Joe Blondine will be the guest speaker. Participants should bring their own brown bag lunches.
Lemonade will be provided. For more information, please contact Kimberly Szewczyk at 610-783-1014 or Kimberly_Szewczyk@nps.gov.
Anniversaries—Bunker Hill and Now We Are Enemies
(Massachusetts) — On June 17, American History Press will publish a 50th anniversary edition of Now We Are Enemies: The Story of Bunker Hill by the distinguished historian of the American Revolution Thomas Fleming.
Originally published in 1960, the book launched Fleming’s writing career and is still considered the most complete account of the battle that took place on June 17, 1775. On Wednesday, June 16, 2010, Mr. Fleming will make an appearance at the Battle of Bunker Hill Museum in Charlestown for a reading and a book signing. On Thursday, June 17, he will be a guest at the official ceremony commemorating the 235th anniversary of the battle at the Bunker Hill Monument in Boston National Historical Park. For more information, please contact Sean Hennessey, Public Affairs Officer, at
617-242-5616 or sean_hennessey@nps.gov.
Celebrate Juneteenth with the National Parks of New York Harbor (New York) — On Juneteenth (June 19, 1865), General Gordon Granger brought news of the Emancipation, and a force of Union soldiers, to Texas roughly three years after Abraham Lincoln declared American slaves free on September 22, 1862. This year marks the 145th anniversary of that day, when the Civil War ended in Texas and slavery with it. New York is among the 31 states that recognize Juneteenth as a holiday. Join the National Park Service on June 19 to celebrate this important date. African Burial Ground National Monument will mark the day with a special talk by Dr. Joy DeGruy on the history and significance of Juneteenth at 11 a.m. Nicola and Rufus James will lead a presentation of poetry, music, and dialogue commemorating the official end of slavery in America at Castle Clinton National Monument at 1 p.m. For more information, please call 212-668-2208 or e-mail mindi_rambo@nps.gov.
Governors Island to Celebrate Army Heritage Day (New York) — Discover more than 150 years of army history at Governors Island National Monument on June 19. National Park Service rangers, the 319 th U.S. Army Band, Revolutionary and Civil War living historians, and members of today’s military will provide re-enactments, children’s programming, musical demonstrations, and lectures that pay tribute to army life on Governors Island. For more information, please visit www.nps.gov/gois, call 212-668-2208, or e-mail mindi_rambo@nps.gov.
March-Out of the Continental Army Commemoration
(Pennsylvania) — To honor those soldiers who left Valley Forge and went on to secure our nation’s independence, interpreters from the Oneida Indian Nation, park rangers, and volunteers will host a living history encampment at the Muhlenberg Brigade huts at Valley Forge National Historical Park on Saturday, June 19. The encampment will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cannon firings are scheduled for 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. The encampment is free and open to the public. For more information, please contact William Troppman at 610-783-1075 or William_Troppman@nps.gov.
Second Translocation of Endangered Fish
(Arizona) — On June 23, the National Park Service, in conjunction with the Bureau of Reclamation, the Arizona Game and Fish Department, and the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, will move an additional 300 juvenile humpback chub to Shinumo Creek in Grand Canyon National Park. The multi-year translocation experiment began in 2009 with the successful translocation of 300 juvenile humpback chub to Shinumo Creek. The second translocation will augment the humpback chub population in the creek and provide an opportunity for rearing humpback chub in a natural environment outside of the Little Colorado River. For more information, please contact Maureen Oltrogge, Public Affairs Officer, at 928-638-7779.
“Get Dirty After Dark”
(Pennsylvania) — Calling Young Friends of Valley Forge Park for an exclusive event! Come “get dirty after dark.” At Washington’s Headquarters on Thursday, June 24 from 6 to 8:30 p.m., you can learn about archeology from Temple University’s archeological field school leaders, try your hand at finding artifacts, and feast on a Pig Daddy’s Southern BBQ picnic. For more information, please contact Graham Dellinger at vfyoungfriends@gmail.com
Full Moon Hike
(New Mexico) — Have you ever wondered what gypsum dunes look like under the glow of the moon? Join a ranger for the June Full Moon Hike at White Sands National Monument and see the dunes in a whole new light. The hike is scheduled for 8 p.m. on Friday, June 25. Reservations are required and can only be made via www.nps.gov/whsa. Reservations will be accepted starting two weeks in advance of the scheduled hike, which is limited to 30 participants. Although the hike is free, entrance fees at the monument apply. For more information, please contact John Mangimeli at 505-679-2599 ext. 230.
Music by Moonlight
(New Mexico) — Cowboy singer/musician Skip Gorman and Celtic singer and poet Connie Dover will combine their down-deep, heartfelt interpretations of the traditional music of the American West, Ireland, and Scotland under the brilliant light of the full moon on Saturday, June 26 at 8:30 p.m.
Their performance is part of Full Moon Nights Summer 2010 at White Sands National Monument. Full Moon Nights are held in the monument’s amphitheater and are free, although the monument’s entrance fees of $3.00 per person 16 years and older apply. For more information, please contact John Mangimeli at 505-679-2599 ext. 230.
Lake Lucero Tour, 5 p.m., Saturday, June 26 (New Mexico) — Take a tour to Lake Lucero, part of White Sands National Monument, with a ranger and learn about the formation of the white sands.
These three-hour tours to the playa (dry lakebed) of Lake Lucero are offered once a month, and reservations are required. The tour fee is $3.00 per adult (16 years and older) and $1.50 for children and America the Beautiful Senior and Access pass holders. Please call 575-679-2599 ext. 236 for reservations. For more information, please contact John Mangimeli at
505-679-2599 ext. 230.
Ninth Annual Don Redman Jazz Heritage Concert and Awards (West Virginia) — Enjoy a free concert featuring Harold Mabern and Mickey Roker with the Howard Burns Quartet on June 26 at 6 p.m. The venue is Camp Hill at Mather Training Center, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. For more information, please contact Marsha Wassel at 304-535-6748 or Marsha_Wassel@nps.gov.
“A Revolutionary War-Era Panel Discussion”
(Pennsylvania) — Join George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin for “A Revolutionary War-Era Panel Discussion” on Saturday, June
26 at 7 p.m. This event, which closes the Friends of Valley Forge Park and Washington Memorial Chapel’s lecture series, will take place in the theater at Valley Forge National Historical Park. For more information, please contact Nancy Loane at nancyloane@comcast.net.
A Change in Climate that Touches Wyoming
(Wyoming) — Grand Teton National Park will host an informative program about global climate change on June 30 at 9 p.m. in the Colter Bay Amphitheater. National Weather Service Meteorologist Arthur Meunier will talk about large-scale changes in weather and describe how those global changes may affect the plants, animals, and other resources of Grand Teton National Park and Wyoming. Meunier will provide educational background and share interesting weather-related photos during a PowerPoint presentation.
For more information, please contact Jackie Skaggs at 307-739-3393 or Bobbie Visnovske at 307-739-3431.
Help for Communities from RTCA
(Nationwide) — Is someone in your community trying to protect local rivers, save an unspoiled landscape, or build trails to help others enjoy nature? Through the Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) program, the National Park Service provides staff who can guide communities in conserving waterways, preserving open space, and developing trails and greenways. Applications for the next round of technical assistance can be submitted until August 1. Potential applicants should discuss their project ideas with RTCA staff in their area before submitting an application.
Please visit www.nps.gov/rtca for complete information and the application.
For more information, please contact Elise Cleva at 202-208-6843 or Elise_M_Cleva@nps.gov.
“Grand Canyon’s Green Heart: The Unsung Legacy of Plants”
(Arizona) — Although better known for its grand vistas and geologic wonders than for its botanical riches, the Grand Canyon is home to more plants than any other national park and to nearly half of all the plants that grow in Arizona. Often beautiful, sometimes treacherous, plants transform sunlight into energy and thus serve as the basis for all animal life on Earth. A special exhibition opening at Kolb Studio in Grand Canyon National Park introduces the fascinating world of canyon plants and the botanists who have studied and protected them, and celebrates the art of botanical illustration. “Grand Canyon’s Green Heart: the Unsung Legacy of Plants” can be seen at Kolb Studio, July 2 through August 31. For more information, please contact Vegetation Program Manager Lori Makarick at 928-638-7455.
Fourth-Grade Quilts Tour National Parks of Kansas
(Kansas) — National Park Service rangers and local quilting guilds helped fourth-grade students learn how stories are told through quilts. The five national parks in Kansas, local elementary schools, and quilting guilds within each park community collaborated on the project “Building Common Ground Through the Quilts of Many Hands,” which is funded by a National Park Foundation grant. After visiting their local park, students composed essays describing quilt blocks that they would make and the stories, relating to the school’s local park, that the blocks represent. Each student then designed and produced a 12-inch quilt block with the assistance of local quilt guilds and park rangers. Once the blocks were complete, the guilds helped the students complete the quilts. From May 28 through August 4, the quilts will go on tour and be displayed at each of the five National Park Service sites in Kansas. Visitors can vote on their favorite quilt. All participating students will receive prizes; however, the quilt receiving the most votes will be awarded a grand prize and honored with a formal presentation at the winning school in September. The schedule for the quilt tour follows.
Fort Larned National Historic Site: May 28 through June 9 Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve: June 11 through 23
Fort Scott National Historic Site June 25 through July 7
Brown v. Board of Education NHS: July 9 through 21
Nicodemus National Historic Site: July 23 through August 4
For more information, please contact Mark Weaver at 785-839-4321.
Manzanar Launches Virtual Museum of Artifacts and Archives
(California) — The National Park Service (NPS) has launched a “virtual museum” highlighting more than 200 items from Manzanar National Historic Site’s collection. These items reflect Manzanar’s past: centuries of Owens Valley Paiute life; the ranching and farming era; the confinement of 11,070 Japanese Americans during World War II; later pilgrimages; and the eventual establishment of Manzanar National Historic Site. Most of the items featured online have never been seen by the public. In addition to artifacts, artwork, documents, and photos, the museum includes a virtual tour, oral history interview clips, photo slideshows, and “Teaching with Museum Collections” lesson plans. The virtual museum—the 41st to be created by the National Park Service—may be found at http://www.nps.gov/history/museum/exhibits/manz/index.html. To explore other NPS virtual museums, visit www.nps.gov/history/museum. For more information, please contact Alisa Lynch at 760-878-2194 ext. 2711.
Experts Prepare for Possible Threat to Cultural Resources on Gulf Coast
(Louisiana) — Representatives of the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training (NCPTT) and colleagues from other branches of the National Park Service discussed how to respond to possible effects of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico on cultural resources. Over 120 National Register properties, including 15 National Historic Landmarks, are located along the Gulf Coast from Texas to the Florida Keys. Areas of concern include porous masonry materials and shipwrecks. The NCPTT’s Kirk Cordell and Mary Striegel worked with representatives of the National Capital Region of the Park Service and the University of Texas, Austin, to draft advice for mitigating oil damage to Fort Massachusetts. For more information, please contact Mary F. Striegel, Chief of Materials Research, at 318-356-7444 or mary_striegel@nps.gov.
See What’s “Now in Bloom” in Yosemite
(California) — Follow a new Yosemite National Park feature called “Now in Bloom,” which offers a weekly bloom list. Learn more about Yosemite wildflower walks at http://www.nps.gov/yose/naturescience/wildflower-walks.htm and common wildflower species at http://www.nps.gov/yose/naturescience/common-wildflowers.htm. See the “Now in Bloom” webpage, http://www.nps.gov/yose/naturescience/bloom.htm. For more information, please contact Scott Gediman at 209-372-0200 and Niki Nicholas at 209-372-0472.
International Visitors to Yosemite: 1 in 4
(California) — The 2009 Visitor Use Survey found that international visitors came to Yosemite National Park from 33 countries and comprised about 25% of total visitation. In other words, visitors from other countries accounted for about 1 million of the park’s nearly 4 million visitors. Of the international visitors, 14% were from the United Kingdom, 13% from Germany, 11% from France, and 11% from Belgium. Eighty-eight percent defined their race as white; 11% as Asian; one percent as black; and one percent as Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. Please see http://www.nps.gov/yose/naturescience/visitor-use.htm. For more information, please contact Scott Gediman at 209-372-0200 and Niki Nicholas at 209-372-0472.
Sierra Nevada: Impacts of Fire Management on Carbon Stocks
(California) — Two Sierra Nevada national parks plan to assess the impacts of fire management on carbon stocks. Yosemite National Park and Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, through collaborations with the U.S.
Geological Survey, the Western Ecological Research Center, and university partners, have initiated research to quantify and understand both the
short- and long-term effects of fire on forest carbon stocks. The 2010 climate-related project aims to gather quantitative data on the amount and resiliency of carbon in places where pre-settlement fire regimes have been restored versus areas where they have not yet been restored, and to create project-scale maps of park carbon stocks, including maps of areas at risk from fire. For more information, please contact Scott Gediman at 209-372-0200 and Niki Nicholas at 209-372-0472.
If These Stones Could Speak, They’d Say, “Thank You!”
(Louisiana) — The National Center for Preservation Technology and Training
(NCPTT) is developing and testing new polymers for use in conserving stone.
NCPTT is also developing a nanotechnology-based stone conservation system that is quicker to place and more reliable than current treatments. For more information, please contact Mary F. Striegel, Chief of Materials Research, at 318-356-7444 or mary_striegel@nps.gov.
Stop Invasive Didymo from Spreading in Yosemite
(California) — Recreationists, including fishermen, can spread a freshwater alga called Didymo (Didymosphenia geminata) from one body of water to another in Yosemite National Park. Didymo results in massive blooms that carpet streambeds. Called “rock snot” due to its slimy appearance, this alga historically occurred in cool, low-nutrient waters in North America. Its ecological niche has recently expanded to include a wide range of water temperatures and nutrient levels. Didymo has been documented in several locations along the Tuolumne River, including locations in Yosemite National Park below the O’Shaughnessy Dam. The alga can produce thick mats that make swimming, fishing, and other water-based activities undesirable. Recreational equipment and clothing can become contaminated and encourage the spread of Didymo if not cleaned properly.
See
http://www.nps.gov/yose/naturescience/upload/Didymo-fact-sheet-04-10.pdf
and http://www.nps.gov/yose/naturescience/fish.htm%0b. For more information, please contact Scott Gediman at 209-372-0200 and Niki Nicholas at 209-372-0472.
Yosemite to Study Sky-Island Flora
(California) — In 2010, 2011, and 2012, staff at Yosemite National Park will conduct a botanical inventory of the park’s sky-island floras. These specialized plant communities occupy dry, cold plateaus at the crest of the Sierra Nevada from Yosemite south to Sequoia-Kings Canyon. The plants are highly vulnerable to the drying and warming predicted by many climate forecast models. Data from this project will assist park managers in protecting resources. For more information, please contact Scott Gediman at 209-372-0200 and Niki Nicholas at 209-372-0472.
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Write “subscribe npsnews” in the body of the message. You should receive a confirmation message shortly thereafter. Contact: NPS Communications Office, 202-208-6843.
For the latest news and press information from the National Park Service, visit www.nps.gov and select the “More News” link.
My Tags: Alaska, America, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Community, Conservation, Denver, DOW, Features, Fishing, Florida, Forest, Game, Gun, Hawaii, Health, Idaho, Jobs, Kansas, Law, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, News, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Park, Pennsylvania, Photos, Ranch, Rat, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wildlife, WyomingRelated posts
]]>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 12, 2010
Contact: David Barna (202) 208-6843
Jeffrey Olson (202) 208-6843
Jarvis names assistant director for American Indian relations
National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis today named Mount Rushmore National Monument Superintendent Gerard Baker as his Assistant Director for American Indian Relations.
“The National Park Service faces important cultural and natural resource issues with First Americans,” Jarvis said. “I’ve asked Gerard to represent me and the National Park Service with tribes across our country to work on issues I believe will further the goals of the National Park Service and goals of First Americans.”
A full-blood Mandan-Hidatsa Indian from western North Dakota, the 56-year-old Baker has been a park superintendent for 15 of his 30-plus years in the National Park Service. He’s spent most of the past six years at Mount Rushmore, one of America’s icon parks, in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
Baker is a widely recognizable figure in Indian Country for his work as a mediator and facilitator on issues that involve tribes and the National Park Service. He’s also a familiar face on American history television programs. Baker was a consultant to and an on-camera historian in the 1997 Ken Burns film “Lewis and Clark: The Journey of the Corps of Discovery.” He toured with Burns, writer Dayton Duncan and the late historian Stephen Ambrose to talk about Lewis and Clark and American Indian perspectives of the Expedition of the Corps of Discovery. He also appears in the recent production by Burns and Duncan, “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea.”
As the first superintendent of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail from August 2000 to June 2004, Baker led planning, development and initial operations of “Corps of Discovery II: 200 Years to the Future.” The mobile mini-national park traveled to 100 communities across the United States during the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial. The exhibit’s “Tent of Many Voices” was an education and entertainment venue that Baker said became particularly important for American Indian voices on history and culture.
More than a half a million people visited the exhibit during its tour.
Baker and other American Indian leaders successfully labeled the Bicentennial a commemoration instead of a Bicentennial celebration. “That remains an important distinction,” Baker said. “The National Park Service recognized that Lewis and Clark coming to Indian Country was no celebration for us. They signaled the end of life as we had known it for eons.”
Jarvis said Baker begins his new assignment April 24 and will keep an office in the Black Hills. “I’ve asked Gerard to take this position because with his skills and contacts I believe we’ll come to resolution on these issues.”
Baker said his new job is to continue the relationship building he did with tribes during the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial and in his time in South Dakota as he led staff to expand the story of Mount Rushmore to include wider perspectives of history and culture – of the entire Black Hills area that includes the iconic monument to George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt.
Baker said, “This really is a natural next step in my career and it’s what I’ve been doing all of my life: learning about people, our history and culture, talking to others, sharing stories and learning to appreciate other perspectives. It’s an opportunity we in the National Park Service can’t miss.”
Baker began his National Park Service career in 1979 as a park technician at Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site in North Dakota. In
1981 he moved to the historian position at Fort Union (N.D.) Trading Post National Historic Site before assuming the North Unit District Ranger job at Theodore Roosevelt National Park in 1985.
In 1990, Baker transferred to the U.S. Forest Service where he served at the Little Missouri National Grasslands, also in North Dakota, at the Beartooth District in Red Lodge, Montana, and the Ashland District of Montana before returning to the National Park Service in 1994 as superintendent of Little Big Horn Battlefield National Monument, Crow Agency, Montana.
In 1997 Baker received the National Park Service Intermountain Regional Director’s Award for Cultural Resource Management and a team performance award for his work with the Indian Memorial at Little Bighorn Battlefield.
He was named superintendent of Chickasaw National Recreation Area in Oklahoma in 1998, and received the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Honor Award for Superior Service during his service at the park.
Although Baker left the Lewis and Clark Trail halfway through the Bicentennial to become superintendent at Mount Rushmore, he appeared as a speaker in the Tent of Many Voices on occasion and was on hand for the end of the tour when the exhibit made its final stop under the Arch of Westward Expansion on the Mississippi River waterfront in St. Louis. Baker was recognized with the Department of the Interior’s Superior Service honor award for his management of Corps of Discovery II.
Baker is from Mandaree, N.D., on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation. The reservation is the home of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Tribes. Born and raised on his father’s cattle ranch, he spent his early years in a traditional Indian home and learned his culture through oral histories shared by clan relatives.
Baker attended reservation schools and was graduated from St. Mary’s High School in New England, N.D. He is a graduate of Southern Oregon State University, Ashland, Ore. Baker and his wife, Mary Kay live in the Black Hills. They have four grown children, a son, three daughters and seven grandchildren.
- NPS-
Editor’s note: Superintendent Baker can be reached at (605) 574-3121
My Tags: America, Forest, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, News, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Park, Ranch, Rat, South Dakota, WashingtonRelated posts
]]>First is Bill Brant of The Gourmet Rodent, and PIJAC’s representative at the summit.
Next is Bob Clark of Bob Clark Reptiles, a well-known breeder of several of the species on the proposed list of injurious species.
Last is Jeff Ronne, who as The Boaphile breeds Boa Constrictors and also owns Boaphile Plastics, which manufactures reptile cages. He is also on the Board of USARK.
Earlier this evening, we posted Jeff’s interview with Bob Ashley and Brian Potter; that interview is online here.
[UPDATES] Chad Brown, a former all-pro linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots, is a long time reptile breeder and operates Pro Exotics, Ship Your Reptiles and Tempgun.com, all based out of Littleton, Colo.
Mike Wilbanks operates Constrictors Unlimited out of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Mike Wilbanks
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]]> LESSER PRAIRIE-CHICKEN CONSERVATION WORKSHOP IN LAMAR
LAMAR, Colo. – Conservation of lesser prairie-chickens will be the subject of a workshop at the Division of Wildlife Office in Lamar Nov. 12, from 4-8 p.m.
The workshop is open to anyone interested lesser prairie-chicken conservation.
"Local citizens interested in lesser prairie-chicken management will be briefed on preservation options and the identification of specific management actions that will be most effective at the local level," said Seth McClean, a wildlife conservation biologist with the DOW.
"By working with local stakeholders we can discuss cooperative conservation solutions and develop a workable and effective management plan," said McClean.
"The DOW has identified some potential strategies that might be implemented in partnership with local landowners, land managers, and other stakeholders," said Eric Odell, the Grasslands Species Conservation Coordinator for the DOW. "However," he added, "the agency would like to meet with any affected stakeholders to gather comments and answer questions before we proceed with final development of the management plan."
"Conservation strategies are the core of any recovery plan. We are focusing on strategies intended to reverse the current decline of lesser prairie-chickens," Odell said. "We hope to protect the remaining birds we have left and to create habitat conditions that will allow populations to recover."
Lesser prairie-chickens (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) are a native grassland grouse species that are about the same size as domestic chickens. Lesser prairie-chickens prefer sandy grassland areas that have an abundance of midgrasses, sandsage, and yucca. They currently occupy grasslands in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Kansas, and Colorado. Biologists estimate there are fewer than 40,000 breeding birds left range-wide.
Although lesser prairie-chickens were widely distributed throughout southeast Colorado prior to European settlement, the bird’s occupied range is much smaller today. The state officially lists the lesser prairie-chicken as "threatened" in Colorado.
Recent counts estimate there are fewer than 300 breeding birds remaining in the state. Most of the remaining lesser prairie-chickens are on private ranches in the extreme southeastern corner of Colorado, and on the Comanche National Grassland near Campo.
As with the other prairie grouse species, scientists attribute population declines to the conversion of undisturbed open prairies to agricultural and other human use.
The DOW office in Lamar is located at 2500 S. Main St.
Anyone interested in participating should contact Mike Smith at (719)336-6606 or (michael.smith@state.co.us).
#### For more information about Division of Wildlife go to: http://wildlife.state.co.us. My Tags: Colorado, Conservation, DOW, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Ranch, Rat, Texas, Wildlife
Related posts
]]> LESSER PRAIRIE-CHICKEN CONSERVATION WORKSHOP IN LAMAR
LAMAR, Colo. – Conservation of lesser prairie-chickens will be the subject of a workshop at the Division of Wildlife Office in Lamar Nov. 12, from 4-8 p.m.
The workshop is open to anyone interested lesser prairie-chicken conservation.
"Local citizens interested in lesser prairie-chicken management will be briefed on preservation options and the identification of specific management actions that will be most effective at the local level," said Seth McClean, a wildlife conservation biologist with the DOW.
"By working with local stakeholders we can discuss cooperative conservation solutions and develop a workable and effective management plan," said McClean.
"The DOW has identified some potential strategies that might be implemented in partnership with local landowners, land managers, and other stakeholders," said Eric Odell, the Grasslands Species Conservation Coordinator for the DOW. "However," he added, "the agency would like to meet with any affected stakeholders to gather comments and answer questions before we proceed with final development of the management plan."
"Conservation strategies are the core of any recovery plan. We are focusing on strategies intended to reverse the current decline of lesser prairie-chickens," Odell said. "We hope to protect the remaining birds we have left and to create habitat conditions that will allow populations to recover."
Lesser prairie-chickens (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) are a native grassland grouse species that are about the same size as domestic chickens. Lesser prairie-chickens prefer sandy grassland areas that have an abundance of midgrasses, sandsage, and yucca. They currently occupy grasslands in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Kansas, and Colorado. Biologists estimate there are fewer than 40,000 breeding birds left range-wide.
Although lesser prairie-chickens were widely distributed throughout southeast Colorado prior to European settlement, the bird’s occupied range is much smaller today. The state officially lists the lesser prairie-chicken as "threatened" in Colorado.
Recent counts estimate there are fewer than 300 breeding birds remaining in the state. Most of the remaining lesser prairie-chickens are on private ranches in the extreme southeastern corner of Colorado, and on the Comanche National Grassland near Campo.
As with the other prairie grouse species, scientists attribute population declines to the conversion of undisturbed open prairies to agricultural and other human use.
The DOW office in Lamar is located at 2500 S. Main St.
Anyone interested in participating should contact Mike Smith at (719)336-6606 or (michael.smith@state.co.us).
#### For more information about Division of Wildlife go to: http://wildlife.state.co.us. My Tags: Colorado, Conservation, DOW, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Ranch, Rat, Texas, Wildlife
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]]>Related posts
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National Park Service News Release
Eric Leonard, Chickasaw National Recreation Area, 580 622-7282 Jody Lyle, NPS Headquarters, 202-208-6843
September 2, 2009
Chickasaw National Recreation Area
America’s Best Idea: National Park Getaway
SULPHUR, Okla. —Imagine opening your prescriptions and pulling out a vial
of bromide water drawn from a spring in Oklahoma’s Platt National Park. In
1911, the superintendent shipped his park’s liquid assets to people
following their doctors’ orders.
Almost a century later, Chickasaw National Recreation Area, which includes
what was Platt National Park, is still great medicine. The park induces
relaxation, nurtures family fun, and soothes with nature – with no
unpleasant side effects. Today, however, the waters of Chickasaw won’t
arrive in your mail. So, grab your family and friends and jump in!
Visitors to Chickasaw “get two parks in one” – the Platt Historic District
and the Lake of the Arbuckles, where they enjoy swimming, boating, hiking,
and cycling. In the Lake of the Arbuckles and other fishing holes, anglers
can land white bass, catfish, and sunfish. Hunters, too, can practice
their sport in the park. Picnic areas furnish settings for family reunions
and campgrounds welcome overnight stays.
In addition to reconnecting with family and friends, visitors can get
acquainted with some animals and plants. Affording opportunities to
bird-watch and marvel at wildflowers (at their best from March to October),
the park provides a remedy for our nation’s “nature deficit disorder”
epidemic.
“Just to sit on the banks of this pretty stream [Travertine Creek] and
listen to the music of the songs it sings will soothe into the land of
dreams the sufferer from insomnia, and make the tired business man forget
his cares,” promised a 1912 Superintendent’s Report. Of course, no one
need be sleep-deprived, careworn, or nature-deficient to benefit from a
trip to wooded, water-rich Chickasaw National Recreation Area. It’s just
what the doctor – and the park rangers – ordered.
###
Each week, www.nps.gov/getaways helps people find new places to reconnect with nature, history, family, and friends. Previous getaways include Fort Point National Historic Site, Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area, George Washington Carver National Monument, Hampton National Historic Site, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Boston National Historical Park, North Cascades National Park, Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument, and Prince William Forest Park.
My Tags: America, Bass, Fishing, Forest, Hiking, Mississippi, News, Oklahoma, Park, Washington