Seven new US National Parks and Monuments

In a rare act, Congress has passed a bill that includes perks for the National Park System. Friday, December 19, President Obama signed into law the Defense Authorization Act, which includes the creation of seven new National Parks and Monuments  in eight states.

NPS photo

Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park will be comprised of specific historic sites and resources within the John H. Chaffee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor which stretches from Pawtucket, Rhode Island to Worcester, Massachusetts. The park will protect and interpret resources associated with the development of textile mills and other industries in the valley.

Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument in the greater Las Vegas, Nevada area will protect and interpret significant Pleistocene paleontological, scientific, educational and recreational resources. The monument will be created with the transfer of 22,650 acres of land from the Bureau of Land Management to the National Park Service.

NPS photo

Valles Caldera National Preserve, an historic ranch with vast natural and cultural resources that lies within a volcanic caldera in the Jemez Mountains of New Mexico, is being transferred from the Valles Caldera Trust to the National Park Service. Grazing, hunting and fishing, trapping and other traditional uses will continue at the ranch. The legislation also provides protections for Native American archeological and sacred sites, dissolves the Valles Caldera Trust, provides special hiring authorities for current Trust employees, and governs the transition of assets and liabilities to the National Park Service.

AgnosticPreachersKid on wikipedia.com

Pershing Park near the White House is re-designated as the World War I Memorial in honor of veterans throughout the nation who served in that war. The District of Columbia World War I Memorial on the National Mall will continue to be dedicated to District residents who served in World War I.

Coltsville National Historical Park in Hartford, Connecticut is authorized to be established after the Secretary of the Interior acquires sufficient lands for a manageable park, including space in the renovated East Armory building.  The park will protect and interpret resources associated with the historic Colt arms manufacturing facilities and community.

wikipedia.org

Harriet Tubman National Historical Park is authorized to be established after the Secretary of the Interior acquires sufficient lands for a manageable park.  The park will protect and interpret resources associated with the life and work of Harriet Tubman in Auburn, New York where she lived in her later years after her Underground Railroad work. The park will be a companion to the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

Hanford -- U.S. Government Work

Manhattan Project National Historical Park is authorized to be established after the National Park Service and the Department of Energy enter into an agreement.  The park will protect and interpret resources associated with the development of the atomic bomb during World War II. The park will have three locations: Hanford, Washington, Los Alamos, New Mexico, and Oak Ridge, Tennessee. It will be administered in partnership with the Department of Energy which will continue to own most facilities.

Free entrance day in National Parks on Veterans Day, November 11

Photo of hikers on the Cerro Grande Trail 

at Bandelier National Monument. NPS photo

November 11, Veterans Day, is the last free entrance day in the National Parks for 2014. The fee waiver includes: entrance fees, commercial tour fees and transportation entrance fees. Other fees such as reservation, camping, tours, concession and fees collected by third parties are not included unless stated otherwise. Read more here.

A third of nation's parks may soon jack up fees

Grand Canyon NPS on flickr.com

Cash-strapped, and preparing for its 2016 centennial, the National Park Service is looking for a bit more revenue. And according to an August 14 memorandum from Jon Jarvis, the NPS' chief, the agency isn't expecting the government to cough up the new money – it'll come from increasing fees at about a third of the 400-some properties it manages. How will the increases affect you?

While the greatest number of visitors will be affected by hikes in some park gate fees, for some in the RVing community, this won't amount to a change. Folks holding Golden Age passes, or disabled travelers with Golden Access permits don't pay any fees to enter National Parks. And with gate fees, how much the price increases will amount to depends on the park itself.

Heading into some of the bigger attraction parks, the fee increases look to be on the lower side. For example, Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado will see a jump in gate fees from the current $20 to $30. But 300 miles down the road at the lesser-visited Great Sand Dunes National Park, admission fees will multiply two and a half times. But the pain may be less – Grand Sand Dunes currently charges a $3 per head admission rate, the proposed rate of $10 – less than the cost of a matinee – may not seem so bad.

But gate fees aren't the only fees headed for the trampoline. California's Yosemite National Park family campground fees haven't changed since 2006. Those $5 to $20 per night fees will jump from $6 to $24. Assuming the $5 sites become $6, and the $20 jumps to $24, that's still only a 20 percent increase. But camp site fees in other parks would take a much bigger leap: Lake Roosevelt in Washington State will see an 80 percent overnight fee jump, from $10 to $18.

In his memorandum to regional supervisors, Jarvis tried to encourage the troops to drum up support for the fee increase proposals, suggesting that the agency would take flack from some over the increases. In some areas, there seems to be a cautious – but not necessarily negative – reaction on the part of park guests. On a social media network page put up by the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area, one commenter said, "Seems reasonable – all other expenses have increased greatly since 1995. Not everyone was supportive. On the same site a writer commented, "Don't limit access with regressive fees. There is plenty of fat to cut in the federal budget. Start by cutting bloated congressional and senate pensions."

Reaction to the fee increase proposals may tend to swing on an understanding of where the collected dollars go. Unlike many government agencies, fees collected by the Park Service are part of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, which mandates the fees aren't returned to Washington, but rather are kept at the park itself, to be used for local improvements. With maintenance backlogs in almost all parks, its clear fees won't be contributing to lawmaker pensions – bloated or otherwise.

There is a fly in the ointment: Public comments on the fee increase proposals are being sought. But instead of having a central point for comments to be made on a system-wide basis, they're being handled by each individual park. Tracking down which of the parks is considering a fee hike can be frustrating. If you're concerned your favorite park or parks may be one of them, first, visit the park website. Still not sure? A call to the park's headquarters should give you the information you need.

Are you a hardy RVer? Catch Grand Canyon's North Rim now -- it's spectacular!

National Park Service on flickr.com

We have memories from our first visit to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon: Outstanding views. Intense quiet. Frozen plumbing. The fact that we landed at the park in October may have added somewhat to all of these features. The North Rim gets far less in the way of visitors than the South Rim at any time, but when the cold starts setting it, well, as RVers, we practically had the place to ourselves.

If you come prepared, right now might just be the ideal time to visit the North Rim. Before the snow falls to the point that Highway 67 leading into the park from Jacob Lake is closed, the park, although on a skeleton-crew basis, is still open for company. As we write this, it's a balmy 68 degrees, and the 10 day forecast shows only two days where the nighttime temps will hit the freeze point – and only that – 32 degrees.

So how can you prepare for your adventure? Bring warm clothes, bring your camera, and make sure your RV furnace is operational. Yes, we love our RV's independent "blue flame heater," but while that keeps the inside of the coach toasty warm, it doesn't do a thing to keep the drain lines and holding tanks from icing up. Many newer model RVs have furnaces that duct a little heat down into the netherworld of pipes and tanks, ensuring your plumbing won't freeze.

Back in 1996, our research RV was an ancient truck camper, and while the furnace did keep the chill off the interior, one half of our research team recalls with fondness gaping at the water in the bottom of the shower stall as it crept up and up – the p-trap below the shower pan simply froze solid. It wasn't until we got to warmer country that showers would be possible for us. We also recall "freeze drying" laundry on a line strung out behind the rig. Getting smacked with a solid t-shirt is a real wake-up call.

But despite the inconveniences we encountered, the park was ours. We could motor from viewpoint to viewpoint and never have any issue of finding a place to park. And it was so quiet! And the lighting – there's much to be said for fall lighting to really enhance your landscape (canyonscape?) photography. Bring a tripod and a pair of gloves, too. If it gets really cold, keep your camera inside your coat and bring it out to shoot – it'll keep the batteries warm.

Don't expect a lot of amenities in the off-season. Already the mule rides, the Lodge, and Visitor Center have shuttered for the winter. On the other hand, come after October 31 and you won't have to pay entrance fees Until the end of October you can still camp in the North Rim Campground, and "walk in reservations" are the rule of the day. Come November 1, the park changes into a "day use" park for RVers. Jacob Lake Campground, 40 miles to the north, is already closed. But if you've got a hankering, you'll find plenty of camping available at the Lee's Ferry Campground, near Marble Canyon. It's a bit of a drive, but a day trip to the North Rim will make for phenomenal memories

National Fossil Day coming soon!

Dig into the world of saber-toothed tigers, woolly mammoths, and dinosaurs on National Fossil Day on October 15, 2014. The nationwide celebration will feature special events that promote public awareness and stewardship of fossils.

“More than 250 national parks protect a variety of fossils, ranging from a flying reptile known as pterosaurs in Big Bend National Park to a rare sauropod skull from Dinosaur National Monument to primitive algae in Glacier National Park,” said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. “These irreplaceable treasures offer clues to the history of life, past climates, and ancient landscapes and provide us with a glimpse into a world we can only imagine.”

Fossils discovered on the nation's public lands preserve ancient life from all major eras of Earth's history and include samples from every major group of animal or plant. Visitors have the opportunity to see these fossilized remains in the same places that those animals and plants lived in millions of years ago.

National Fossil Day was started in 2010 by the National Park Service and the American Geological Institute. This year, more than 300 partners, including museums, federal and state agencies, fossil sites, science and education organizations, avocational groups, and national parks such as Chaco Culture National Historical Park, Petrified Forest National Park, and Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, will sponsor special events.

Paleontologists and geologists from the National Park Service will also be part of a marquee Fossil Day celebration at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. Along with colleagues from partners that include the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, American Geosciences Institute, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service, the National Science Foundation, and Maryland Dinosaur Park, they will help children explore prehistoric life and dig for fossils.  A team from Dinosaur Valley State Park in Texas will have a special exhibit on their world renowned dinosaur tracks.  Children are invited to become “Junior Paleontologists” at 10:00 a.m. on the entrance steps to the Smithsonian Natural History Museum.

For more information on National Fossil Day, please visit http://www.nature.nps.gov/geology/nationalfossilday/.

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Keep stuff in place
with "Earthquake Putty"
Do you have items in your RV you like to keep in place, like on a table, bedstand or counter? This is the stuff you need. Quakehold Museum Putty is designed to keep items secure in earthquakes! Hey, a moving RV is a constant earthquake! To use this, just pull off the amount needed, roll it in your fingers until soft, apply to the base of the object, then lightly press the object to the surface. Later, it comes off clean. It works on most surfaces. RVers love this stuff! And it's cheap! Learn more or order.

Take an amazing aerial tour of Black Canyon National Park

Enjoy a spectacular aerial tour of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, located near Montrose, Colo. David Bott, from OutsideOurBubble.com, shot this at a remote area of the park after obtaining permission from the only other guests in the area at the time. According to David’s explanation, it was a difficult location to videotape, so we’re fortunate to be able to view this breathtaking region from the air.

Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument, Texas

This month's National Park Getaway
Less than an hour drive from Amarillo, Texas

Fritch, Tex. – For more than 13,000 years, people have used colorful flint from a mesa in the heart of the Texas Panhandle. Archeological traces of prehistoric Indians' homes, workshops and campsites dot the entire Canadian River region of the Texas Panhandle, but few sites are as dramatic as Alibates Flint Quarries.

This 1,337-acre monument, the only national monument in the state of Texas, protects a mesa top literally covered in a carpet of Alibates flint chips. Collecting is not allowed, but you can pick up and examine the flint, even taste it, as long as you put it back.
The best time to visit is during the shoulder seasons for optimum conditions, including the second week of September through the end of October. If you're in the area on October 4, plan to attend FlintFest, an annual celebration that takes place on the first Saturday in October. This year there will be several highlights including the knap-in, featuring some of the best flintknappers from around the area demonstrating the skill of making stone tools and weapons.

Nearby Lake Meredith National Recreation Area offers a variety of camping opportunities, including scenic overlooks, shoreline camping, and wooded campgrounds. All campgrounds are FREE. No reservations are needed; sites are on a first-come, first-served basis. Trailer/RV hookups and showers are NOT available anywhere at Lake Meredith. There are also several private RV parks in the area.

Alibates Flint Quarries is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed only on New Year's, Thanksgiving and Christmas days. Read more about Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument here.

Free entrance to all National Parks on Saturday, September 27

Celebrate National Public Lands Day in a National Park
WASHINGTON – This Saturday, September 27, celebrate National Public Lands Day by heading to a national park to play, learn, serve or work. The 21^st annual event will feature free admission to every National Park Service site, as well as special activities and volunteer work projects across the country.

Sponsored by the National Environmental Education and Training Foundation, National Public Lands Day is the largest single-day, hands-on volunteer effort to improve and enhance federal, state and local public lands in the country. Last year, about 175,000 volunteers worked at 2,237 sites in every state, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico. Click here for more information and a list of project sites for this Saturday.

In addition to providing free entrance on Saturday, many parks will host special ranger programs and events, including a star party at Craters of the Moon National Memorial and Preserve, a Fall Fiesta at Bandelier National Monument, the Peanut Festival at Jimmy Carter National Historic Site, a wilderness fair at Joshua Tree National Park, the Mountain Festival at City of Rocks, and Music and Art in the Mountains at Blue Ridge Parkway.

Click here for more information about the free entrance days in the National Parks.

Capulin Volcano National Monument: This month's National Park Getaway

By Matt Tillson, Park Ranger, Capulin Volcano National Monument, New Mexico

Capulin Volcano
(Photo: en.wikipedia.org)

Rising above a dramatic landscape in northeastern New Mexico is Capulin Volcano—a unique place of mountains, plains, and sky. Born of fire and forces continually reshaping the earth’s surface, Capulin Volcano National Monument provides access to nature’s most awe-inspiring work.

An easy three-hour drive from Santa Fe, New Mexico; Amarillo, Texas; or Colorado Springs, Colorado; visitors will discover one of the nation’s best examples of a volcanic cinder cone and excellent views of the surrounding area. The monument hosts a variety of engaging activities and projects throughout the summer months.

Travel the two-mile paved Volcano Rim Road to enjoy picturesque views from the highest peak overlooking the Raton-Clayton Volcanic Field, check out the view of the Rocky Mountains from the rim or descend into the crater vent, take flight with the hummingbird monitoring project, stop in at the visitor center to enjoy the exhibits and park video and explore the park store.

Capulin Volcano is open daily except on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, park hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and visitors can drive to the top until 10 minutes before closing time. After Labor Day, the park operates from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Guests arriving after hours are welcome to walk or bike the Volcano Rim Road or hike the scenic Lava Flow and Boca trails with the chance of catching a glimpse of some of area wildlife like mule deer, pronghorn, or gray fox.

Read more here. 

Free webcast: Photographing America's National Parks

From National Parks Traveler

Mt. Rainier (Photo: NPS)

National park photography classes will take a big step forward in late August when Ian Shive, an award-winning photographer and author of The National Parks: Our American Landscape, conducts a live class over the Internet from Olympic and Mount Rainier national parks.

Hoh Rainforest,
Olympic National Park;
(Photo: NPS)

The show, Photographing America's National Parks, August 27-29, is being produced by CreativeLive, the world’s largest live online education network. CreativeLive will broadcast a live on-location shoot from Olympic National Park, a historic achievement that will provide access to places beloved by millions — all through the lens of one of the world’s most published photographers.

Shive, who will be live in Olympic National Park, with pretaped portions from Mount Rainier spliced into the show, will demonstrate his award-winning techniques during three days of shooting some of the most iconic locations in Mount Rainier and Olympic national parks. He will teach the key elements of professional outdoor photography, including: composition, shooting in challenging weather conditions, exposure settings for every environment, using filters to manage available light, scouting the perfect location and much more.

The classes will air August 27, 28, and 29 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. PDT

All of CreativeLive’s live online classes are free to watch and accessible to anyone with an internet connection. Additionally, during the live event, anyone can ask Shive a question directly via CreativeLive’s social classroom. His course, complete with 22 hours of video, is also available to purchase for on-demand access for $99.

For full details and to RSVP for the live event, please visit this site.

Camping near Grand Canyon's South Rim -- free and plentiful!

The latest available numbers show that in 2012, nearly four and a half million people visited Grand Canyon National Park. The huge bulk of these visited the park's South Rim, easily accessible to the sweeping hoards coming up from Phoenix and such points. With the summer high season on us, trying to find a place to park your rig in one of the park's campgrounds will be – well, just about impossible without a reservation.

Here's a word to the wise. Your intrepid travel writers of the open boondocks spent several happy days and nights camped out just a raven's wing away from the South Rim entrance station. We paid nothing. We heard almost nothing. We saw very few folks. What's the secret? Boondock in the Kaibab National Forest, which girds the national park's loins. There's lots of good camping not far from the crazy crowds at the Rim, and Uncle Sam invites you to stay for no fee.

You can 'spy out the land' using Google Maps, just put in Tusayan, Arizona as your starting point. Dial down to the street level of the town and you'll soon find the legend "302" just east of Highway 180, the main highway running from Interstate 40 up to the big trench in the earth that is the truly Grand Canyon. There are other Forest Service roads snaking through the forest near Tusayan, but this one could be the closest to the park's entrance. If you're peeking in with satellite view, find the town's "roundabout" or "traffic circle," and just a tad north of the circle is the right-hand turn onto Road 302.

If you want "quick access" to the park, just drive on past the sign that tells you camping is allowed 'beyond this point.'  You'll be less than a mile from the highway, in easy reach of fuel, shopping, and plenty of noise pollution. We made the mistake of pulling off at the first fire pit rings we spotted coming in the 302 road. We had the folding chairs out, the awning unfurled, and a bit of firewood gathered in time for the noisy swarms to begin buzzing the camp. We aren't talking mosquitoes here folks, these were big mechanical birds that give environmentalists fits: Scenic helicopter flights. Apparently those first tempting campsites are right on the main flight line. We managed the noise for a little over and hour, hoping it might shift. It didn't, so we did.

Follow that main forest service road north, then follow it more as it bends east, and keep your eyes peeled. You'll find a variety of little pull out spots heading off into the woods and meadows that make up this part of the Kaibab National Forest. We found ourselves 7 miles east of Tusayan, in some of the quietest country we've landed in for a long time. Yes, a few vehicles run up and down the road, but compared to most places, it's like paradise restored.

We did find we had to take a little caution with the local wildlife. Our traveling houseplants were soon off the rig and out in the sun. Our hanging flower pots were in a famous place--hanging off the roof access ladder. And my favorite pot of "Hen and Chicks" were soon installed on the ground under the hanging pots, all the better to catch the excess "runoff" water. But by Day Two, our little bit of paradise was likewise discovered by a wayward squirrel--who discovered a whole new world of flavor in those succulent "Hen and Chicks." The Wife Unit thought the little marauding rodent was a gas as he selectively picked his way through my baby greens, but Mr. Squirrel was soon thwarted when the Hen and Chick family was relocated to the hood of the truck.

There's still plenty of time to camp out on the Kaibab before the snow flies. Just be sure you keep your potted Peonies secured from rodent rage!

All photos, R&T DeMaris

Park Service "grounds" flying drones

Heading for a national park? Please leave your drone at home.

UAVDronesForSale on flickr.com

That's the word from the National Park Service. The agency's director has issued a "policy memorandum" that tells all park superintendents to quash the "launching, landing, or operating unmanned aircraft" on all lands under the Service's purview.

Seems like drones have created a number of problems in the nation's parks, and the agency wants to temporarily ground drones until new rules can be drafted that properly address the situation. What kind of problems?

Well, imagine being a visitor to Mount Rushmore last fall. You're sitting in the amphitheater, settling in for an evening ranger talk when suddenly, a drone buzzes low overhead. Park rangers somehow snagged the unwanted aircraft and "confiscated" it out of concern for visitor safety. That was last fall.

More recently, visitors to Arizona's Grand Canyon National Park had their appreciation of a quiet sunset interrupted when a noisy, unwelcome drone began an erratic flight, that ended with the little buzzer crashing into the canyon. Not far away, at Utah's Zion National Park, a herd of bighorn sheep were grazing when an unmanned aircraft popped in, buzzing between kids and their mothers.

Since rule-making is a time-consuming process and the Service is concerned about what might happen before a rule could be drafted, a stop-gap measure is now in place. Local  park officials will write up an order grounding drones, making sure the order is in harmony with laws, and letting the public know about the new shutdown.

Next, the park Service will propose a Service-wide regulation regarding unmanned aircraft. That process can take considerable time, depending on the complexity of the rule, and includes public notice of the proposed regulation and opportunity for public comment.

All permits previously issued for unmanned aircraft will be suspended until reviewed and approved by the associate director of the National Park Service’s Visitor and Resource Protection directorate. The associate director must approve any new special use permits authorizing the use of unmanned aircraft. Superintendents who have previously authorized the use of model aircraft for hobbyist or recreational use may allow such use.

Now if they could just do something to ground the smog that ruins the view in too many of our nation's treasures.

Now may be a great time to overnight in many national parks

daveynin on flickr.com

Want to take your RV into one of the U.S. national parks and overnight? Afraid you'll never find a spot? Unless you're planning on visiting one of the country's more popular parks, you may find your fears aren't warranted.

According to a story published by the Associated Press, overnighting in national parks is actually on a decline. It seems that "gateway communities," towns just outside the parks, are getting smart and fishing for tourist dollars. Fewer and fewer people are staying in the parks; rather, they're taking advantage of motel rooms with high-speed Internet and swimming pools, only driving into the park by day to make a visit.

Here are some statistics to show the trend. Back in 1998, national parks had more than nine million overnight camping stays. By 2003 that number had dropped to a little more than 8.5 million. Last year, 7.91 million overnight visits were had. Mind you, the stats for overnighting include all "inside the park stays," which include not only campgrounds suitable for RVs, but also back country areas where you won't be taking "Winnie" along.

Park rangers say there was a big inrush of overnighters back in 2009 and 2010 – up to 8.5 million. The thought is that the poor economy caused folks to turn to staying in the parks to save money. But with the economy getting back up on its feet, staying outside park boundaries is "the thing."

For RVers, in practical terms, if you want to secure a spot in one of the lesser-known parks, your chances of getting a spot are pretty good – numbers of overnight guests are down almost a third. But those big name parks? Well, expect you'll need to hit the reservation system. Don't be like us: We just casually "dropped in" at Zion midweek in 2012. We got sent packing in a hurry. But here's a suggestion: Want to see Grand Canyon's South Rim? There are plenty of great free places just outside the park on nearby Forest Service lands. 

Most visited national parks? Depends on who you ask

Grand Canyon NPS on flickr.com

What are the top ten national parks in the United States by visits? That depends on whose statistics you go by. The American Recreation Coalition recently published a top ten list, based on statistics provided by social network giant, Facebook. The Facebook stats are based on users who reported "check-ins" to national parks on its network site.

Now compare the social network stats to those provided by the National Park Service (NPS). In this case, the numbers are based on the actual number of visits made to the parks in 2013.

No doubt our readers have their own national park favorites.

Elevated levels of mercury found in fish in Western U.S. national parks

From National Park Service and USGS, April 16, 2014.

Mercury has been discovered in fish in some of the most remote national park lakes and streams in the western United States and Alaska. Mercury levels in some fish exceeded U.S. Environmental Protection Agency health thresholds for potential impacts to fish, birds, and humans.

The information about mercury, and its appearance in protected areas considered to be relatively pristine and removed from environmental contaminants, is in a recently published scientific report from the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Park Service.

The study of mercury in fish is the first of its kind to incorporate information from remote places at 21 national parks in 10 western states, including Alaska. Western parks were selected for this study because of the significant role that atmospheric mercury deposition plays in remote places, and the lack of broad-scale assessments on mercury in fish in remote areas of the west.

Mercury concentrations in fish sampled from these parks were generally low, but were elevated in some instances. This study examines total mercury in fish, of which 95 percent is in the form of methylmercury, the most dangerous form to human and wildlife health.

Mercury is harmful to human and wildlife health, and is among the most widespread contaminants in the world. It is distributed at a global scale from natural sources, such as volcanic eruptions and from human sources such as burning fossil fuels in power plants. Mercury is distributed at local or regional scales as a result of current and historic mining activities. These human activities have increased levels of atmospheric mercury at least three fold during the past 150 years.

... The authors found that mercury levels varied greatly, from park to park and among sites within each park. In most parks, mercury concentrations in fish were moderate to low in comparison with similar fish species from other locations in the Western states. Mercury concentrations were below EPA’s fish tissue criterion for safe human consumption in 96 percent of the sport fish sampled. 

For more on this from the U.S. Geological Survey, click here.

“Go Wild” for America's National Parks during National Park Week, April 19-27

From National Park Foundation and National Park Service

From April 19-27, the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation will host National Park Week, featuring special events in parks nationwide. This year’s theme, “National Park Week: Go Wild!” invites visitors to celebrate all that America’s 401 national parks have to offer. With free admission to all parks on April 19 and 20, and exciting activities and programs scheduled throughout the week, National Park Week is the perfect time to discover the diverse wildlife, iconic landscapes, vibrant culture and rich history found in America’s national parks.

There are countless ways to enjoy National Park Week -- below are just a few suggestions:

Go wild for a walk in a park. More than 100 free, ranger-led walks are offered during National Park Week. Hike to a cloud forest, take a sunset stroll, wander through John F. Kennedy's neighborhood, and more.

Go wild for Earth Day. Tour John Muir’s house in California and take part in a combined John Muir Birthday/Earth Day Celebration with music, food, and family-friendly events.

Go wild for Patriot’s Day. Commemorate the opening battle of the American Revolutionary War with parades, reenactments, and special ceremonies in Massachusetts.

Go wild for waterfalls. Take the Whiskeytown Waterfall Challenge at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area in beautiful northern California and hike to Brandy Creek, Boulder Creek, Crystal Creek and Whiskeytown Falls!

Go wild for national park road trips. Enjoy a self-guided tour to historic places, most of which are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Each trip takes you to a variety of places significant in American history, architecture, archeology, engineering, and culture.

Go wild for wildflowers. Spring has sprung and it is the perfect time to see nature in all of its colorful glory in parks across the country. Parks including the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee and Cumberland Gap and Mammoth Cave in Kentucky will have wildflower walks and talks.

Using the resources on the National Park Week website, visitors can plan adventures, share national park photos, videos and tips, and learn about all the ways to help support national parks.

National Park Week also offers many opportunities for the public to explore local parks, trails, and architectural gems sustained by National Park Service programs such as the Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance program and the National Register of Historic Places. A complete list of National Park Week events taking place across the country is available at www.nationalparkweek.org.

Visit Congaree National Park in S.C., this month's National Park Getaway

By Jonathan Manchester, Park Ranger, Congaree National Park

Congaree National Park, 20 minutes southeast of Columbia, S.C., ranks among the most diverse forest communities in North America. It contains the largest intact expanse of old growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the southeastern United States.

Old growth forest

Imagine a time when the United States was still largely untamed, primitive wilderness. Congaree National Park, with more than 26,000 acres of near-virgin forest, is a portal to the past, to a time when millions of acres of old-growth bottomland hardwood forests towered along the banks of southeastern rivers. Congaree National Park protects an active floodplain ecosystem and preserves a large area of federally designated wilderness close to a major city.

Guided canoe tours

Wilderness activities such as hiking, canoeing and camping allow visitors to experience the park up close. Walking through the stands of old-growth trees, you can observe wildlife such as red-shouldered hawks, wild turkeys and white-tail deer. There are more than 150 species of birds in the park.

Canoe and kayak routes along Cedar Creek take visitors through a tunnel of green leaves in the spring and summer. Whether you plan your own trip or take part in a ranger-guided tour, keep your eyes open–there’s good chance that you’ll see river otter, heron or maybe even an alligator.

Educational tours on boardwalk

The 2.4-mile boardwalk trail from the visitor center makes the floodplain accessible to all visitors and shares the big picture in a small frame.

Yearly floods may cover the trails and parts of the boardwalk, bringing in necessary nutrients that help create the thick green canopy high overhead during the summer. These yearly floods are part of what makes this forest one of the tallest deciduous forests in the United States. Check here for more info and possible park alerts in effect.

Whether you’re seeking solitude, spiritual connections, wildlife viewing, or recreation, Congaree has an abundance of ways to get closer to nature. Congaree National Park does not charge entrance or tour fees. Click here for more park information.

All photos National Park Service