Tons of news today about the Omnibus bill among other things. Definitely worth the read.
-JM
Glacier National Park News:
Plowing starts up in Glacier Park
WEST GLACIER — Glacier National Park road crews are beginning spring snowplowing in earnest this week. Plowing of the Going-to-the-Sun Road beyond Lake McDonald Lodge is scheduled to begin April 1 and proceed to Avalanche Creek to accommodate access by contractors to rehabilitate and pave the picnic area and campground entrance.
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20090326/NEWS01/903260305/1002/news01Going-to-the-Sun getting yearly spring makeover
Now that Spring is here, rehabilitation work on Going-to-the-Sun Road is moving forward.
http://www.kpax.com/Global/story.asp?S=10072214Grand Canyon National Park News: Lawsuit Aims to Protect Endangered Grand Canyon Condors
From Lead Poisoning Due to Poor Federal Management
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed suit today against the Bureau of Land Management and the Fish and Wildlife Service for their failure to protect endangered California condors in the Grand Canyon from toxic lead ammunition and their failure to protect other endangered species, including the desert tortoise, in crafting management plans for huge tracts of public land adjacent to the Grand Canyon.
http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2009/condor-lead-03-25-2009.htmlRoad to Grand Canyon's North Rim to reopen May 15
GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK - The main roadway leading to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon is set to reopen for the summer season on May 15.
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/local/112883.phpLife at the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park
Life in Grand Canyon National Park is unique from life in any other place. For me, living here is most comparable to living on many military bases I have lived. The village is isolated from many comforts of modern living. Residents experience large turnovers as the tourist seasons come and go. Also, for those that have lived here for long periods or come back to work and live regularly, there is a sense of belonging in the Canyon, the feeling of ownership and importance in their role in the Park, and an appreciation of life in Grand Canyon.
http://www.examiner.com/x-5370-Grand-Can...n-National-ParkGreat Smoky Mountain National Park News:
Clingmans Dome Road to open again next week
If all goes as planned, Clingmans Dome Road in Great Smoky Mountains National Park will re-open next Wednesday, April 1st.
http://hikinginthesmokys.blogspot.com/2009/03/clingmans-dome-road-to-open-again-next.htmlMisc. National Park News:
Land protection passed
Dems applaud, but GOP says it’s unaffordable and a job-killer
Congress gave final approval yesterday to massive federal legislation that would protect land and water across the nation, including 250,000 acres of wilderness at Rocky Mountain National Park.
http://www.thedenverdailynews.com/article.php?aID=3726Bill saves 2 million U.S. acres as wild
At 315,000 acres, Colorado is among nine states in the House-approved measure.
The U.S. House of Representatives — on its second try — passed a bill to preserve 2 million acres as wilderness in nine states, including 315,000 acres in Colorado.
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_11997635Rocky Mountain National Park wilderness bill clears House
A piece of legislation more than 10 years in the making could ensure one of Colorado’s most visited places will be protected for generations to come.
http://www.fortcollinsnow.com/article/20...0clears%20HouseCongress votes to expand wilderness in 9 states
WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress has voted to set aside more than 2 million acres in nine states as protected wilderness — from California's Sierra Nevada mountains to the Jefferson National Forest in Virginia.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ja3vNS7u_ovPaeUpzrEKqDzs5TjAD9759UU8077-foot waterfall in NJ's industrial mecca likely to earn national park designation from Obama
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — A new national park may emerge from a small patch of lush oasis just 15 miles from Manhattan in northeastern New Jersey's industrial mecca.
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-great-falls-state-park,0,5411155.story
Rocky Mountain National Park News:
Rocky Mountain Park sets new west entrance station
Rocky Mountain National Park plans to replace the 49-year-old entrance station on the west side of the park.
http://www.examiner.com/a-1925012~Rocky_Mountain_Park_sets_new_west_entrance_station.htmlGood news for public lands: RMNP one of the main beneficiaries (Note, I debated lumping this in with the Misc. News, but decided to place it here ultimately).
The U.S. House of Representatives joined the Senate on Wednesday by taking an important step in favor of public wilderness lands -- passing a bill that will protect 2 million acres of wilderness, 5,000 hiking trails and a thousand miles of rivers for generations to come.
http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2009/mar/26/good-news-for-public-lands/Yellowstone National Park News:
Lecture covers Yellowstone area elk habitat, access and brucellosis
A special evening lecture on greater Yellowstone area elk movements in relation to brucellosis risk and hunter access will be April 1 at 6:30 p.m. at the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) Visitor Center in Missoula.
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20090326/LIFESTYLE05/903260338Yellowstone trails reopened
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (AP) - Yellowstone National Park has reopened two trails popular with skiers and snowshoers.
http://www.localnews8.com/Global/story.asp?S=10076048&nav=menu554_2_2FIU researchers, others discover arsenic-eating alga
The discovery that a one-celled alga can detoxify deadly arsenic has been made by a team led by researchers now at Florida International University's brand new College of Medicine.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami-dade/breaking-news/story/968528.htmlDog sledding is exhilarating and nostalgic way to travel
Dog sledding is an exercise in changed states, of chaos turning to order. One moment dogs were barking, yapping, whining, snarling, scrapping, jumping, biting and all the other things dogs do. The next moment they were straining at the gang line, and with a burst of acceleration, all turned silent but for the hiss of the runners on the snow and the sound of my own exhilarated breathing.
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/lifesty...30?OpenDocumentYosemite National Park News:
California poppies provide a pop of color
Wildflowers announce that spring has sprung in the Valley.
California poppies are appearing in brilliant carpets of orange from the Merced River to the ridgeline along the Merced River Canyon, several miles west of Yosemite National Park.
http://www.fresnobee.com/local/story/1283913.htmlWildflowers bloom in abundance after Yosemite fire
EL PORTAL, Calif.—Ash from a wildfire that scorched 34,000 acres outside Yosemite National Park is now providing the perfect nutrients for hundreds of acres of tufted poppies and other California native wildflowers to bloom this spring.
http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_11994657
