Category Archives: National Parks

National Parks

Jointly Developed Watershed Assessment Model Being Used in Yosemite National Park

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

The USDA has posted an article about the Watershed Assessment Model that’s being used at Yosemite National Park:

An award-winning watershed assessment tool, the Automated Geospatial Watershed Assessment (AGWA), was deployed to assess potential Rim Fire threats in Yosemite National Park in California.  The park experienced a devastating fire that began on August 17, 2013, and took several months to contain. The fire burned more than 400 square miles in and around the park, cost $125.8 million to date, and is considered one of the largest wildfires in California’s history.

Continue reading →

Conservation, National Forests, National Parks

U.S. Forest Service’s Ecological Restoration Implementation Plan – How it affects you

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

The Pacific Southwest Region of the US Forest Service has released a statement of its Leadership Intent for Ecological Restoration, which laid out the Region’s guiding vision and goals for its stewardship of wildland and forests for the next 15-20 years. The following draft document reflects the Regional leadership’s current thinking on how the Leadership Intent will be implemented. This draft is a beginning point for discussions with employees, partners, tribes, agencies, communities of place and interest and those who care about the future of their National Forests.

Like the Leadership Intent the Implementation Plan is fluid and we expect that adjustments will be made over time as the Region continues to collaborate; follow new science; and seek out and form new alliances. These ongoing processes will reveal new and smarter ways to increase the pace and scale of restoration work while balancing the ecological, social and economic benefits of our restoration actions. Regional leadership has committed to editing and improving this document following these discussions and then reviewing and updating it at least annually in the future years. Hence we invite discussion, input and insight to ensure that the Implementation Plan reflects and is responsive to new information, partnerships, and conditions.

Continue reading →

National Forests, National Parks

Sen. Flake Introduces Bill to Help Keep Public Lands Open During Federal Government Shutdowns

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

 

Press Release from Senator Jeff Flake (R-AZ):

Washington, D.C. – United States Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ), today introduced S. 1750, the Public Access to Public Lands Guarantee Act. The legislation would require the federal government to enter an agreement with any state or municipality willing to offer funding to keep public lands, such as national monuments, national recreation areas and national parks, open during a shutdown of the federal government. S. 1750 seeks to prevent the federal government from delaying – or denying – the negotiation of these agreements, as it did when Arizona offered local and state funds to keep the Grand Canyon National Park open during the recent shutdown.

Continue reading →

National Forests, National Parks

Take a hike with Street View through U.S. National Parks and Parks Canada

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

On Wednesday, Google launched a collection of images from more than 44 national parks and historic sites across the United States and Canada after travelling through the destinations earlier this year.

From Google Maps Product Manager, Evan Rapoport:

What do tents and hiking boots have in common? You don’t need either to start exploring or planning your next adventure to some of the best national parks and historical sites across North America.

Working with the U.S. National Park Service and Parks Canada, our Street View cars, trikes and Trekkermapped more than 44 locations with beautiful, 360 degree panoramas.

Continue reading →