News from August 2023


2022 Wilderness Stewardship Award Recipients

News Release: Individual Award: Jane Rodgers. Jane Rodgers has been a tireless advocate for supporting wilderness both at Joshua Tree National Park (JOTR) and throughout the network and region. As Chief of Science and Resource Stewardship, Jane has led a robust campaign to train the broadest range of employees as...


National Park Service Extends Public Comment Period on Proposed Anchoring Permit Fee

News Release: St. Croix, US Virgin Islands - The National Park Service (NPS) is extending the public comment period by two weeks for the proposed Buck Island Reef National Monument anchoring permit fee. The public comment period will now close September 6, 2023.


Rivers and Borders on El Camino Real de los Tejas

News Release: Lacking major mountain ranges, Texas’ geography is shaped by its rivers. Rivers helped travelers determine distance, and they demarcated boundaries between Indigenous groups and, later, European and American settlers. Rivers were essential to Texans’ lives and livelihoods; they provided water for people and animals, irrigation for crops, and transportation between the coast and inland regions.


Bat at Arches tests positive for rabies

News Release: MOAB, Utah - A bat found outside of Arches National Park Visitor Center on Aug. 18, 2023, has tested positive for rabies. In recent weeks, the park has received a few other reports of unusual bat behavior, including one reported bite.


Collaboration leads to successful fuels projects in Lake Clark National Park & Preserve

News Release: In late May/early June 2023, four members of a Western Area Fire Management team in Alaska were joined by three fire staff from Buffalo National River in Arkansas, in NPS’s Midwest Region, and one from Great Smokey National Park in NPS’s Eastern Region, to work on fuels projects at Lake Clark National Park & Preserve.


National Park Service Launches Mi Parque, Mi Historia Campaign with NPS Birthday

News Release: Washington, Aug. 24, 2023. - With the National Park Service’s (NPS) 107th birthday on Aug. 25, NPS is launching “Mi Parque, Mi Historia," a campaign that invites Hispanic/Latino communities, families, and individuals to share their personal connection to parks and the outdoors.



Tourism to Fort Vancouver National Historic Site contributes $97.4 million to local economy

News Release: VANCOUVER, Wash. - A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 964 thousand visitors to Fort Vancouver National Historic Site in 2022 spent $63.7 million in communities near the park. That spending supported 873 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $97.4 million.


2022 James V. Murfin Award

News Release: The James V. Murfin Award recognizes individuals who significant and lasting contributions career to improve and strengthen the 100-year partnership between the National Park Service and cooperating associations. The award was inaugurated in 1988 and is named for the servicewide cooperating association coordinator who worked diligently for more than a decade to encourage excellence and innovation to strengthen this historic partnership. Recipients embody the NPS mission.


Walk to Bent's Fort

News Release: From the parking lot your visit to Bent's Old Fort starts with a 1/2-mile roundtrip hike to the reconstructed fort. There is not a lot of shade on the walk to the Fort, so definitely pack water, sunscreen, and a hat!.


BLM lifts seasonal fire restrictions in central and western Arizona

News Release: PHOENIX - Effective Friday, August 25 at 8 a.m., the Bureau of Land Management will lift all seasonal fire restrictions for public lands administered by the Phoenix and Colorado River Districts, including the Kingman, Lake Havasu, and Yuma field offices as well as the Hasssayampa, and Lower Sonoran field...


BLM announces Jeffrey Krauss as new communications chief

News Release: Bureau of Land Management Director Tracy Stone-Manning has announced the selection of Jeffrey Krauss as the new Assistant Director for Communications. Krauss, a veteran communications professional with more than 25 years of experience, will assume his new position on Aug. 27, 2023, at BLM Headquarters in Washington, D.C.


El Servicio de Parques Nacionales lanza la campaña Mi Parque, Mi Historia con motivo del cumpleaños de NPS

News Release: Washington, 24 de agosto de 2023. - Con motivo del 107 aniversario del Servicio de Parques Nacionales (NPS, por sus siglas en inglés) que se celebrará el 25 de agosto, el NPS lanza "Mi Parque, Mi Historia", una campaña que invita a las comunidades, familias e individuos de origen hispano/latino a compartir su conexión personal con los parques y las actividades al aire libre.


Restrictions and Rationing on the World War II Home Front

News Release: Even before the US formally entered World War II, there was a demand for materials to supply the Allies. But there was greater demand on the part of American manufacturers to supply products for civilians. A report examining American preparation for war noted that, in 1941, US factories made more articles...


BLM Land South of O’Brien Closed Due to Smith River Complex

News Release: Medford, Oregon - As a result of the Smith River Complex, the BLM is closing public lands south of O’Brien to the California border. This order is for the safety of the public and firefighter personnel.


RMNP Fire Web Application: A New Tool for Managers

News Release: During the 2020 fire season, the Cameron Peak and East Troublesome fires burned roughly 30,000 acres in Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP). In total, these fires burned almost 200,000 acres each and spanned multiple management jurisdictions including U.S. Forest Service (USFS) lands, country lines...


Riding the Winds: Hawk Watch in Acadia National Park 2023

News Release: By Logan Witt. SCA Raptor Intern 2023. Acadia National Park. Fri Aug 25 2023. Nearing the end of August, raptor migration is on its way to Acadia National Park. This is the 29th Hawk Watch here at Acadia, with the help of our partnership with Schoodic Institute. The Hawk Watch Program is on top of Cadillac...


Reclamation reopens Acorn Campground for Labor Day holiday weekend

News Release: SONORA, Calif. - The Bureau of Reclamation has scheduled the reopening of Acorn Campground in New Melones Lake’s Tuttletown Recreation Area for Labor Day holiday. Camping will be available at Acorn Campground beginning Friday, Sept. 1 through Tuesday, Sept. 5, providing additional opportunities to camp and enjoy the outdoors during the holiday weekend.


Visitor spending to Golden Gate NRA, Muir Woods NM and Fort Point NHS set new record in 2022

News Release: SAN FRANCISCO-A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 17.3 million visitors to Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Muir Woods National Monument and Fort Point National Historic Site in 2022 spent $1.25 billion in communities near the parks. That spending supported 12,014 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $1.75 billion.


Dyea Campground Closed Due to Bear Activity and Property Damage

News Release: There have been numerous reports of bear encounters, and bears damaging camping equipment in the National Park Service (NPS) Dyea campground in the last few days.