| Page 614 | National Parks Traveler

Gee - the lands are being used for exactly the purpose they were established - raising school funds. Horrors!. If it so ridiculously low Lee, why don't you go buy it. It is an auction after all so you have as much right to buy it as "their good friends". As usual, you totally mischaracterize the situation.

May 30th - 12:03pm | Lee Dalton

For a picture of what State "Management" of public lands means, here is an example from today's Salt Lake Tribune. While this particular land is actually owned by the state, it is land that was set aside upon statehood as "school lands." Developers have been drooling over these lands for years, and now the legislature has seen fit to grant some of their wishes. Note the ridiculously low pric

A Few Musings From An Increasingly Dusty Lake Mead National Recreation Area

May 30th - 07:58am | Gary Wilson

I was always under the assumption that Lake Mead was what built Vegas, not vice versa. There's a satellite timelapse from NASA that they put out showcasing the rise, and fall of Lake Mead over the course of 30 or 40 years, and it was pretty telling what has happened. You basically see Lake Mead shrink as Vegas bursts outward. I'll try and dig up that video later today. So, it seems that eve

May 30th - 03:41am | Rudy Stefancik

So why not drain Lake Powell and send that water to Lake Mead instead of building a giant pipeline to divert water from the edge of the Great Basin to "Lost" Vegas? Wasn't Lake Powell supposed to hold additional "surplus" water above Lake Mead in case it was needed in Vegas or further down the Colorado destribution points?

May 29th - 15:46pm | Jim Burnett

Great article with some sad news. Echo Bay is a much different place than it was when I worked there 30 years ago.

May 29th - 14:56pm | Gary Wilson

There are many interesting NPS sites around the area showcasing civilization swells, and then village/site abandoment due to long term mega droughts - Mesa Verde, Chaco Canyon, the Grand Canyon, Wupatki, and the list goes on. It's happening again, although I fear this one is going to be worse because the population numbers are much much greater. Back then there weren't millions sucking down

May 29th - 11:40am | Owen Hoffman

Thank you Lee for sharing your personal experiences at Lake Mead with us. It's an outstanding article.

Bloom Season Underway On The Blue Ridge Parkway

May 29th - 09:11am | Gary Wilson

It sure is turning out nice this year. The region is also having an abnormally long dry spell, and I've lost count of all the blue bird sky days that has fallen over the mountains the last few weeks. I'd say over the next 3 weeks willl be the best time to hit the blue ridge.

Lanes, Sidewalks On Arlington Memorial Bridge Being Closed Until Emergency Repairs Can Be Made

May 29th - 08:16am | ecbuck

Unless Congress passes a transportation funding bill that increases resources for national parks, our park’s roads and bridges will continue to deteriorate."

Driving the Park Loop Road in Acadia National Park

May 29th - 06:16am | Acadia on my mind

You'll have to go back and do the Park Loop Road again, since the park started reopening 30 historic vistas late last summer. You can now see Bubble Rock and Eagle Lake clearly as you drive along.

Reimagining Maine’s North Woods: Is A National Park Hidden Among The Trees?

May 29th - 01:45am | Rick B.

Yeah. A lot of us like the parks to be a break from the fear mongering going on in much of the discourse nationally. I mostly avoided continuing that conversation because I promised Kurt I'd get out of the mud wrestling. Go ahead and rant on - I won't join in further with you.

May 28th - 23:58pm | trailadvocate

Hey, I don't mean to put the breaks on discussion but there really is a world spinning out of control while you are discussing the small stuff. It's going to land in your lap at some point. As long as this bunch throws you a bone, that's enough? going to regret that strategy. Gotta buck up at some point. Getting pretty ugly every way you look.

May 28th - 00:13am | trailadvocate

Oh spare me, Rick B. Your found conscience is leading you far astray. Koch empire, Geez. Hmmm, Clinton BS empire off limits? So much BS out there under the banner of compassion. Yep, spare me!

May 27th - 20:55pm | Rick B.

Absolutely correct, Lee. Ever since Citizens United, and clearly since the visble rise of the Koch empire, there can be no doubt, at least among honest citizens of a three digit IQ.

May 27th - 19:27pm | ecbuck

as long as so many of them are controlled by their purchasers.But we will have to disagree there. I believe they are controlled by the public whim. Too many are afraid to do what is right if it might alienate their voters. The RINO Republicans are a prime example.

May 27th - 17:29pm | Lee Dalton

Gonna have to agree with you on that one, ec. And so does Congress. But that second one is a completely forlorn hope as long as so many of them are controlled by their purchasers.

May 27th - 09:03am | ecbuck

Ron, the NPS - and much of the rest of the government needs more Robert Dannos.

May 27th - 07:32am | Lee Dalton

Exactly right, Ron. And the two books you mention should be required reading for all of us who frequent Traveler.

May 26th - 20:45pm | drew

Thank you, Traveler, for the article to update us on the proposal I've been following for 25 years and to all the commenters for an excellent discussion.

May 26th - 17:23pm | Lee Dalton

Some excellent observations by Dr. Runte. Unfortunately, he's right.

May 26th - 13:31pm | Alfred Runte

Actually, the Park Service said "no" to Olympic National Park--and got it anyway. Nor were they "happy" to have it. Read Carsten Lien's book, OLYMPIC BATTLEGROUND.

May 26th - 12:16pm | ecbuck

Today, according to THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, your government and mine is backing the bankie wankies to the tune of 26 TRILLION.

May 26th - 12:06pm | ecbuck

How things transpired after the NPS said 'no' I can't say,

May 26th - 11:10am | Alfred Runte

Just for the record, the Park Service has said "no" to scores of potential units, especially in the 1920s under Stephen T. Mather. The point is: He was a millionaire and didn't give a damn what Congress happened to "think." Under Mather, the National Parks Association (which he formed) attacked so-called inferior units. As president of NPA, Robert Sterling Yard was good at it, too.

May 26th - 10:55am | Kurt Repanshek

EC, you wanted an example and I provided it.How things transpired after the NPS said 'no' I can't say, just as with more than 400 units of the park system, and who knows how many studies, I can't immediately point to any other examples where the agency opposed a designation.

May 26th - 09:48am | ecbuck

The NPS initially opposedOne example out of 400 plus units. I see you used the term "initially". Did they change their stance? Did the unit get approved after that change?Oh, and I kind of like the irony of your position then and now.

May 26th - 09:47am | ecbuck

. It's hard to say NO to the nine thousand pound gorilla.No it is not. The Pentagon did just that. They may have not gotten their way, but at least they said "no".

May 26th - 08:11am | Kurt Repanshek

The NPS initially opposed addition of Patterson Great Falls in New Jersey.

May 25th - 22:29pm | Lee Dalton

Exactly my point. It's hard to say NO to the nine thousand pound gorilla. Which is probably why no one can come up with an example. Yup. But talk about messed up priorities . . . . . .

May 25th - 21:52pm | ecbuck

And just how, pray tell, does the NPS say "NO" to Congress?Well Lee, since none of you have come up with an example of where they said no and Congress went ahead and approved a park, I guess the answer is, the NPS can't say no.Oh, and while there might be legitimate reasons to not want the F-35. Congress approved and FUNDED it.

Crossing The Border In Big Bend

May 27th - 08:02am | Jim Burnett

I'd wondered how this was working out. Thanks for the information!

May 27th - 07:29am | Lee Dalton

Fascinating. Thanks, David and Kay.

Higher Entrance, Camping Fees Coming To Olympic National Park

May 26th - 23:02pm | Argle Bargle

Source: NPS Budget BookOlympic:2103: $12,098,0002014: $12,745,0002015: $12,997,000Cumulative inflation during this period has been 1.6%. It appears the park is keeping ahead of inflation.

May 26th - 21:33pm | ecbuck

Numbers don't always tell the entire story.But they do tell that contrary to the assertion, budgets haven't been "slashed". Zion's weekend visitation the last several weekends have broken recordsWhich would mean that Zions entrance fee revenues (which are not included in the budget numbers) likely broke records as well.

May 26th - 20:22pm | Lee Dalton

But do those numbers account for inflation and vastly increased visitation in many (if not most) major parks? Numbers don't always tell the entire story.Someone told me today that there had been a report on Utah news that Zion's weekend visitation the last several weekends have broken records. (I'm trying to find that to document it.)And an English lesson for the evening:

May 26th - 20:00pm | ecbuck

Requested dollars are of course meaningless, enacted is what counts.And my numbers show that enacted over the last several years is up. In fact compared to 2000 when the number was $1.8 billion they are up dramatically.

May 26th - 19:15pm | Jim Burnett

Requested dollars are of course meaningless, enacted is what counts. Since we are discussing Olympic, my question is what that park's budget trend for operating dollars has been the past 3 years. I'd be very surprised if they've made up the $640,000 they lost to the sequester in 2013.

May 26th - 18:48pm | ecbuck

2013 2.214 billion2014 2.236 billon2015 2.283 bil2016 a request of $3.0 bilhttp://www.doi.gov/budget/appropriations/2015/highlights/upload/A001.pdf

May 26th - 18:33pm | Rick B.

Strange, since the tea partiers specifically want to slash the federal budget. Why they start with the agency that has 1/14th of 1% of the federal budget instead of the biggies, like the pentagon, amazes me.

May 26th - 17:58pm | Jim Burnett

Yep, slashed. In 2013, for one example, the park budget at Olympic was cut 5% due to the infamous sequester. Given already lean operating dollars, that was significant. Ec seems to think that park's budget hasn't been cut in recent years, so perhaps he could document that fact.

May 26th - 17:34pm | ecbuck

Yes, the post was a duplicate and I deleted it. Unfortunately you can't delete totally, there has to be some text. Dupe stands for "duplicate".

May 26th - 17:16pm | Lee Dalton

Dupe?

May 26th - 15:46pm | ecbuck

dupe

May 26th - 15:46pm | ecbuck

With Congress continuing to slash park budgetsSlash budgets?

May 26th - 15:02pm | Tim McNulty

Park managers have made the best of a bad situation here. With Congress continuing to slash park budgets, entrance and user fees have to pick up a larger share of park operations. Local conservation groups asked the park to phase in the fee increases, and for the most park managers have done that.

Savoring Rocky Mountain National Park’s Past While Looking To The Future

May 26th - 08:29am | Jim Burnett

A wonderful park that offers a range of great resources and experiences. All of us who get to enjoy the park today can be thankful for those who worked to establish the park a century ago.

Burros Inadvertently Save Life Of Hiker Lost In Death Valley National Park

May 26th - 02:53am | Louie C

Our Wild Burros are Federally Protected, and unless we all fight to keep them on Public Lands, there will be no more. Forever is a long time.Last of Wild Burros

INN Member

The easiest way to explore RV-friendly National Park campgrounds.

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

Here’s the definitive guide to National Park System campgrounds where RVers can park their rigs.

Our app is packed with RVing- specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 national parks.

You’ll also find stories about RVing in the parks, tips helpful if you’ve just recently become an RVer, and useful planning suggestions.

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks