Current Issues in Wildland Recreation Management

There are many resource management issues facing public and private land managers today. Any of these issues would make a good topic for one of your writing assignments. These critical concerns include:

Forest Health and Restoration

Forest Health From Different Perspectives

Abstract.- Forest health is an increasingly important concept in natural resource management. However, definition of forest health is difficult and dependent on human perspective. From a utilitarian perspective, forest health has been de- fined by the production of forest conditions which directly satisfy human needs. From an ecosystem-centered perspective, forest health has been defined by resilience, recurrence. persistence and biophysical processes which lead to sustainable ecological conditions. Definitions and understanding of forest health are also dependent on spatial scale, with increasing ambiguity associated with in- creasing land area and numbers of trees.

T.E. Kolb, M.R. Wagner, and W.W. Covington, (1995). Forest Health From Different Perspectives, Forest Health Through Silviculture, Proceedings of the 1995 National Silviculture Workshop, Mescalaro, New Mexico

Recreationist's and Animal Behavior Impacts

From the NPS Morning Report, Wed. 28, June 2000

Fatality; Overdose

Jerry Noran, 37, and several friends went to Boxcar Cove on July 24th  to jet ski. His companions report that he was on the water all day, that he'd been drinking heavily, and that he was taking prescription pain pills in the evening. When his friends went to bed, he was still up and "partying." When they checked on him in his tent the next morning, they found that he had died. The death has been ruled an overdose. [Cate Cleary, Dispatch, LAME, 6/27]

Glacier NP (MT) - Bear Attack

Jason Sanson, 24, of Malmstrom AFB in Great Falls, was injured in a black bear attack on the south shore trail at Two Medicine Lake near East Glacier on the afternoon of June 26th. Sanson and his wife Jamie were returning from a day hike when they encountered two black bears, both ahead of them on the trail. Although they moved off the trail when they saw the Sansons, one bear began to circle the couple. The Sansons retreated back up the trail and started yelling and throwing rocks at the bear (neither was carrying bear spray, which is recommended by the park). It did not respond to these actions, continued to draw closer, then charged Jason Sanson. He dropped to the ground and covered his head with his hands. The bear sniffed him, grabbed one of his boots and pulled it off, and bit the upper area of both of Sanson's arms. At this point, Sanson decided to fight back. He lunged at the bear with his car keys in his hand, striking the animal. The bear backed off, giving Sanson time to stand up and retreat down 
the trail. The bear disappeared. During the attack, Jamie Sanson ran up the trail to the concession boat dock at the head of Two Medicine Lake and sought help. The park was immediately notified and a ranger, a volunteer and a boat concession paramedic responded. The puncture wounds on Sanson's arms were treated; he was taken to a hospital in Browning, where he received further treatment and was released. Rangers could find neither of the bears, but will continue to patrol the area and search for evidence of bears. If found, a decision on appropriate action will be made based on the bear's behavior. [Amy Vanderbilt, PIO, GLAC, 6/27]

From the NPS Morning Report, Thu. 22, June 2000

Yosemite NP (CA) - Drowning

On the afternoon of June 19th, a 34-year-old Japanese woman slipped on the sloping wet granite on Silver Apron and slid into the Merced River at the point where it cascades into the Emerald Pool two-and-a-half miles up the trail at the top of Vernal Fall. She was swept down the cascade and into the recirculating water at the head of the pool. Witnesses lost sight of her for many seconds, then saw her resurface downstream, float briefly facedown, then sink out of sight. Rangers Keith Lober, Steve Yu and John Dill heli-rappelled into the area with swift water rescue gear and searched for about 30 minutes before locating her at the bottom of a pool in about 15 feet of water. She had been submerged for about 90 minutes, but resuscitation efforts were begun because she'd been in cold water. These efforts included chest compressions, ventilation by bag-valve mask, insertion of an endotrachial tube, administration of drugs, and defibrillation with an automatic external defibrillator. She was then flown to Yosemite Valley, where she was pronounced dead at the Yosemite Medical Clinic. [Dan Horner, SA, YOSE, 6/20]

From the NPS Morning Report, Fri. 23, June 2000

Gateway NRA (NJ/NY) - Strong-Arm Robberies, Arrests

Park Police officers were flagged down just before 1 a.m. on June 14th by Thomas Adrian, 37, of Brooklyn, who said he'd been robbed and assaulted by a group of six youths. Further investigation revealed that there'd been three such incidents at that location within the hour. Adrian was the victim in the first incident, in which he was accosted by the group along a park trail. When he told them that he had no money, he was struck on the head with a bottle, and jewelry and keys were forcibly taken from him. Shortly thereafter, 55-year-old Osvaldo Ditomaso, also of Brooklyn, was similarly confronted. The youths took his jewelry and car keys and demanded to know which vehicle in the parking lot was his. When he refused to tell them, he was struck on the head with a bottle and his right eye was cut. The group then approached Yuriy Kovolenko, 19, and Tatyana Dolichnaya, 20, who were sitting in their parked vehicle in the adjacent parking lot. Once again, the youths demanded cash and jewelry; Kovolenko and Dolichnaya complied. The area was canvassed for suspects and two juveniles were contacted within a mile of the attacks. Both had blood on their clothing and items stolen from the four people in their possession. The victims positively identified their assailants. The state will prosecute, and the youths were placed in a juvenile facility pending filing of charges. The victims were taken to a hospital for treatment. [Lt. John Marigliano, GATE, 6/15]

4-year-old girl attacked by mountain lion near Bartlett Lake - Article

From the NPS Morning Report, Wednesday, September 5, 2001

Cape Hatteras NS (NC) - Fatal Shark Attack

Sergei Zaloukaev, 28, and Natalia Slobodskaya, 22, both Russian nationals residing in the U.S., were swimming in chest-deep water 20 
to 40 feet from shore on the evening of September 3rd when they were attacked by a shark. Although visitors were present, neither the beach nor nearby waters were crowded at the time of the attack. Witnesses reported that the victims were jerked violently in the water, then called for help. Several people entered the water to assist them and placed a 911 call for assistance. Dare County dispatched numerous emergency services to the scene. A Dare County Sheriff's Department deputy arrived within four minutes; district ranger Steve Ryan, other deputies, and county EMS and Hatteras Island Rescue units arrived shortly thereafter. Zaloukaev went into full arrest on the beach, so CPR was begun with the assistance of two visitors. Zaloukaev and Slobodskaya were transported to the medical center in Avon, where Zaloukaev was pronounced dead. Slobodskaya was taken by Dare County Med Flight to Norfolk General Hospital, where she is in critical condition. The medical examiner reported that Zaloukaev died from blood loss due to multiple shark bites to the lower extremities. Slobodskaya suffered similar injuries. No witnesses saw the number or type of sharks involved, but nothing indicates that there was more than one shark. The park has put ICS in operation in order to investigate the incident, deal with inquiries from the media and the public, and monitor any abnormal shark activities warranting protective measures. The Russian consulate has requested regular updates. Dare County emergency managers are working closely with the park to ensure a unified response and resource sharing. Reconnaissance flights will continue through Thursday, and rangers and resource management staff have stepped up patrols along the shore. Media interest has been extremely high. All national and local networks are or have been on scene, and the park is receiving inquiries from local and national newspapers. The superintendent has done two live televised appearances for major networks; the park PIO and incident IC have been interviewed by newspapers and numerous domestic and foreign radio stations. The park held two press conferences yesterday and will hold more if necessary. Mary Doll is the park PIO; Jeff Cobb is the IC. [Jeff Cobb, CR, CAHA, 9/4]

Search and Rescues Efforts and Policies

Grand Canyon NP (AZ) - Rescue

Park dispatch received a satellite phone call from Arizona Raft Adventures around noon on June 12th, reporting that one of their 30-foot motor rigs had wrapped up on rocks below Crystal Rapids. The raft's prop had evidently shattered when it hit a rock on the upper portion of the rapid; the raft then drifted into the rocks. The park helicopter was diverted to the scene from a lower priority mission. Rangers found that the raft was stuck among several large rocks in the middle of the river, but that it was in a stable position and that none of the 17 persons on board was injured. The river flow at the time was a constant 8,000 cubic feet per second. A short-haul operation was deemed the most expeditious method for extracting passengers and crew. Two rescuers were short-hauled to the raft, where they briefed and rigged the passengers, who were then lifted to shore. They were flown from the bank to the South Rim by a helicopter that had been assigned to the Outlet Fire. Salvage operations were to be attempted by company personnel under the supervision of rangers. The river flow is projected to continue at 8,000 cfs through the summer; similar incidents are therefore anticipated. [Bil Vandergraff, GRCA, 6/14]

From the NPS Morning Report, Friday, September 7, 2001

New River Gorge NR (WV) - Drowning

Howard Dickerson, 29, of Beckley, West Virginia, was boating the New River with two friends, Sheldon Linkous and James Givens, on the evening of August 30th. At Hook 99 rapids in a remote section of the gorge, Dickerson's Thrill-Seeker inflatable kayak came in contact with an undercut rock. The force of the water pulled Dickerson and his boat under the rock. Linkous and Givens, who were paddling in another raft, saw Dickerson's boat being pulled under. They paddled to the rock, climbed on top and tried to free the boat; Dickerson had gone under the rock and could not be seen. After trying to free the boat from the rock for about an hour, Linkous and Givens decided to paddle to Fayette Station take-out, where their car was parked. They then drove to Fayetteville, where they called 911 at approximately 9:30 p.m. The 911 center notified rangers, who immediately responded. River patrol ranger Brian Hunter hiked into the gorge and located the trapped boat. Due to the lack of daylight, recovery efforts were postponed until the following morning. At daylight, river patrol and protection rangers rafted downriver to the location, set up a Z-drag with ropes and pulleys, and removed the boat from the rock. When the boat was removed, Dickerson's body floated free from under the rock. Rangers retrieved the body and transported it down river to Fayette Station take-out, where it was turned over to the Fayette County coroner's office. [Gary Hartley, CR, NERI, 9/3]

From the NPS Morning Report, Thursday, September 6, 2001

North Cascades NP (WA) - Rescue

On Sunday, September 2nd, the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office asked for park's assistance with the rescue of three injured climbers from the Coleman Glacier on Mount Baker in the neighboring Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. A four-person rope team from British Columbia was climbing near the mountain's 8,600-foot level on Sunday morning when one person slipped, dragging the entire team approximately 100 to 200 feet down the glacier and into a crevasse. One member died of a skull injury, one suffered a probable fractured spine and leg, the remaining two sustained fractured wrists. The survivors were able to climb out of the crevasse and waved down an American Alpine Institute guide who was descending from the summit with two clients. A cell phone call to 911 provided the initial report. Rangers Kelly Bush and Galen Stark and Dr. Don Slack (park VIP) were flown to the scene by a contract helicopter. They 
immobilized the spinal fracture victim and transported him to a lower elevation. One of the injured climbers had already hiked out. The rangers and doctor spent the blustery, rainy night on the mountain with the other two injured persons, then joined about 40 people from several volunteer mountain rescue organizations and American Alpine Institute mountain guides in evacuating the two injured persons off the mountain the following day. [Galen Stark, DR, NOCA, 9/5]

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