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July 2008 |
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Forest Update |
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Friday, 09 May 2008 |
Rangers raid and remove illegal marijuana grow operation in Sequoia
On April 22, Earth Day, National Park Rangers, with the aid of NPS Special Investigators, agents with the Office of Homeland Security, Tulare County Sheriff's Office, and California Highway Patrol, located and removed a new marijuana grow site in Sequoia National Park. Rangers removed 7,922 plants, many not yet in the ground, and destroyed the infrastructure and camping area to keep the growers from coming back to the area.
As part of the NPS commitment to ridding Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks of illegal drug operations, NPS law enforcement rangers raided this illegal farm in an attempt to capture any suspects. During the raid, two suspects fled and eluded capture by running down a steep embankment. Rangers tracked and pursued the suspects while the Tulare Sheriff's Deputies conducted road surveillance and officers from the California Highway Patrol searched using a fixed-wing plane, but were unable to apprehend the suspects.
Investigators worked with the U.S. Attorney’s office to obtain a search warrant for the tent found on site. Evidence collected has been submitted to the Drug Enforcement Agency lab in San Francisco to be analyzed and may lead to future arrests.
The growing of illegal marijuana on public lands is a major threat to national treasures like Sequoia National Park every year. Since the year 2000 more than 157,000 plants have been removed by law enforcement rangers. In addition, in the past three and one-half years rangers and natural resource staff have found and removed: 18,465 pounds of garbage and hazardous waste — including 445 small propane canisters, empty and partially empty packaging from 9.5 gallons of liquid insecticides and 12,900 pounds fertilizer, as well as 22.7 miles of irrigation hose.
All of this was collected from 105 grow sites and camps illegally cut into the wilderness of Sequoia National Park. The long-term damage that this illegal activity has done on once pristine wilderness is not easy to evaluate at this time, but park officials say it is evident in the alterations to the land and the volume of poisons and fertilizers that have been used by the growers in connection with these activities.
A more extensive cleanup of this most recent site is planned for later this year. Meanwhile, park officials say the investigation will continue. -NPS
Yosemite's Mariposa Grove access opened, Glacier Point Road opens soon, Tioga Pass plowing progressing
Yosemite National Park Superintendent Mike Tollefson announced last week that the Glacier Point Road was open to visitors as of noon on Friday, May 2. Glacier Point is located about 30 miles from Yosemite Valley off the Wawona Road, the section of State Highway 41 inside the park.
Restrooms along the road and the Glacier Point Snack Stand will be open to visitors on Friday as well. Additionally, the Mariposa Grove Road opened on April 26 for vehicles less than 24 feet in length and 7 tons in weight. These temporary restrictions are due to continuing wet and icy conditions on the road.
No date has been determined for the opening of Bridalveil Campground.
Roadways may be wet due to ice and melting snow and wildlife is very active on the Glacier Point Road. Visitors are advised to drive with caution.
At press time, an opening date for the Tioga Road, Highway 120 outside the park, which crosses the Sierra Nevada through Yosemite National Park, has yet to be determined, although the pass is open as far as Ellery and Tioga lakes. -NPS
Yosemite's historic El Portal Market burns — park fixture since 1934
Yosemite National Park officials suffered the loss of one of the park's best known historic buildings on April 21 when the El Portal Market, one of El Portal’s oldest structures and something of a park landmark, burned to the ground. The fire was first reported by El Portal residents at approximately 5 a.m. Firefighters from the National Park Service, DNC Parks and Resorts at Yosemite, Inc., and Mariposa County responded to the blaze, but were unable to save the market, which had been closed for renovations since late March.
The El Portal Market, built around 1934, originally served park visitors traveling to Yosemite by railroad. The market was operated between 1966 and March 2008 under the general partnership of Vaughn, Vaughn and Carter. The current operator was scheduled to open the market in late spring 2008, when renovations were complete. The market served El Portal residents and park visitors since the mid-1930s as both a general merchandise store and a community meeting place.
“It is impossible to imagine the loss that this is for the community of El Portal and the park as a whole," said Yosemite Park Superintendent Mike Tollefson.
Yosemite park managers are meeting to consider options for replacing the building. Cause of the fire is currently under investigation. -NPS
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 15 May 2008 )
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