Diversity on the Web
In an on-going effort to tell the story of all of America's cultures on the World Wide Web the National Park Service has created a new Diversity Web Page. This page explores the rich diversity of the NPS and highlights educational and employment opportunities. Park Service Director Robert Stanton's desire to see "the face of America at every park site and office" in the National Park System is reflected as this web page illustrates the importance of preserving the rich diversity of our nation. The Diversity web page is located at http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/divst.htm. Headings include National Parks That Illustrate Diversity, Publications and Web Features, Programs, Announcements, Jobs, and Department of Interior. Public Affairs Contact: Loren Goering, (202) 208-6843.

Battling Invasive Species
President Clinton issued an Executive Order, February 3, directing federal agencies to expand and coordinate their efforts to combat a serious environmental threat: the introduction and spread of plants and animals not native to the United States. The statement emphasized that "many Americans are all too familiar with gypsy moths and other non-native insects that devour our gardens and trees. Few realize, however, that countless other non-native plants and animals are upsetting nature's balance, squeezing out native species, causing severe economic damage, and transforming our lands. Some experts estimate the cost to the American economy to be as high as $123 billion a year." NPS Director Robert Stanton has called invasive species one of the most significant threats facing our parks' natural and cultural resources. At least 1.5 million acres of national park lands are severely infested with non-native species. Public Affairs Contact: Cindy Daly, (202) 208-6843.

Personal Watercraft Status Update
The 60-day public review and comment period ended mid-November for the proposed rule for managing Personal Watercraft (PWC) use in units of the National Park System. The proposal would prohibit PWC use in national park units unless the NPS determines that this type of water-based recreational activity is appropriate for a specific park site based on that unit's enabling legislation, resources and values, other visitor uses, and overall management objectives. A team has been assembled to analyze the more than 20,000 public responses received. A draft final rule is anticipated for March. Program Contact: Chip Davis, (202) 208-5760; Public Affairs Contact: Carol Anthony, (202) 208-4989.

Tallgrass Future
Five open house style meetings will be held the second week of February to give people an opportunity to learn about and comment on the preferred alternative for the future management of Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve in Kansas. When finalized, this alternative will form the basis of the General Management Plan which will describe the general direction the National Park Service will follow in managing the preserve for the next 10 to 15 years. Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve was established by Congress in 1996 and planning began in 1997. The reserve is an example of the tallgrass prairie ecosystem and includes historic buildings of the Z Bar/ Spring Hill Ranch in the Flint Hills region of Kansas. Contact: Steve Miller (316) 273-6034 or John Neal (740) 774-1126.

Saving the Coral Reefs
Some of the finest and most pristine coral reefs are found in the Nation's parks, including Biscayne, American Samoa, Virgin Islands, and Buck Island Reef. Proposed funding of $1.6 million in the FY 2000 budget would enable the NPS to monitor populations of coral reef species in these parks and others, expand law enforcement efforts to increase coral reef protection, and gain knowledge to develop solutions for addressing decreased water quality that is destroying coral reefs worldwide. Public Affairs Contact: Elaine Sevy, (202) 208-6844.

Presidio Artifacts Tap Into Army Air History
Golden Gate National Recreation Area is conducting an archaeological investigation of historic artifacts at Crissy Field, once known as the only Army Air Service coastal defense station in the western United States. Initial sampling by NPS archaeologists indicates that material found at the Crissy Field excavation site will provide additional insight into Army life at the Presidio in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The excavation should be completed in the Spring. Public Affairs Contact: Tracy Fortmann, (415) 561-4620.

Spirit of Freedom
The twin-engine "Spirit of Freedom", a C-54 transport plane that participated in the post-World War II Berlin Airlift of 1948, is making its winter home at Floyd Bennett Field at Gateway National Recreation Area. The plane joins a fleet of other vintage aircraft that also are available to the public. It will be on display through April in Floyd Bennett Field's Blue Hanger on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. For information call (718) 338-3799. Public Affairs Contact: Loren Goering, (202) 208-6843.

What's Best for the Forests
The National Park Service is seeking public comment on a Draft Environmental Assessment for a Grand Canyon Restoration research project. The research is designed to test four alternative forest restoration methods on two small-scale research blocks located on the North and South Rims of Grand Canyon National Park. Over the past century, livestock grazing, predator control, mule deer population growth, and fire suppression have contributed to changes in the condition and structure of the park's forests. The forests are now much more susceptible to disease, insect infestation, and the occurrence of uncontrollable wildfires. Prescribed burning alone is not adequate to safely remove the high amount of fuels that have accumulated, and timely treatment of forest duff and timber is necessary to restore ecosystem health. In order to develop the scientific basis for ecosystem restoration in the southwest, long-term carefully monitored research must be undertaken in a variety of forest ecosystems. This proposed project is an initial attempt to acquire the data needed to guide future management decisions. Public Affairs Contact: Maureen Oltrogge (520) 638-7779.

Cyber Rehab
Want to take a "web class" that's both informative and fun? ELECTRONIC REHAB is now online and interactive! Go to www2.cr.nps.gov/e-rehab. ELECTRONIC REHAB, the National Park Service's very first historic preservation distance learning program, introduces the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation to anyone who is thinking about rehabilitating a historic building. Browsers can learn what the Standards for Rehabilitation are, who uses them, how they're applied, what to do before work starts, and the Dos and Don'ts of rehabilitation. Each Standard is explained with illustrated examples of project work. ELECTRONIC REHAB features a follow up quiz on the rehabilitation of two historic buildings-one commercial and one residential.Work decisions can be made using the Standards and immediate feedback is available! For details contact Kay Weeks, Technical Preservation Services, (202) 343-9593. Public Affairs Contact: Loren Goering, (202) 208-6843.

Digitizing History
NPS participation in the Administration's America's Treasures Online program, a national digital library of records of American achievements in history, arts and sciences, would be funded at $5 million in the FY 2000 proposed budget. NPS estimates that this funding would allow digitization of more than 100,000 objects and records now under the agency's custodial care, including such irreplaceable treasures as Martin Luther King, Jr.'s diaries and Thomas Edison's notebooks. As part of this effort, NPS proposes to expand the Civil War Soldiers Database by digitizing soldiers' letters and journals, and by establishing links to soldiers' records and images, and to Civil War parks. Images, objects, and sites associated with the Lewis and Clark Expedition also will be digitized in time for the bicentennial celebration, 2003-2006. Public Affairs Contact: Elaine Sevy, (202) 208-6844.

Mount Rainier Centennial
On March 2, Mount Rainier National Park will celebrate its 100th Birthday. Activities throughout the year are planned to help commemorate this event, including art and photography exhibitions, educational programs, and an in-flight video airing on Northwest Airlines' International flights landing in Seattle. The National Park Service is also cosponsoring a 100th Anniversary Symposium in March to highlight a century of contributions that have led to a better understanding of the cultural and natural resources of the nation's fifth oldest national park. For more information, visit the park's web site at: www.nps.gov/mora. Contact: Elaine Sevy, (202) 208-6843.

Moran Paintings Grace Interior Museum
In celebration of the Department of the Interior's 150th anniversary this year, the Department of the Interior museum will display two of painter Thomas Moran's masterpieces - the "Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone", and "Chasm of the Colorado". The "Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone" was painted in 1872 after Moran returned from an expedition to Yellowstone, sponsored by the Interior Department. From 1873-74, he painted "Chasm of the Colorado" after accompanying a survey team to the Grand Canyon. The paintings belong to the Department, but have been on loan to the Smithsonian Institution for the past 30 years. The exhibit will open on March 3. The Interior Museum is located at 1849 C. St., NW, Washington DC. Contact: DOI Museum, (202) 208-4743.

Mammoth Cave Earns Governor's Arts Award
Kentucky Governor Paul Patton will present Mammoth Cave National Park with the Government Award for Earthspeak!, a creative program which includes art exhibitions, craft demonstrations, seminars, storytelling, and concerts. In announcing the award the Kentucky Arts Council said, "With sophistication and quality, Earthspeak! engenders pride and stimulates economic benefit for the local community. Mammoth Cave's initiative is a shining example of how government can positively touch individual lives through the arts." The Governor's Awards in the Arts ceremony is February 16, 1999 in Frankfort, KY. Public Affairs Contact: Loren Goering, (202) 208-6843.

Would you like to receive Parktips in your email?
The National Park Service has created a new email mailing list called NPSNews. NPSNews subscribers receive via email, Parktips, as well as other timely national park related news items. Using email allows us to communicate this information quickly and efficiently. As fax machines have replaced postal mailing lists, email represents the next generation of information distribution. If you would like to receive NPSNews, just send an email to majordomo@www.nps.gov. In the body of the message, write, "subscribe npsnews". You should receive a confirmation message shortly thereafter. Program Contact: Kevin Schneider, (202) 208-6843.

Last Update: 2-5-99
R.Lewis - NPS Office of Communications
Rick_Lewis@nps.gov