Latest news with #NPS
USA Today
9 hours ago
- Science
- USA Today
New blue water spring found at Yellowstone after 'mildly explosive' activity
The pool "probably formed in a series of mildly explosive events," the United States Geological Survey said. Geologists discovered a new blue water spring at Yellowstone National Park that likely formed after a series of "mildly explosive events," the United States Geological Survey said. The new pool was found in a subbasin at the Norris Geyser Basin, which is the park's hottest and oldest thermal area. Scientists conducting routine maintenance in the area unearthed the spring in April, according to a July 14 release from USGS. The hole is about 13 feet in diameter and 1 foot below the rim, USGS said. The water in the pool, which is light blue in color, was measured at 109°F. USGS said satellite images indicate the spring formed in a series of events between December 2024 and February 2025. Geologists believe it formed as a result of a hydrothermal explosion, which is when hot water within a volcano flashes to steam, breaking rocks and throwing them into the air. More Yellowstone: Watch pair of baby bison run off the 'zoomies' at the park New Yellowstone spring probably formed in 'mildly explosive events' Yellowstone's new blue water spring "probably formed in a series of mildly explosive events" between late December 2024 and February 2025, USGS said. Geologists discovered the hole in April after visiting the site for the first time since last fall, USGS said. The pool was surrounded by small rocks that were covered in light-gray, sandy mud. The sides of the pool also appeared to have two exposed layers, but one was actually a coating left when the water was at a higher level, USGS said. Both the presence of the rocks and the water layers are evidence of a hydrothermal explosion, according to USGS. Satellite images corroborated the findings that the hole formed over several months. Can you swim in Yellowstone's hot springs? While hot springs are often popular swimming spots for visitors to national parks, it's unlikely the one recently discovered at Yellowstone's Norris Geyser Basin will allow bathing. According to the National Park Service, Yellowstone has very limited spots for swimming because of extreme water temperatures. The water in the park's hot springs often reaches the boiling point, so swimming in them is prohibited to protect visitors as well as the park's thermal environments, according to NPS. On the other end of the spectrum, the park's high-elevation lakes and rivers typically have cold water that can pose a risk of hypothermia, per NPS. Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Climate
- Newsweek
Maps of Dragon Bravo Fire Impact as Grand Canyon Closes Entrance for Season
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Dragon Bravo fire has prompted National Park Service (NPS) officials to close the Grand Canyon's North Rim entrance for the season. Newsweek reached out to the NPS by email for comment. Why It Matters A lightning strike ignited the Dragon Bravo fire on July 4. Over the weekend, extreme heat, low humidity and fierce winds fueled the blaze and forced evacuations. On Sunday, the Grand Canyon National Park confirmed the loss of the Grand Canyon Lodge and numerous historic cabins to the flames. What To Know As of Monday, the fire has reached 5,716 acres and is 0 percent contained, according to the most recent update from InciWeb. In a news release published on Sunday, national park officials confirmed the closure of the North Rim for the remainder of the season. "With continued active fire behavior and ongoing risks to personnel and infrastructure, the North Rim will remain closed to all visitor access for the remainder of the 2025 season," the press release said. A map from shows PM2.5 concentrations in Northern Arizona where the Dragon Bravo fire is burning. A map from shows PM2.5 concentrations in Northern Arizona where the Dragon Bravo fire is burning. Air Quality Impact From Wildfire Smoke Animated weather footage from revealed some of the impact from the fire, such as localized PM2.5 pollution from wildfire smoke. Wildfire smoke contains fine particles that can penetrate deep into the lungs, posing heightened risks to vulnerable populations, including children, seniors and those with preexisting respiratory or heart conditions. Widespread exposure to PM2.5 can exacerbate existing diseases and bring about acute respiratory symptoms, even in healthy people. No widespread air quality alerts have been issued, but NPS staff warned Grand Canyon hikers of smoke in the canyon. A map shows the extent of extreme fire danger across Arizona on July 14, 2025. A map shows the extent of extreme fire danger across Arizona on July 14, 2025. Fire Danger Across Arizona In addition to the Dragon Bravo fire, much of Northern Arizona is under extreme fire danger. Dry fuels, gusty winds and hot temperatures can contribute to fire danger. An extreme heat warning was in place for the Grand Canyon on Monday. Dragon Bravo Fire Map A map from the NPS showed the extent of the fire as it encroached on the Grand Canyon's North Rim. In addition to the North Rim closure, "all inner canyon corridor trails, campgrounds and associated areas are closed until further notice," the NPS said. That includes the North Kaibab Trail, South Kaibab Trail, Phantom Ranch and the Bright Angel Trail below Havasupai Gardens. A map of the Dragon Bravo fire burning in the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. A map of the Dragon Bravo fire burning in the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. National Park Service What People Are Saying The National Park Service, in a press release on Monday: "Preliminary assessments indicate that between 50 to 80 structures have been lost, including NPS administrative buildings and visitor facilities. No injuries or loss of life have been reported, and all staff and residents were successfully evacuated prior to the fire's escalation. "The fire is being managed with an aggressive full suppression strategy. Fire behavior is still very active, driven by hot temperatures, low relative humidity, and continued strong wind gusts."
Condé Nast Traveler
2 days ago
- Business
- Condé Nast Traveler
What 'Make America Beautiful Again' Means for National Parks
On July 3, the White House issued a pair of executive orders with the expressed purpose of protecting America's public lands. One order establishes a Make America Beautiful Again (MABA) commission, and the other aims to improve the country's national parks. While both orders would represent an abrupt change of tone for an administration that's largely expanded mining and drilling leases across US public lands, the language used to outline future changes is vague, at best. 'We hope this departure from Trump's anti-public lands agenda becomes the norm and isn't just a PR ploy to distract voters from the backlash some Republicans received after spending months trying to sell off these same public lands to the highest bidder,' says Anna Peterson, executive director of The Mountain Pact, a nonprofit project that works with elected officials in Western US mountain towns. Here's what we know so far about how the orders could impact national park funding, staffing, and access. Funding The two orders come on the heels of $267 million in cuts to the National Park Service (NPS) via the current budget reconciliation bill and a reduction of 24% to the NPS' permanent staff. In order to increase revenue and improve park affordability for US residents, the Improving Our National Parks executive order makes mention that entry fees for foreign tourists will be raised. As of this writing, no details have been published on the specifics of the fee hikes. The Make America Beautiful Again executive order also claims that regulatory overreach has 'undermined outdoor traditions and conservation funding' and that mismanagement has led to more than $23 billion in deferred maintenance at the NPS. But what the order doesn't explain is that the Trump administration itself is the reason that the circa-2020 Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) failed to fully use the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) budget, leading to increased maintenance backlogs at US national parks. Additional legislation proposed by Republicans would further defund the LWCF, which was supposed to be permanently funded by the GAOA by using proceeds from offshore oil and gas royalty payments. Visiting a National Park This Summer? Here's What to Expect In the face of mass firings, seasonal staffing shortages, and spending cuts, your national park vacation might look a little different this year. Staffing Out of the 8,000 NPS seasonal staff that the administration pledged to hire this summer, only about 4,500 have been put in place. Many who work for conservation groups are sounding alarms in reaction, while others are cautiously hopeful that the recent executive orders may reflect shifting priorities. 'Over 330 million visitors flock to parks because of their unrivaled beauty and history,' says Kristen Brengel, senior vice president of government affairs for the National Park Conservation Association (NPCA). 'Dedicated Park Service staff ensure [that] resources are protected. We call on the administration to exempt the Park Service from the hiring freeze and restore positions, or this executive order will go nowhere.' A mere six days after the executive orders were published, the Supreme Court lifted a lower court injunction that blocked the president from directing federal agencies to administer large-scale reductions in their workforces. The TL;DR, according to the NPCA, is that this ruling paves the way for the Trump administration to move forward with even more staffing reductions to the National Park Service. The 'Improving Our National Parks' executive order also calls for an end to a 2017 Presidential Memorandum promoting diversity and inclusion across America's public lands.
India.com
2 days ago
- India.com
US: Wildfire Ravages Grand Canyon's Historic North Rim Lodge – What We Know So Far
Grand Canyon, Arizona: Smoke blankets the sky. Historic cabins lie in ashes. Tourists flee as two wildfires turn the North Rim of the Grand Canyon into a war zone of flame and chemical fumes. The iconic Grand Canyon Lodge, a symbol of U.S. heritage perched above one of Earth's great wonders, has been reduced to rubble. The blaze did not come from nowhere. On July 4, a bolt of lightning lit up the forest. What followed became a nightmare with a name – the Dragon Bravo Fire. With winds screaming at 64 km/h (40 mph), the flames roared through 500 acres of national parkland in days. Then came the White Sage Fire, ignited by lightning on July 9. By July 13, it had exploded to more than 40,000 acres, spreading through Arizona's backcountry with terrifying speed. The Grand Canyon Lodge, a beloved seasonal retreat that first opened in 1928, stood directly in the path. Known for its dramatic views and handcrafted stonework by architect Gilbert Stanley Underwood, the lodge had survived one fire before, a kitchen blaze in 1932, and was rebuilt in 1937. This time, there was no saving it. The National Park Service confirmed the worst – between 50 and 80 structures have been destroyed, including visitor facilities and NPS administrative buildings. The fire has prompted the complete closure of the North Rim for the rest of the season. The lodge had only opened on May 15, set to run through October 15. No lives have been lost. Officials acted fast, evacuating tourists and residents before the fire could trap anyone. But as the inferno advanced, a chlorine gas leak complicated everything. The water treatment facility on the North Rim, damaged by fire, began leaking toxic gas – forcing crews to pull back from key fire zones. Chlorine gas is deadly. It can irritate eyes and lungs, cause throat burns and in extreme cases, kill. With the leak spreading, rangers closed Phantom Ranch, which is nestled deep inside the canyon near the Colorado River. Popular hiking routes like the North Kaibab and South Kaibab Trails are now also shut down. Firefighters on the ground are battling two enemies – flames and weather. The Bureau of Land Management says hot, dry and erratic winds are pushing the fire in unpredictable directions. Vegetation is bone-dry. The Forest Service is recording record-high energy release components (ERCs), a sign that everything burns faster, longer and hotter than ever before. As the Dragon Bravo Fire grew more aggressive, containment strategies changed by the hour. At first, the National Park Service (NPS) tried a 'confine/contain' approach, letting the fire serve its natural role while holding it back from infrastructure. But by Friday, the strategy had shifted. Now, it is all-out war – full suppression. Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs praised the efforts of exhausted firefighters and first responders. But she also fired shots at Washington, calling the federal response slow and inadequate. 'This incident demands intense oversight and scrutiny. They must act now to stop the damage and prevent it from getting worse,' Hobbs posted on X. I am incredibly saddened by the destruction of the historic Grand Canyon Lodge, and my heart goes out to every person impacted by the Dragon Bravo Fire near the Grand Canyon's North Rim. An incident of this magnitude demands intense oversight and scrutiny into the federal government's emergency response. They must first take aggressive action to end the wildfire and prevent further damage. But Arizonans deserve answers for how this fire was allowed to decimate… — Governor Katie Hobbs (@GovernorHobbs) July 14, 2025 While the flame was started with a lightning strike, the federal government chose to manage that fire as a controlled burn during the driest, hottest part of the Arizona summer. I am calling on the federal government for a comprehensive and independent investigation into the… — Governor Katie Hobbs (@GovernorHobbs) July 14, 2025 Thank you to every firefighter and first responder taking action to combat the flames. — Governor Katie Hobbs (@GovernorHobbs) July 14, 2025 The Grand Canyon, nearly 450 kilometers long, 29 kilometers wide in parts and carved over two billion years, is no stranger to natural disasters. But this is not merely a wildfire, it is a warning. When a place so vast, so ancient and so revered burns, it burns into the memory of a nation. And what remains now at the North Rim is a smoldering scar where generations came to stand in awe – now lost, consumed by fire, smoke and silence.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
White Sage fire: Major road closures in northern Arizona as blaze grows near Grand Canyon
A rapidly growing wildfire in far northern Coconino County has scorched more than 40,000 acres which resulting in highway closures and evacuations. Dubbed the White Sage Fire, the blaze is one of two active wildfires burning near the northern rim of the Grand Canyon. Sparked by lightning late Wednesday, the fire has been fueled by dry vegetation and erratic winds. As of Sunday morning, officials reported zero fire containment as firefighters continue to battle the blaze. The White Sage Fire in Coconino County has burned over 40,000 acres, prompting highway closures.(Representative Image: Unspalsh ) Also Read: Grand Canyon North Rim lodge destroyed by fire, hikers evacuated after gas leak; first photos surface Road closures and evacuation orders amid White Sage Fire The Coconino County Sheriff's Office has instructed that the following areas must be evacuated: North boundary: Utah Border East boundary: House Rock Valley Road/Buffalo Ranch Road West boundary: Kaibab National Forest Boundary South boundary: Grand Canyon National Park According to the NPS website, 'Evacuees should travel calmly at a normal rate of speed and stay on paved roads only. North Rim day use is closed until further notice.' Southbound U.S. 89A is closed at State Route 389 in Fredonia, with northbound lanes shut down at U.S. 89 in Bitter Springs due to fire activity. On Thursday, after the fire was getting difficult to control by the ground crew, the air attack support stepped in, as reported by AZFamily. Also Read: Photos: Dragon Bravo Wildfire engulfs historic Grand Canyon Lodge, 50-60 structures in Arizona and closes North Rim Safety instructions implemented near Grand Canyon Another fire dubbed the Dragon Bravo Fire has scorched approximately 5,000 acres and destroyed between 50 to 80 structures at the Grand Canyon's northern rim, including a historic lodge, visitor center, gas station, and a water treatment plant. The fire at the treatment facility released chlorine gas, raising health concerns for individuals still within the inner canyon. Following the incident, the National Park Service shared that all the trips to theriver will have to bypass Phantom Ranch. North Kaibab Trail, Phantom Ranch, and the South Kaibab Trail have been shut down until urther notice. Residents of Marble Canyon, Lees Ferry, and the Navajo Nation are instructed to be aware of the stench of chlorine.
