Tag Archives: Glacier National Park

Mercury-tainted fish found in Glacier Park’s Lake McDonald

Environmental Issues, News, ,

Here’s a considerably more detailed article on the recent announcement of unacceptable mercury levels in some fish in certain areas of a number of western national parks . . .

A “first-of-its-kind” study released last week discovered mercury in fish in some of the most remote and pristine lakes and streams in national parks across the western United States and Alaska – but it wasn’t a surprise to Glacier National Park fisheries biologist Chris Downs.

Glacier is updating information for a brochure it already puts out regarding guidelines for fish consumption from waters inside the park because of contaminants such as mercury, which is harmful to both human and wildlife health.

“The national study continues to demonstrate that contaminants are reaching places we think of as isolated or protected,” Downs said. “Because of airborne transport, it’s a global issue.”

Read more . . .

Further reading: The actual report (PDF format, 6.7MB), Mercury in Fishes from 21 National Parks in the Western United States—Inter- and Intra-Park Variation in Concentrations and Ecological Risk.

High mercury levels found in small percentage of national park fish

Environmental Issues, News,

Not clear what it means yet, but a study turned up high mercury levels in some national park fish…

Federal scientists have found high amounts of mercury in sport fish caught in remote areas of Western national parks, including Glacier National Park, according to a study released Thursday.

Researchers for the U.S. Geological Survey and National Park Service said that most fish they caught had acceptable levels of mercury, but 4 percent exceeded healthy levels.

Mercury occurs naturally, but scientists say its presence in national parks, which are supposed to leave wildlife unimpaired for future generations, was cause for concern.

Read more . . .

Glacier Park’s first research scientist passes away

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Cliff Martinka, Glacier Park’s first full-time research scientist passed away March 18 . . .

In August 1967, two weeks after starting his job as Glacier National Park’s first research scientist, Cliff Martinka received an unlikely assignment – kill the bears.

Two young women, at campsites miles apart from one another, situated on opposite sides of 9,000-foot Heavens Peak, had been mauled and killed by grizzly bears. They were the first bear-related fatalities since the park’s inception in 1910, and the tragedy was indelibly etched into history as the “Night of the Grizzlies.”

Scant research had occurred at that point, and rangers could provide little information or insight into what had prompted the bears’ aggressive behavior.

Read more . . .

Glacier Park starts plowing out Camas Road first

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Glacier Park has turned the snowplows loose, starting with Camas Road . . .

Spring in Glacier National Park means firing up snow plows in the annual effort to clear park roads of snow.

Park plow crews hit the road Tuesday, starting with Camas Road on the west side of the park. When that’s completed, they will start work on Going-to-the-Sun Road, park spokeswoman Denise Germann said.

On the east side, plow crews began work on the Chief Mountain Road. They will move on to the St. Mary, Many Glacier and Two Medicine areas next before heading up Sun Road.

Read more . . .

Note: You can keep an eye on plowing status and road openings by visiting this page: http://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/goingtothesunroad.htm. Click on the “more…” link in the “Road Status” section. (Don’t try going to the “Road Status” page directly as it may not update correctly.)

Park’s glaciers illustrate climate change impact

Environmental Issues, History, News, ,

The Flathead Beacon posted an interesting profile of the work of Dan Fagre, a USGS  research ecologist stationed at Glacier Park . . .

Twenty-two years ago, when Dan Fagre first walked up to the Grinnell Glacier, its icy mass towered overhead. Today, it’s about as high as his knees.

Grinnell is one of the few glaciers that still exists inside the 1 million acres of Glacier National Park. But just because Grinnell and the other glaciers find shelter inside the preserve doesn’t mean they are not endangered. In fact, due to rising temperatures, scientists believe the park’s namesake bodies of ice will be gone in a few decades. In 1850, it’s estimated that there were 150 glaciers inside the park; today there are just 25. Fagre, a research ecologist for the U.S. Geological Survey, says it is one of the most visual examples of climate change in the continental United States.

Read more . . .

North Fork District Ranger Scott Emmerich to retire

Environmental Issues, News, ,

This week’s Hungry Horse News has nice things to say about Glacier Park’s soon-to-retire North Fork District Ranger Scott Emmerich . . .

North Fork resident Clark Helton was a hunter and a photographer, and he loved Glacier National Park. But he wasn’t in love with some of the Park’s management decisions — biologists were radio-collaring bears and wolves — even elk and deer, and Clark was no fan of man’s intrusion into the natural world.

So whenever Helton saw the Park’s North Fork district ranger, Scott Emmerich, he’d give him an earful — often for an hour or more. It got to the point that if Emmerich saw Clark’s pickup approaching, he’d hide lest he be caught up in chat he didn’t have time for.

Then one day Emmerich decided to meet Clark on his own terms. He went to Clark’s house at Red Meadow, and the two sat and had coffee, which was unusual because Emmerich didn’t drink coffee. Over the years, the two became friends and went on hunting trips together until Helton’s death.

Emmerich continued to manage the North Fork area of the Park with an emphasis on keeping the place rustic. There are no commercial operations in the North Fork, no flush toilets, no cell phone service and no paved roads.

That’s how Emmerich likes it.

Read more . . .

Glacier Park needs to replace historic Swiftcurrent Bridge

News, ,

Glacier Park’s historic Swiftcurrent Bridge is falling apart . . .

The majestic Many Glacier Hotel is an awfully iconic part of Glacier National Park to not be able to get to.

But that’s what lies down the road, according to a 79-page environmental assessment that proposes replacing the park’s historic Swiftcurrent Bridge with a new, clear-span bridge.

Public comments on the proposal are being taken through March 17. The bridge is the only way to access the Many Glacier Hotel Historic District and the hotel itself, a National Historic Landmark.

Read more . . .

Further reading: the official press release.

BNSF gears up to move a million barrels of oil this year

Environmental Issues, News, , ,

BNSF is getting braced to haul a lot of oil this year . . .

Less than a mile from Glacier National Park Superintendent Jeff Mow’s office is one of America’s fastest growing pipelines for Bakken crude oil: BNSF Railway.

Oil trains have become a common sight in West Glacier and the Flathead Valley, due in large part to the oil boom in North Dakota and Eastern Montana. Recently, BNSF CEO Matt Rose said his 32,000-mile railroad was projected to haul 1 million barrels of oil every day by the end of 2014. According to BNSF, the railroad operates one crude oil train every day through the Flathead Valley to refineries in Washington and Oregon. However, a recent rash of accidents has brought scrutiny to the practice.

Now, the railroad company is preparing a detailed hazardous materials response plan if an oil train were to derail near Glacier National Park. According to spokesperson Matt Jones, the plan will be available to local first responders in the coming weeks.

Read more . . .

10 best Hikes in Glacier National Park at Montana Wild, Feb. 27th

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I’m not sure why Montana FWP is sponsoring a presentation on hiking in Glacier National Park, but here’s the press release . . .

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will offer a free one-hour program on the top 10 hikes in Glacier National Park on Feb. 27 at Montana Wild, 2668 Broadwater Ave., next to Spring Meadow Lake State Park off Highway 12 West.

Glacier National Park Interpretive Ranger Lynne Dixon will lead the program. Dixon will discuss the park’s reservation system that helps one guarantee a place in the backcountry and offer detailed descriptions of each hike. Details will be offered on how to best plan for family friendly overnight trips and for week-long strenuous adventures. For more information call 444-9944.

A busy year for Glacier Park

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Glacier Park leaders, vendors and supporters gave a presentation on this year’s efforts at a gathering sponsored by the Whitefish Chamber of Commerce . . .

Glacier National Park is heading into a year of significant changes that should be for the better from the perspective of visitors, three park leaders said Thursday at a gathering sponsored by the Whitefish Chamber of Commerce.

Glacier Superintendent Jeff Mow led off the group, describing how the biggest changes will involve integrating a new general park concessions contractor and working with a newly formed philanthropical partner, the Glacier National Park Conservancy.

“I’m very big on being collaborative,” Mow said. “There’s a lot that the National Park Service can’t do in a national park. It really takes a team.”

Read more . . .