Greetings,
In This Issue
Featured Park: Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail
You're Invited
Jack Has A Wish for Our National Parks
Fix Our Parks
Give the Gift of Membership
Help Shape the Future of the National Mall
NPCA at Work in the Parks:
Exploring the Future of Gateway National Recreation Area
Thanks for Helping Make NPCA's Website Better
Featured Park: Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail
Thousands of years ago enormous Ice Age floods carved a broad swath across a four-state region in the Pacific Northwest. The story of these cataclysmic floods may soon be told through a National Geologic Trail.
Glacial meltwater flowed into ice-dammed lakes. The largest one--Glacial Lake Missoula--covered an area twice the size of Rhode Island. Water and ice from Lake Missoula, which would have filled half of Lake Michigan, swept forth across the land as glacial dams repeatedly broke open. These floods are believed to have begun as early as 2.6 million years ago, at the onset of the last Ice Age, and ended around 13,000-15,000 years ago. Today, their evidence can be seen along a 600-mile path stretching from western Montana to the Pacific Ocean, with the greatest concentration of flood features in eastern Washington State.
Recently, NPCA, members of Congress, and many others have come together to support national recognition of these cataclysmic events. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Representative Doc Hastings (R-WA) introduced legislation supporting the creation of a national geologic trail to be overseen by the National Park Service. Both bills passed and a final bill will soon be sent to the President. If signed, the Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail would be the first of its kind in the National Park System.
Watch our slideshow for a tour of the proposed trail and highlights of its amazing natural features >>
For additional scenes from the flood's path, visit D.J. Bradley Photography >>
You're Invited
Two Washington State photographers, Bruce Bjornstad and D.J. Bradley, are exhibiting their work at NPCA's Northwest Park Information Center in Seattle, WA, as part of an Ice Age Floods exhibit that runs until January 3.
Bjornstad, who is also a professional geologist, will present a slide lecture and sign copies of his recently released book, On the Trail of the Ice Age Floods: A Geological Field Guide to the Mid-Columbia Basin, at a December 7 event hosted by NPCA, Elliott Bay Book Co., and Keokee Books. Please visit our calendar of events for more information.
For His Birthday, Jack Has One Wish for Our National Parks
On November 6, Jack turned one. Jack and the National Park Service have one thing in common: Each have celebrated a momentous milestone this year--Jack's first birthday and the Park Services' 90th.
When Jack blows out the candles, he'll have just one wish for our national parks--to ensure they are fully funded and protected in time for their 100th birthday.
NPCA's "All about Jack" campaign is about the legacy we leave our children. It's about our national parks and your family memories. Most important, it is about the future of the national parks and what we leave behind for our children.
Will you help Jack and his friends fix our national parks? Watch the Flash movie and sign the petition today.
For more information on NPCA's "All About Jack" campaign, please contact Dionna Humphrey, Associate Director of Advocacy at dhumphrey@npca.org, or visit our campaign page.
Fix Our Parks Pledge – Stand Up For Our Parks
Haven't signed the Fix Our Parks Pledge yet? It's not too late. Chronic-funding shortfalls, dilapidated buildings, traffic congestion, pollution--all have contributed to our parks' faded glory. But NPCA has a plan to fix the problems plaguing our national parks by their 100th birthday, just 10 years away. And the first step starts with you. Pledge today to take action this year to fix our parks: email your congressional representative, visit a park, write a letter to the editor--small actions can add up to big changes. Our goal is 50,000 pledges, so don't delay. Click here to sign the Fix Our Parks Pledge today.
Give the Gift of Membership
This holiday season, give the gift of the national parks to someone you love, and watch them unwrap the most beautiful gift in the world.
Give the Gift of Membership >>
You Can Help Shape the Future of the National Mall
The National Mall in Washington, D.C. is being loved to death, and it's in desperate need of an overhaul. Critical visitor facilities, such as restrooms, drinking fountains, and visitors' centers, are in short supply. And heavy use of existing facilities has taken a heavy toll. Vikki Keys, superintendent of the National Mall and Memorial Parks for the National Park Service, acknowledges, "the appearance does not match its significance." In addition, many competing groups want to build on the Mall, but without a plan it will be impossible to balance future projects with existing museums and memorials. No surprise, since the last plan was prepared in 1901!
To help overcome these problems, the National Park Service is seeking public comments on the future of the National Mall. NPS hopes to provide a 50-year vision for the Mall's use and management. You can weigh in by answering questions such as "What is most important to you about the National Mall?" and "What types and amount of facilities do visitors need?" Comments can be submitted through the NPS website by December 29, 2006. Comment today!
Did You Know? Over 25 million visitors a year from around the world visit the National Mall in Washington, D.C., each year. More people visit the Mall than Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Grand Canyon national parks combined.
NPCA At Work in the Parks
Exploring the Future of Gateway National Recreation Area
In mid-October, NPCA joined the Columbia Graduate School of Architecture Planning and Preservation and Van Alen Institute for the Nature Now symposium to discuss the role of urban parks and nature of New York City. The symposium was the first step in an urban design competition for Gateway National Recreation Area. In January, NPCA and its partners will invite designers worldwide to play a vital role in the park's future design. Additional information about the design competition will be released in January 2007.
Created in 1972, Gateway was established to provide recreational opportunities for the 22 million residents around New York City. Over the last three decades, large sections of the park remain essentially untouched. The park suffers from chronic funding shortfalls, decrepit buildings, and dwindling visitor services. Modern recreational facilities are needed to welcome park visitors and to create an environment suitable for native species to flourish. NPCA is at work to ensure Gateway is restored and enhanced.
Thanks for Helping Make NPCA's Website Better!
This fall we sent out an invitation to our readers to take our website redesign survey. Over 2,000 of you participated! Three lucky respondents were randomly selected to receive a National Parks Pass. The winners are Ken in Cleveland, OH, Keith in Tyler, TX, and Jonnie in Bay Minette, AL.
Congratulations to our winners and thanks again to all of our survey participants for providing valuable feedback.
From All the Staff at NPCA,
Thank you for your time and dedication to helping enhance and protect our national parks for present and future generations.
NPCA's park protection work is made possible by the generous support of people like you. An introductory membership is just $15, and includes a subscription to our award-winning National Parks Magazine, recently recognized for excellence in coverage of environmental tourism by the Society of American Travel Writers. Join us Today!
National Park Explorer is a publication of the National Parks Conservation Association. E-mail us at TakeAction@npca.org, write to us at 1300 19th Street, NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20036, or call us at 800-NAT-PARK (800-628-7275).
Are you having trouble making a donation online? Call us at 1-800-628-7275 Monday - Friday from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time and one of our associates will be able to assist you.
Visit us online at www.npca.org.
