The Latest Breaking News from National Park Service

In A Hidden Hawaiʻi Gulch, A Wartime Secret Opens To The Public

The National Park Service has opened Honouliuli, a former internment camp in Hawaii, to the public for the first time

The Independent UK · Aug 14

In 2012, researchers began collecting dragonfly larvae to reveal mercury pollution in protected waters. 13 years later, 21,000 samples helped create a model that can estimate freshwater mercury risk without testing every waterway

Dragonfly larvae data from thirteen years helped scientists develop a new mercury risk model. This model estimates freshwater mercury risk in areas lacking direct monitoring data. It combines larval mercury levels with water chemistry and landscape characteristics. The model can guide future testing and inform fish consumption advisories for communities.

The Economic Times · Aug 14

In 1968, a California landowner demanded $100 an acre for land inside Pinnacles that officials valued at $17; a year later the Park Service paid more than $46 an acre and bought the parcel for $7,400

The US government's lengthy legal struggle with Dean Brimhall culminated in a $400,000 buyout. The resolution saw the demolition of commercial facilities, including a lodge and petrol station, adjacent to Capitol Reef National Park. The agreement also put an end to quarrying operations on the land. This settlement balanced private…

The Times of India · Aug 14

In 1970, a Missouri family fought the government over nearly 600 acres wanted for a national park; an initial $73,000 offer became a $214,000 court payout

In 1970, the Blackwell family’s nearly 600-acre Missouri farm was acquired through eminent domain during the creation of Ozark National Scenic Riverways. The government initially offered $73,000, but after a federal court battle, the family received $214,000. Darrel Blackwell later became a park ranger and longtime canoe rental concessioner.

The Times of India · Aug 13

In 1962, New Jersey took a family's seaside property through eminent domain for a new park; they challenged the price and were awarded $350,000

Exploring vintage postcards reveals a fascinating glimpse into coastal life in early New Jersey. Historian John Joseph Patrick Mulhern recounted his experiences on Sandy Hook, describing the thrilling days of tracking ships and conducting groundbreaking radio experiments. He vividly portrayed the operations of the Navesink lighthouses and the evolving landscape,…

The Times of India · Aug 13

Reflecting Pool's botched repairs threaten to tarnish the National Park Service's reputation

President Donald Trump's handling of repairs at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool has put the National Park Service in a difficult spot

The Independent UK · Aug 13

Thousands of donors raised $15.65 million to save a 530-acre California sequoia grove, but the Castle Fire killed more than 100 ancient trees

A 530-acre stretch of California forest filled with ancient giant sequoias was once the largest remaining privately owned giant sequoia property in the world. In 2019, thousands of donors came together to help Save the Redwoods League purchase and protect Alder Creek Grove for $15.65 million. The property contained hundreds…

The Times of India · Aug 13

Trump’s pet DC golf project is literally sinking into the Potomac

‘Are they completely ignoring the landscape here?’ wonders Ed Stierli of the National Parks Conservation Association

The Independent UK · Aug 12

Miami-Dade Regains Control of 'Alligator Alcatraz' Site, Opening Door to Everglades Restoration

Miami-Dade County has officially regained control of the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, ending the state of Florida's temporary use of the remote Everglades property as the immigration detention center known as "Alligator Alcatraz."

Latin Times · Aug 12

A hidden wonder in Yosemite was disappearing for more than 100 years, in 2023, a massive restoration began filling a 3.5-mile erosion gully with 162,000 cubic yards of soil and woodchips, restoring 94 acres of lost wetlands

In the heart of Yosemite National Park, where granite cliffs rise above ancient forests and waterfalls cascade into deep valleys, lies a quieter kind of wonder: Ackerson Meadow. One of the largest mid-elevation meadows in the Sierra Nevada, and the largest in Yosemite, it is a place of stillness, wildlife…

The Times of India · Aug 12