Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park's Kīlauea Volcano vented its fury during 2018/USGS
From volcanic fireworks and geothermal explosions to political upheaval, the past year frequently saw national parks in the forefront of news. Here's a look back at some of the top stories of 2018 from the National Park System and National Park Service.
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park's Kīlauea Volcano
Arguably the top story of the year was the awakening of the park's Kīlauea Volcano, which erupted for roughly four months, destroying hundreds of homes and structures in its path, redesigning the Halema‘uma‘u Crater, and greatly damaging park infrastructure. "The summit area of the park was dramatically changed by tens of thousands of earthquakes, towering ash plumes, and 62 massive collapse explosions," park staff reported. "The events caused profound damage to park infrastructure unprecedented in the park’s 102-year history, including building damage, rock falls, deep cracks in roads and trails, and numerous breaks to water and sewer lines."
Here's a list of some of Traveler's coverage of the volcanic upheaval:
Earthquakes Rumbling Across Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, Causing Minor Damage
An ongoing series of earthquakes, some measuring a magnitude of 4.4, rumbled across Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park on Wednesday, causing minor damage to park buildings while cracks crept their way across nearby roads and billowing clouds of ash and steam rose into the sky thousands of feet.
Most Of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park To Close Due To Volcanic Activity
As Kīlauea Volcano becomes more active and poses an explosive threat that could toss blocks of rock into the air, Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park officials are closing most of the park for the immediate future.
Watching Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park's Changing Landscape
In the following short video, National Park Service personnel provide a summation of how the recent eruptions from Kīlauea Volcano have changed the park's landscape.
Eleven Fined $350 Each For Venturing To the Rim Of Hawai'i Volcanoes' Halema‘uma‘u Crater
Temptation in the form of an active volcanic crater can be a powerful motivator, but for 11 people the thrill of staring down into the fuming Halema‘uma‘u Crater at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park was tempered by a $350 ticket each from park rangers for ignoring closure signs and disorderly conduct.
There Could Be A New Normal In The Future Of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
With Tūtū Pele seemingly having come to the end of her latest eruptive run, staff at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park are working to get back to the business of running a national park, not responding to an erupting volcano. But it won't be business as usual at the park now, or for the foreseeable future, as repairing the damage carries a bill of an estimated $100 million, at least, and some areas might not reopen for a long, long time.
New Video Traces This Year's Volcanic Activity At Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
For those who have closely followed this year's volcanic activity at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, or are simply interested in earth geology, the park staff has created a new video that traces the history of this year's eruptions from the Kīlauea Volcano specific to Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō , Halema‘uma‘u and the East Rift Zone in lower Puna.
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke's departure from the Interior Department was not as photogenic as his arrival/DOI
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke Resigns After Two Years In Office
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, who entered office riding a horse and spoke of being a Theodore Roosevelt conservationist, left office at year's end while facing a handful of investigations. Though Zinke bolstered energy reviews from public lands, both onshore and off-shore, he was a lightning rod for conservationists and environmentalists who highly criticized the secretary, most vociferously over his recommendation to President Trump that both Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments in Utah be greatly downsized, which the president did.
President Trump Says Interior Secretary Zinke Will Leave By Year's End
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, a lightning rod for conservationists and environmentalists and long portrayed by his critics as being in the pocket of the energy industry, will leave the administration by year's end, President Trump said Saturday.
President Trump Issues Proclamation To Shrink National Monuments, Tees Off Legal Battle
A handful of hours after President Trump on Monday issued a proclamation to chop 1 million acres off the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Utah a lawsuit was filed to prevent that from happening. Other groups were expected to file a similar lawsuit over the president's move to reduce Bears Ears National Monument, also in Utah, by 1 million acres.
Tackling The National Park Service's Maintenance Backlog
Visitor and employee safety, transportation, access, and even historic structures all are being jeopardized by the nearly $12 billion backlog in maintenance work that reaches into nearly every corner, forest, and beach of the National Park System. During the past six months, National Parks Traveler's editors and writers have examined the issue of deferred maintenance and its impact on not just on how parks are enjoyed, but how their resources are being impacted. Accompanying this package of stories was coverage of efforts in Congress to pass legislation to provide up to $6.5 billion to address the backlog.
Grand Canyon National Park's often leaking Transcanyon Water Line is one of the emblematic images of the National Park System's roughly $12 billion maintenance backlog/NPS
Here's a look at that coverage:
Closing The National Park System's Maintenance Backlog
Some Friends Groups Asked To Provide "Margin Of Survival"
Maintenance Woes Blocking Access To Parts Of National Park System
Antiquated Wastewater, Sewer Facilities Go Wanting In National Parks
Backlog Of Maintenance Needs Creates Park Risks
Maintenance Backlog Crippling To National Park Roads And Bridges
Private Philanthropy Fills The Gaps Of Deferred Maintenance
NPS Is Running $670 Million Behind On Caring For Maintained Landscapes
Optimism Growing That Congress Will Fund National Park Maintenance
Lack Of Dollars Crippling National Park Facilities For Staff And Visitors
No Movement On National Park Issues As Government Heads Toward Shutdown
Trump Administration Proposals Could Adversely Affect Wildlife In National Parks
The Trump administration proposed changes to the Endangered Species Act and National Park Service predator control rules that posed harm to wildlife in the National Park System.
Proposed Changes To Endangered Species Act Would Impact National Parks And Their Wild Kingdoms
Time Running Out To Comment On Plan To Liberalize Predator Hunting Regs In Alaska Preserves
Interior Secretary Orders Bureaus To Defer Wildlife/Fisheries Issues To States
Crowding Continued To Be A Problem In Some Parts Of The National Park System
Heavy crowds to some units of the National Park System frayed tempers, impacting resources, and challenged park staff trying to figure out how best to manage with limited resources.
Traveler's View: Trying Times For The Parks, The Park Service, And Park Visitors
National Parks Working To Figure Out How Best To Manage Crowding
The NPS following video, shot in 2017 at Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park, shows constant crowds on the boardwalk and cars, trucks, and buses zooming by on the loop road in the background. The scene repeated itself in 2018.
Partial Government Shutdown Leaves Parks Open Without Essential Staff
Yet another budget impasse between Congress and the White House (the year opened with one) left national parks in limbo at year's end, as most parks remained open but without the normal staffing levels. Without maintenance crews, roads were being closed under snowdrifts and garbage was piling up, creating unsanitary conditions and serving as chum for wildlife. Some states and national park friends groups stepped up to try to make ends meet, but most parks were on their own.
During the government shutdown garbage piled up at Big Bend National Park and other units in the National Park System as there were no maintenance crews on hand to remove it/NPS
Crowds, Lack Of Maintenance Crews, Creating Problems In National Parks
Some National Parks Beginning To Struggle With Garbage, Snow During Shutdown
Without Snowplows, Some Rocky Mountain National Park Roads Closing To Vehicles
Crowds Flocking To Death Valley National Park Despite Government Shutdown
Shuttles Running In Zion National Park During Shutdown
National Park System Open To A Large Degree, But Be Careful Out There
Great Smoky Mountains Association Ready To Keep Great Smoky Visitor Facilities Open
Grand Teton Superintendent Nominated, But Not Confirmed,To Be National Park Service Director
Two years into his administration, President Trump nominated Grand Teton National Park Superintendent David Vela to head the National Park Service, but the Senate never got around to confirming him.
David Vela Sails Through Senate Confirmation Hearing To Become National Park Service Director
A Handful Of Units Of The National Park System Were Ravaged By Wildlfires
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area Ravaged By Wildfire
Plants Are Sprouting In Burned Areas Of The Santa Monica Mountains - That’s Good And Bad
Santa Monica Mountains Mountain Lion Possible Victim Of Woolsey Fire
More Areas Of Whiskeytown NRA Reopening To The Public
Whiskeytown National Recreation Area Reopening After Deadly Carr Fire
Whiskeytown National Recreation Area Closed Due To Carr Fire
Nearly 90 percent of Santa Monica Mountain National Recreation Area's 23,595 acres burned in the Woolsey Fire/NPS
Structures Lost, More Than 150 Evacuated From Rooms, Campgrounds In Glacier National Park
Wildfire Forces Evacuation Of Lake McDonald Complex At Glacier National Park
Costs Of Battling Howe Ridge Fire At Glacier National Park: Nearly $12 Million, 13 Homes
Yosemite Valley Could Reopen Tuesday
Ferguson Fire Burns Into Yosemite National Park
Residents, Employees Told To Evacuate Yosemite Valley Due To Firefighting Efforts
Wolves Are Being Relocated To Isle Royale National Park
In an effort to rebuild a population of predators on Isle Royale National Park that could keep the moose population under control, the National Park Service began to relocate wolves to the island park. But the effort was not without its setbacks, as one wolf died before it could be set free and another died in the park shortly after arriving.
How Isle Royale National Park Biologists Chose Wolves For Their Recovery Operation
Male Wolf Relocated To Isle Royale National Park Found Dead
National Park Service Hopes To Import Wolves From Canada For Isle Royale
Two More Wolves Relocated To Isle Royale National Park
Wolves Moved To Isle Royale National Park Exploring The Park
Wolf Captured For Relocation To Isle Royale National Park Dies
National Park Service To Begin Wolf Transplants To Isle Royale This Fall
Wolves Could Return To Isle Royale National Park This Fall
A wolf recovery program for Isle Royale National Park got underway in 2018/NPS, Jim Peaco
Harassment Continued To Be A Problem In The National Park Service
In an odd and unexplained twist, the National Park Service removed the superintendent brought to Grand Canyon National Park specifically to deal with a long, sordid history of sexual harassment in the park.
OIG Opens Investigation Into Grand Canyon National Park Superintendent
OIG Finds That Sexual Harassment Continues At Grand Canyon National Park
Deaths In The National Parks
There were many deaths in the National Park System in 2018, from visitors getting lost and dying in the backcountry to climbers falling to their deaths and rivers claiming victims.
No Clues In Disappearance Of Man At Rocky Mountain National Park
Body Of Missing Hiker Believed To Be Found At Rocky Mountain National Park
Albert SAR At Rocky Mountain National Park Put On Hold Due To Winter
Mystery Of How Ohio Woman Got Lost In Great Smoky Mountains National Park May Never Be Solved
California Man Missing On Colorado River In Grand Canyon National Park
Final Body From Boat Accident Recovered At Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area
Idaho Teen Swept To His Death In 100-Foot Fall At Glacier National Park
Body Of Washington Climber Recovered At Mount Rainier National Park
Human Remains Found in Remote Area of Olympic National Park
Bodies, Plane That Crashed In Denali National Park Will Not Be Recovered
Two Backcountry Deaths Lead Mount Rainier National Park To Caution Hikers
Memorial Set For National Park Service Firefighter Killed In Ferguson Fire
Man Who Went Missing In Rocky Mountain National Park Apparently Died Instantly From Fall
U.S. Attorney Declines To Prosecute National Park Service Rangers Who Shot And Killed Camper
Grand Teton National Park Claims Another Climber
Man Overboard For 9 Hours Before Being Reported Missing At Glacier Bay National Park
Illinois Man Identified As Victim Of Fall At Grand Canyon National Park
Missouri Couple On "Trip Of A Lifetime" Die In Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
New York Man Drowns As Swimmers Get Caught In Currents At Cape Hatteras National Seashore
Sequoia National Park Visitor Drowns Trying To Save 5-Year-Old
California Man Missing After Raft Flips In Katmai National Park
Los Angeles Man Dies In Sequoia National Park River
Two Killed In Glider Crash In Grand Teton National Park
Man Falls To His Death While Climbing In Grand Teton National Park
Two More Swimmers Die At Cape Hatteras National Seashore
Climbers Fall To Deaths From El Capitan At Yosemite National Park
Man Falls To Death From Half Dome In Yosemite National Park
Accidents Claim Two Lives In Sequoia National Park
Woman Falls To Her Death In Zion National Park
Indiana Man Killed By Rockfall At Haleakala National Park
Gunplay On Blue Ridge Parkway Leaves One Dead
There was, of course, much more news flowing out of the parks and the National Park Service, from park expansions, new facilities and trails, and the prospect of new units being added to the park system to higher fees, vandalism, poached wildlife, and just the simple wonders of the parks.
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