So many stories, so little time. At least it feels like that when trying to stay atop news from around the National Park System. With that challenge in mind, here's a look at some topics we haven't had time to fully develop.

Yosemite's Wawona Hotel

Earlier this month we told you that concern over the structural integrity of the stately Wawona Hotel in Yosemite National Park prompted the National Park Service to schedule a comprehensive assessment of the hotel. A little more digging provided some more details on why that's necessary. 

"We started a $2.6 million roof replacement project this summer on the main Wawona hotel building. When we removed roof materials as part of the project, we discovered that there were structural issues with the underlying roof support and the condition of supporting beams," Cynthia Hernandez, a spokesperson in the agency's Washington headquarters, told us via email.

"We'll fix the immediate issues and have the roof contractor finish the project in a way which preserves the structure but does not complete the custom shingle installation. Then we'll contract for a comprehensive condition assessment of the hotel complex. The assessment will require removal of wall and floor coverings to access other parts of the structure, so we'll have to close the hotel throughout the process," she explained.

West Nile Virus

Fire Island National Seashore in New York is turning up mosquitoes carrying West Nile Virus. Most recently the disease turned up in mosquitoe samples taken at Watch Hill, a federal tract of land between Davis Park and the Fire Island Wilderness area. 

The  National Park Service, along with Suffolk County, will continue its weekly surveillance program to monitor the severity and extent of West Nile Virus within the boundaries of the seashore. Consistent with the seashore’s mosquito monitoring protocols, there will be increased surveillance at Watch Hill, where West Nile Virus was detected.

The National Park Service works closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Suffolk County Department of Health Services – Arthropod-Borne Disease Laboratory, Suffolk County Vector Control, and local Fire Island and Long Island municipalities to determine the best course of action to protect residents, visitors, and employees of the Seashore. The public will be notified 24 hours in advance of any spray event.

West Nile Virus is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. Visitors should take precautions to reduce exposure to the virus by avoiding areas with high densities of mosquitoes. If contact with mosquitoes is unavoidable, it is advisable to minimize outdoor activities when mosquitoes are active, wear protective clothing (long sleeved shirts, socks, and long pants) and use effective insect repellent, such as one containing at least 30% DEET. People most at risk of becoming ill are those over 60 years of age or whose health is impaired.

Private Property At Voyageurs

This past week passed on a success story from Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota, where the Park Service was able to acquire 51 acres on Big Island from willing sellers. As we noted in the story, the acquisition of privately-owned lands within Voyageurs remains a top priority for both the National Park Service and Voyageurs Conservancy. 

How much private land falls within the park boundaries?

"The park has about 40 private parcels of land that remain. Together they total approximately 500 acres," Kate Severson, the park's program manager for interpretation, outreach, and partnerships, told us via email. "The park works with willing sellers as they express interest in the potential sale of their properties."

Grand Canyon's Raptors

Fall raptor migration has begun across the country, and you can catch the birds on their journeys in many spots in the National Park System.

Now through October 28 the naturalists at HawkWatch International will be offering raptor migration talks in Grand Canyon National Park at Yaki Point Friday-Monday at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Additionally, visitors can visit Yaki Point anytime between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. every day to talk to the biologists monitoring and counting raptors. 

Hot Springs' Water Festival

Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas will be hosting the Hot Springs Water Festival on Saturday, October 26, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Arlington Lawn near historic Bathhouse Row. The festival is a celebration of the park’s famous water resources and the people and organizations that help to protect them.

Hot Springs National Park is home to a wealth of water resources, including the 143°F thermal springs, the cold-water spring systems, and several waterways inside the national park boundary. This year’s event also will feature several conservation groups that manage and monitor watersheds in the Ouachita Mountain region, including: the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission; Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission; US Army Corps of Engineers; Coast Guard Auxiliary; United States Forest Service; and United States Geological Survey. Art outreach will be provided by the Crystal Bridges Mobile Art Lab, Garland County Library and Hot Springs Documentary Film Institute.

The public is invited to this free, family-friendly event. Booths will feature spring water taste testing; water coloring arts; water science demonstrations; and outdoor activities. Visitors will meet the scientists, rangers and volunteers who help protect the park’s famous thermal water.

To learn more about Hot Springs National Park and its bathhouses, read this article from the Traveler's archives.