Water, the universal solvent, is eroding parts of the National Park System. It is slowly overcoming Cape Hatteras National Seashore and has done significant damage to Yellowstone and Death Valley national parks, as well as Mojave National Preserve and Vicksburg National Military Park. And with climate change, it is gaining strength.

Across the National Park System, declines in park staff are paired against soaring visitation levels in a discordant dance that challenges the National Park Service to accomplish its mission.

Approval has been given for a mountain bike trail to be built in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but there's no money dedicated for its construction, and park staff are still looking into how it should be operated.

With the final days of 2022 here, and the 365 days of 2023 about to debut, it seems to be a good time to reflect a bit on the past year in the National Park System.