The grizzly bear population in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, which includes Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, is growing and not suffering from a loss of genetic diversity, according to a report from the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team.

Two significant mergers have been formalized in recent days, each with the aim of building a stronger ally for national parks. In Wyoming/Montana, the Yellowstone Park Foundation has merged with the Yellowstone Association, while in California the Sequoia Natural History Association and Sequoia Parks Foundation have joined forces to form the Sequoia Parks Conservancy. The goal, of course, is to eliminate redundancies, streamline administrations, and generate more for the parks they serve.

Will the coming winter bring snow, drought, soaking rains, or mild weather to your national park outings? As usual, it depends on where you go, but Rocky Mountain National Park could be a winter wonderland if the forecast from AccuWeather holds true, while New England travelers should enjoy a reprieve from last year's overly bountiful snows.

With a 23-15 party line vote the House Natural Resources Committee has approved legislation that would force the National Park Service to open up more than 400 miles of streams to paddlers in Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, though whether the full House and Senate will do the same remains to be seen.