Preserving historic battlefields, purchasing inholdings, acquiring wildlife habitat, and purchased water rights are among the National Park Service projects the Biden administration wants to tackle with nearly $57 million from the Land and Water Conservation Fund for Fiscal 2022.

Issues with cyanobacteria in the Virgin River continue to be a problem at Zion National Park in southwestern Utah. Though the bacteria is a natural part of aquatic environments, some varieties might produce dangerous liver and nervous system toxins, according to park staff.

There's quite a bit of news going on in the National Park System. The Memorial Day weekend brought record visitation numbers and the month of June is heating things up for some national parks like Grand Canyon, while others, like Mount Rainier National Park, remain buried beneath several feet of snow in places. With the snow melting, road and bridge maintnenance in and around some park units is starting up, creating delays and closures for visitors. And a huge congratulations goes to Zion National Park for its certification as the latest International Dark Sky Park.

Arches and Canyonlands national parks, and no doubt many other units of the National Park System, are preparing for a busy Memorial Day weekend, and are advising visitors to expect heavy traffic, crowded trails, and limited parking.