National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 238 | Flooded Death Valley

By Jess Repanshek - September 3rd, 2023

It’s been nearly eight years since a storm of historic proportions pounded Death Valley National Park and did extensive damage in Grapevine Canyon in the northeastern corner of the park where Scotty’s Castle stands. The popular tourist attraction still has not reopened as repair work continues.

That storm was described as a once-in-a-thousand years storm.

A year ago, rainstorms again pounded Death Valley. In roughly three hours 1.5 inches of rain fell on the park and did considerable damage to roads and water systems and shut down the park. That storm also was described as a once-in-a-thousand-years storm.

Another powerful storm hit Death Valley National Park two weeks ago. On August 20, 2.2 inches of rain fell at Furnace Creek, according to the National Weather Service, making it the rainiest day on record in the park. For some perspective, during a full year the park usually sees only 2.15 inches of rain.

To discuss these storms and how the National Park Service is responding to them we’re joined today by Abby Wines, the park’s management analyst.

0:02 National Parks Traveler introduction
0:12 Episode Intro with Kurt Repanshek
1:11 Vista Verde - Tim Heintz - The Sounds of Peaks, Plateaus and Canyons
1:24 Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation
1:46 Yosemite Conservancy
2:08 Friends of Acadia
2:39 Flooded Death Valley
12:00 No’Easter - Nature’s Symphony - The Sounds of Acadia
12:16 NPT RVing Guide
13:11 Washington’s National Park Fund
13:45 Interior Federal Credit Union
14:08 Grand Teton National Park Foundation
14:40 Flooded Death Valley Continues
25:07 Escalante - Tim Heintz -The Sounds of Peaks, Plateaus and Canyons
25:21 Great Smoky Mountains Association
25:42 The Everglades Foundation
25:54 Potrero Group
26:24 Flooded Death Valley Continues
41:52 Caribbean Song - Tim Heintz - The Sounds of the Everglades
42:15 Episode Closing
42:35 Orange Tree Productions
43:08 Splitbeard Productions
43:19 National Parks Traveler footer

Death Valley National Park

National Parks Traveler Podcast

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