NPS Digest is reporting this morning that a single-engine plane crash in Great Sand Dunes National Park has killed a pilot and one of two passengers. The crash occurred near the junction of the Medano Pass primitive road and the Medano Lake Road on the morning of June 8th. The second passenger survived and was hospitalized.
A visitor was first on scene and called 911; a protection ranger arrived within 45 minutes. Huerfano County deputies and park staff assisted with evacuating the two passengers to regional trauma centers. The pilot’s body was taken into custody by the Saguache County coroner.
The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration investigated the accident the following day. On Tuesday, June 11th, the single-engine aircraft was removed from the park and the Medano Pass primitive road was reopened. The cause of the crash has yet to be determined by the NTSB and FAA.
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
Showing posts with label Great Sand Dunes National Park. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Great Sand Dunes National Park. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Friday, February 1, 2013
Big Spring Creek Becomes Newest National Natural Landmark
NPS Digest announced yesterday that Big Spring Creek has been named as the newest National Natural Landmark. The creek runs along the western portion of Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, approximately 30 miles north of Alamosa, Colorado.
Big Spring Creek was given the distinction in October for the perennial spring-fed creek that flows through the sparsely-vegetated, large sand sheets of the San Luis Valley, Colorado. Along its course, Big Spring Creek supports an aquatic dependent wetland ecosystem in an otherwise arid landscape.
Few spring-fed creeks exist in the area and Big Spring Creek is unusual in that it still maintains a natural flow pattern. The meandering creek and surrounding eolian landforms at this site provide excellent examples of natural geologic and hydrologic patterns. The new designation provides increased educational value and added consideration for these special resources during planning efforts as the National Park Service strives to achieve a model standard of excellence in natural resource stewardship.
Big Spring Creek is the 13th NNL within Colorado and brings the total number of NNLs designated nationwide over the past 50 years to 594. The NNL program was established in 1962 by Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall as a way to highlight the diversity of natural features that comprise our nation’s natural heritage. The NNL program is the only nationwide natural areas program that recognizes significant biological and geological features in both public and private ownership.
The NPS works in partnership with NNL landowners and honors the dedication of the various federal, state, county, municipal, tribal and private landowners that wisely steward their lands, which carry the NNL designation. Through advocacy and technical assistance, the NPS is pleased to be a part of supporting the conservation of these nationally significant sites for the past half-century.
For more information about recent designations and the NNL Program, please visit the NNL program website.
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
Few spring-fed creeks exist in the area and Big Spring Creek is unusual in that it still maintains a natural flow pattern. The meandering creek and surrounding eolian landforms at this site provide excellent examples of natural geologic and hydrologic patterns. The new designation provides increased educational value and added consideration for these special resources during planning efforts as the National Park Service strives to achieve a model standard of excellence in natural resource stewardship.
Big Spring Creek is the 13th NNL within Colorado and brings the total number of NNLs designated nationwide over the past 50 years to 594. The NNL program was established in 1962 by Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall as a way to highlight the diversity of natural features that comprise our nation’s natural heritage. The NNL program is the only nationwide natural areas program that recognizes significant biological and geological features in both public and private ownership.
The NPS works in partnership with NNL landowners and honors the dedication of the various federal, state, county, municipal, tribal and private landowners that wisely steward their lands, which carry the NNL designation. Through advocacy and technical assistance, the NPS is pleased to be a part of supporting the conservation of these nationally significant sites for the past half-century.
For more information about recent designations and the NNL Program, please visit the NNL program website.
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)