Outdoor Central News Network

New Mobile Web App Puts Fishing Information at Your Fingertips in California

ODC Editor — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 13:44:37 +0000

It’s a nice weekend, and you want to go fishing. If you’re new to fishing, or in an unfamiliar area, where should you go? If not everyone in your group has a license, where will you find the nearest place to purchase one?

The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) has released a mobile Fishing Guide web application that provides access to fishing locations, latest fish planting sites and fishing license sales locations. The web app, which is optimized for iPhone, Android and Blackberry smartphones, can be accessed by navigating to www.dfg.ca.gov/mobile.

The new web app has three components:

1. Fishing Guide: The core Fishing Guide component provides a listing and maps of more than 1,500 fishing locations across the state. This includes locations that are accessible by car as well as back-country sites.
2. Fish Planting Schedule: Recently planted locations often provide excellent fishing opportunities. Anglers can now use their mobile phones to quickly find the latest fish planting sites in their area.
3. Fishing Licenses: Use your mobile phone to find one of the more than 1,600 locations around the state that sell fishing licenses.

DFG’s mobile Fishing Guide app was developed in collaboration with the Office of the State Chief Information Officer in conjunction with the newly designed CA.gov portal. The Fishing Guide app can also be found by navigating to www.m.ca.gov and clicking on “Recreation and Leisure.”

Additionally, content on the newly designed home page at www.dfg.ca.gov has been reorganized with the two most common visitor types in mind. A section for anglers and hunters provides links to popular recreation pages such as regulations and license services. Another prominent section is targeted to those needing scientific or conservation services and information.

Web users are encouraged to comment on these new products, and DFG’s website in general, at www.dfg.ca.gov/survey.

Acadia National Park America’s Best Idea: National Park Getaway

ODC Editor — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 13:24:54 +0000

BAR HARBOR, Maine – Every week, the National Park Service shines a spotlight on a different park—the destination of the week’s Getaway. The chosen place takes the lead role in a travel article published at www.nps.gov/getaways. This week’s article, the 55th in the series, stars Acadia National Park in Maine.

We open with a lush shot of Ocean Drive, where prim evergreens line the shore and gaze on the periwinkle-colored Atlantic and on seaside rocks and grasses gilded by the sun. Bar Harbor’s bombshell proves her versatility as the Getaway unfolds: one minute, she’s an action-packed vacation for hikers and bikers (and, at the right time, skiers and snowshoers); the next, a slower-paced, even romantic, escape that boasts horse-drawn carriage rides, scenic boat cruises, shopping opportunities in Bar Harbor, and the elegant comforts of tea and popovers at the Jordan Pond House.

A costume designer’s dream come true, Acadia looks stunning in any attire. For the Getaway, she dons floral pinks, misty woodland greens, and the blues of ocean, hills, mountains, and sky. Yet she’ll also wow you when clad in the scarlet and yellow cape of autumn or in soft and gleaming robes of snow. If you don’t have plans to visit this national treasure during the summer, you might want to start planning a fall or winter excursion.

Critics agree: this week’s Getaway gets two thumbs up. Acadia, like the Getaway parks before her, delivers a sensational performance. The article series, as always, introduces readers to places of natural and cultural significance where they can connect with family and friends.

NOAA Expands Fishing Closed Area in Gulf of Mexico

ODC Editor — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 13:05:05 +0000

NOAA has expanded the closed fishing area in the Gulf of Mexico to include portions of the oil slick moving beyond the area’s current northern boundary, off the Florida panhandle’s federal-state waterline. This boundary was moved eastward to Cape San Blas.

This federal closure does not apply to any state waters. Closing fishing in these areas is a precautionary measure to ensure that seafood from the Gulf will remain safe for consumers.

The closed area now represents 80,228 square miles, which is approximately 33.2 percent of Gulf of Mexico federal waters. This leaves more than 66 percent of Gulf federal waters available for fishing. The closure will be effective at 6:00 p.m. EDT. Details can be found at http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/. The last closed area modification was June 23, when 78,597 square miles were closed to fishing, or roughly 32.5 percent of federal waters of the Gulf.

The federal and state governments have systems in place to test and monitor seafood safety, prohibit harvesting from affected areas, and keep oiled products out of the marketplace. NOAA continues to work closely with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the states to ensure seafood safety, by closing fishing areas where tainted seafood could potentially be caught, and assessing whether seafood is tainted or contaminated to levels that pose a risk to human health. NOAA and FDA are working to implement a broad-scaled seafood sampling plan. The plan includes sampling seafood from inside and outside the closure area, as well as dockside- and market-based sampling.

According to NOAA, there are approximately 5.7 million recreational fishermen in the Gulf of Mexico region who took 25 million fishing trips in 2008. Commercial fishermen in the Gulf harvested more than one billion pounds of fish and shellfish in 2008.

Fishermen who wish to contact BP about a claim should call 800-440-0858.

NOAA will continue to evaluate the need for fisheries closures based on the evolving nature of the spill and will re-open closed areas as appropriate. NOAA will also re-evaluate the closure areas as new information that would change the boundaries of these closed areas becomes available.

NOAA has a number of methods for the public to obtain information or be notified when there is a change to the closed area:

• Sign up to receive Southeast Fishery Bulletins by email at SERO [dot] Communications [dot] Comments [at] noaa [dot] gov
• Call 1-800-627-NOAA (1-800-627-6622) to hear a recording of the current coordinates
• Listen to NOAA Weather Radio for messages about the closure
• Receive text messages on your cell phone about changes to the closed area by texting fishing@gulf to 84469 (visit http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/doc/2931/558107 for more information)
• Follow us on Twitter: usnoaagov to get a tweet when the closed area changes

NOAA’s mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth’s environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources. Visit us at http://www.noaa.gov or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/usnoaagov.

Time To Register For Becoming an Outdoors-Woman Class in Arkansas Is Now

ODC Editor — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 17:59:03 +0000

FERNDALE – In September, the very popular “Becoming an Outdoors-Woman” workshop of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will be held again, but now is the time to make sure you reserve a spot.

The workshop focuses on learning outdoor skills usually associated with hunting and fishing, but includes other outdoor pursuits as well. Designed for women, the workshop is an opportunity for anyone 18 years of age or older to learn these skills.

The objective is to provide a non-threatening atmosphere where women can have fun learning skills that will enhance their enjoyment of Arkansas outdoors. This workshop is for you, if:

* you have never tried these activities, but have hoped for an opportunity to learn.
* you are a beginner who hopes to improve your skills.
* you know how to do some of the activities, but would like to try some new ones.
* you are looking for the camaraderie of like-minded individuals.
* A complete registration form is available from the AGFC website at http://www.agfc.com/educationclass/ programs/bow.aspx or by calling Arlene Green at 501-831-1504 or emailing at algreen [at] agfc [dot] state [dot] ar [dot] us. No registration will be accepted by phone, fax or e-mail.

The workshop spans a weekend, beginning at noon on Friday, Sept. 17. The atmosphere is “outdoorsy” but comfortable. The workshop is held at the Arkansas 4H Center, located about 15 miles west of Little Rock, near the community of Ferndale. This 228-acre center is a modern, comfortable facility in the heart of forested mountains, providing an ideal location for learning outdoor skills. Meals are provided and cooked by the 4H Center staff. The focus of the weekend is learning in a comfortable atmosphere.

The instructors are patient and supportive. Participants share in the success of each group member in a non-competitive situation where each individual can learn at her own pace.

Although the workshop is held in September, applications must be sent now. This workshop fills up fast, so don’t hesitate.

Proposed Early Migratory Bird Seasons Presented to Commission in Arkansas

ODC Editor — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 17:39:34 +0000

LITTLE ROCK – The Commission also discussed dove season, the unofficial opening of Arkansas’s fall hunting season.

Early-season migratory game-bird season selections must be reported to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by Aug. 1. Approval for the seasons will take place during the Commission’s July meeting. Changes from last season are minor.

Mourning Dove and Eurasian Collared Dove
Sept. 4-Oct. 19 and Dec. 11-Jan. 5

Teal Season
Sept. 11-26

Early Canada Goose Season
Sept. 1-15

Northwest Canada Goose Zone Season
Sept. 25-Oct. 4

In other business, the Commission:

*Heard a presentation about the 2010 spring turkey harvest by AGFC turkey biologist Mike Widner. Widner told the Commission that 10,111 turkeys were checked during the season. The harvest was down about 9 percent from the 2009 season. Fulton County led the state with 369 birds harvested. During the preseason youth hunts, 850 turkeys were harvested, down from a record 981 turkeys in 2009.

*Approved a list of Commission committees and chairmen for the coming fiscal year.

*Approved the AGFC budget for fiscal year 2010-11, totaling $74,970,691.

*Heard a presentation on the AGFC Arkansas Youth Shooting Sports Program. Over 5,200 kids are involved in the program as well as 579 coaches.

*Elected Craig Campbell of Little Rock chairman of the Commission to replace Brett Morgan. Morgan’s term on the Commission ends June 30. George Dunklin Jr. of Stuttgart was elected vice chairman.

Managed Deer Hunt Applications Open July 1, Close Aug. 15 in Missouri

ODC Editor — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 17:28:34 +0000

Hunters can apply for nearly 100 archery, muzzleloader and modern firearms hunts, including events for youths and hunters with disabilities.

JEFFERSON CITY–Deer hunters have until August 15 to apply for almost 100 managed hunts on public land from mid-September through January.

The Missouri Department of Conservation holds a drawing to determine who gets to participate in special managed deer hunts at conservation areas, state parks, national wildlife refuges and nature preserves. The application period opens July 1 each year. The hunts are open to Missouri residents and nonresidents.

This is the first year that applications must be made online. Wildlife Management Chief Mike Schroer said advancing technology permitted the switch to an exclusively web-based application process.

“With the growth of Internet access through home computers, laptops, smart phones and other technology, most hunters have Internet access – if not at home, then through family, friends, hunting partners or community locations such as public libraries,” said Schroer. “We encourage hunters to take advantage of these connections to apply for managed hunts.”

Types of hunts include archery, crossbow, muzzleloader, historic methods and modern firearms – plus youth hunts and hunts for persons with disabilities. Hunt dates, locations and other details will be listed on the managed hunt application Web page, mdc.mo.gov/hunt/deer/managed.htm. Details about managed hunts also are available in the 2010 Fall Deer and Turkey Hunting booklet, which is available from permit vendors statewide.

Hunters may apply individually or as groups of up to six, except for youth hunts. Youths may apply singly or with one other youth. Applicants need a nine-digit Conservation ID number for each hunter to complete the application process. If you do not have a Conservation ID Number, call 573-751-4115 to obtain one.

The Conservation Department will post drawing results at the same website Sept. 14. Successful applicants also will receive area maps and other information regarding their hunt in the mail.

Resident or nonresident managed deer hunting permits are required to take part in managed hunts. These permits will be available to successful applicants after Sept. 14 from any permit vendor statewide.

The Conservation Department implemented a preference point system in 2007 to give unsuccessful applicants for managed deer hunts an advantage in future drawings. Preference points are like extra pieces of paper in a hat. Hunters who apply for the first time or who were drawn for hunts the previous year have only one piece of paper with their name on it in the hat. Those who entered but were not drawn the previous year get an extra piece of paper in the hat for each unsuccessful year. For example, a hunter who was not drawn four years in a row would have five pieces of paper in the hat the fifth time he or she applied.

Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Announces Family Fly Fishing Program

ODC Editor — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 18:48:13 +0000

Bellefonte, PA – Looking for a great way to connect with your family? Discover just how much fun fishing can be when you do it together at a PA Fish and Boat Commission’s Family Fly Fishing Program. The Sinnemahoning State Park and PA Fish and Boat Commission will host a Family Fly Fishing Program at Sinnemahoning State Park, Cameron County, on Sunday, July 10. The program will be held at 40 Maples Day Use Area from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

You and your family will have the opportunity to fish – no fishing license required and all equipment is provided. Learn basic fly fishing skills such as gear, knots, and casting ending with fishing on the First Fork of Sinnemahonig Creek. The “catch?” Adults must bring a child and children must bring an adult. You’ll be learning and fishing together. Participants must be eight years of age and older.

For more information on this Family Fly Fishing Program or to pre-register, contact Amidea Daniel at (814) 359-5127 by July 7. Registration is required and based on a first come first serve basis. Space is limited. The program will be held rain or shine.

The mission of the Fish and Boat Commission is to protect, conserve, and enhance the Commonwealth’s aquatic resources and provide fishing and boating opportunities. For more information about fishing and boating in Pennsylvania, please visit our website at www.fishandboat.com.

Contact
Spring Reilly
spreilly [at] state [dot] pa [dot] us
814.359.5193

Operation Dry Water Part of Nationwide Effort to Crack Down on Impaired Boaters

ODC Editor — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 18:15:28 +0000

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Conservation Police Officers (CPOs) will be out in full force this weekend – on the look-out for boaters operating under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The increased enforcement is part of a national coordinated effort of stepped-up enforcement called Operation Dry Water.

“We want people to have fun, but at the same time to be safe out on the water,” said IDNR Office of Law Enforcement Chief Rafael Gutierrez. “Alcohol use is one of the leading factors in fatal recreational boating accidents in the state of Illinois and across the country. We recommend that all boats have a designated skipper on board.”

Impaired boaters caught this weekend can expect penalties. In Illinois, operating under the influence (OUI) is a Class A misdemeanor for the first offense. It is punishable by a maximum of one year in jail and/or up to $2,500 in fines.

“Our CPOs work hard throughout the year to make sure boaters are safe on Illinois public waters,” added Chief Gutierrez. “We have zero tolerance for anyone found operating a boat under the influence at any time; however, boaters will see a stepped up effort as we approach the 4th of July holiday.”

Operation Dry Water was launched in 2009 by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators in partnership with the United States Coast Guard and the IDNR to draw public attention to the hazards of OUI. Operation Dry Water is a national weekend of OUI detection and enforcement aimed at reducing the number of alcohol and drug-related accidents and fatalities. For more information, visit www.operationdrywater.org.

Dove Club Permits Go On Sale July 1 in Florida

ODC Editor — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 18:07:20 +0000

Six special-opportunity dove fields will be open to the public this season through the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s special-opportunity Dove Club Program.

Beginning at 10 a.m. (EDT) July 1, sportsmen can apply for Dove Club permits online at www.fl.wildlifelicense.com or by submitting a completed Special-Opportunity Dove Club Permit Worksheet to any county tax collector’s office or authorized license agent. There is no cost to apply. Worksheets are available at MyFWC.com/Hunting under “Limited Entry Hunts.”

Dove Club permits will be issued by random drawing from applications submitted by 11:59 p.m. (EDT) July 19.

The permit allows one adult and one youth (under age 16) to participate in all scheduled hunts (up to eight days) for a designated dove field. These Saturday half-day hunts cost $150 and enable both the permit holder and youth to each take a daily bag limit of birds. Successful applicants must purchase their permits by Aug. 9. Any permits left unsold after the deadline will be available for purchase on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 10 a.m. (EDT) Aug. 12. The deadline to purchase leftover Dove Club permits is Aug. 23.

The six special-opportunity dove fields are:

¦Allapattah Flats WMA in Martin County,
¦Caravelle Ranch (Putnam County),
¦Combs Farm Public Small-game Hunting Area (PSGHA) (Baker County),
¦Hilochee WMA (Lake County),
¦North Newberry PSGHA (Alachua County) and
¦Frog Pond (Miami-Dade County).
Dove hunting opportunities are in high demand, and these special hunts provide the perfect social setting for friends and family to hunt together. And hunters who purchase these season-long permits save more than half the cost of buying individual daily dove permits for the season.

Daily dove permits cost $35 and enable one adult and one youth (under age 16) to hunt together on one half-day hunt but allow only one bag limit of birds between the two hunters. Applications for daily dove permits will be accepted Aug. 24 – Sept. 7.

For more information on these great public land dove hunting opportunities, click on MyFWC.com/Dove.

On July 1 Resident Shoreline Fishing License Is Free; Other Prices Increase

ODC Editor — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 17:58:06 +0000

The license for Florida residents to catch saltwater fish from shore or a structure affixed to shore cost $9 last year, but beginning July 1, it’s free. Other license and permit fees will increase on that date.

The Florida Legislature repealed the shoreline license fee during the past session. However, legislators retained the license requirement to prevent a more-costly federal registration fee from taking effect in Florida.

Resident anglers who order the shoreline license, or other licenses or permits, over the phone or Internet will still have to pay a processing fee to the vendor. The processing fee is $2.31 for Internet sales at www.fl.wildlifelicense.com or $3.33 for phone sales at 888-FISH FLORIDA (888-347-4356).

The Florida Legislature, during the 2009 session, increased permit fees effective July 1, 2010. The cost of a turkey permit will go up from $5 to $10 for Florida residents and from $100 to $125 for nonresidents. In addition, Florida waterfowl permits will increase from $3 to $5.

The cost of two saltwater fishing permits also will go up on July 1. The snook permit will increase from $2 to $10, and lobster permits will increase from $2 to $5.

Until July 1, however, sportsmen can still buy all of these permits at the current prices, and all permits are valid for one year from the specified start date.

There also is a new deer permit that will be required whenever hunting deer in Florida, beginning during the upcoming 2010-2011 hunting season. The permit will cost $5 and will not be available for purchase until July 1.

Those with a sportsman’s license, gold sportsman’s license, 64 or older sportsman’s license, military gold sportsman’s license, lifetime hunting license or lifetime sportsman’s license will not need to purchase the new deer permit because it has already been included in each of these licenses, even if they were purchased before July 1.

The deer permit, however, is not included with a hunting license, combination hunting/freshwater fishing license, combination hunting/freshwater/saltwater license or a five-year hunting license. Anyone hunting deer with any of those licenses must also buy the $5 deer permit to hunt deer legally.

All permits and related licenses are available for purchase online at www.fl.wildlifelicense.com, at county tax collectors’ offices, many retail outlets that sell fishing and hunting supplies, or by calling toll-free 888-HUNT-FLORIDA (486-8356).

There are some exemptions for license requirements. More information is available at MyFWC.com/License.

FWC Officers Patrol the Waters of Northwest Florida

ODC Editor — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 17:49:15 +0000

Aboard the Guardian, a 45-foot offshore vessel, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Lt. Rama Shuster keeps an eye out for oil on the waters in Gulf, Franklin and Wakulla counties.

The FWC’s mission since the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon oil platform in late April has been reconnaissance: tracking the movement of oil along the coast. Officers are on the water, patrolling the beaches on ATVs and flying daily missions, monitoring the shoreline and reporting what they find.

Shuster has been on the water for two weeks now. Last week, he was aboard the Orion, a 50-foot, offshore vessel, patrolling the waters off Pensacola. Shuster normally captains the Guardian and is assigned to the Crystal River Field Office in Citrus County.

“We saw quite a bit of product around Pensacola,” Shuster said. “But it’s clear so far around Carrabelle. However, we’re definitely keeping a watch for any product that we might encounter.”

When Shuster and his crew do find oil, they will determine the exact location, photograph what they see and then send the report back to the Florida Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee.

“We’ve also had FWC biologists and personnel from our partner agencies on board with us so they can also view the waters,” Shuster said. “We have been taking water samples at the surface and from the bottom in areas where fishermen have made reports of oil sightings and interviewing the fishermen to get as much information as possible.”

As of June 18, the FWC has 75 vessels working the water patrol from the state line to Wakulla County. The vessels will be moved as needed for reconnaissance, and more boats will be added if required.

“The good news is I haven’t seen any oiled wildlife yet,” Shuster said. “All the birds I’m seeing today on patrol seem healthy and appear to be free of oil. Some of the other crews haven’t been as fortunate. They have seen some oiled animals.”

Those animals were documented and recovered.

“Our secondary mission while we’re out here is directing the cleanup crews to the product we find. We make sure they have the proper coordinates and are able to locate the oil. We don’t do the cleanup but we help the contractors get to the areas that need work,” Shuster said. “We also keep the EOC informed as to how many cleanup vessels are in the area and their locations.

“Friday, we ran 37 miles south of Carrabelle to an area where a fisherman reported oil.”

At that location, the boat crew took six samples at the surface, mid-water column and on the bottom. They then took samples in a quarter-mile radius around the coordinates and found no traces of oil.

“Even though we are not finding oil over here to the east, it’s just as important to investigate these reports and keep the fisherman informed so they can continue to enjoy the waters before the oil does move in,” Shuster said.

Shuster doesn’t know how long he’ll be deployed to Northwest Florida but anticipates that it’s a long-term event.

“We’ll do whatever it takes to protect the resources and people of Florida,” he said. “That’s our job and we’re going to do it to the best of our ability.”

Catfish in Lake Fork? Who Knew?

ODC Editor — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 19:13:48 +0000

ATHENS—Stan Kuhn knew. So did Kenneth Jones. Both Lake Fork fishing guides have been putting clients on Lake Fork’s plentiful blue, channel and flathead catfish for years.

Most people think of big bass when they think of Lake Fork, and for good reason. The lake has produced 246 of the 504 entries into the Toyota ShareLunker program, an angler recognition and selective breeding program that uses 13-pound or bigger bass.

Even bigger fish lurk in Lake Fork, and all of them have whiskers. Rod-and-reel anglers have landed blue catfish weighing 71.5 pounds, channel cats weighing 17.73 pounds and flathead catfish tipping the scale at 75 pounds. From Lake Fork, the Bass Capital of the World.

Trotliners have done even better. The all-tackle record for Lake Fork blue catfish is 89 pounds, for channel catfish 25.33 pounds and for flatheads 100 pounds.

Even fly-fishers have gotten into the act, using wooly buggers and flashy clousers to land catfish in excess of eight pounds.

Lake Fork really shines, though, when it comes to producing “eating-size” catfish, those from the legal 12-inch length weighing about a pound on up to 10 pounds or so. Guides Kuhn (903/383-2921) and Jones (214/850-5525) regularly put clients onto fishing spots that can fill up an ice chest in a hurry. On a recent trip on Lake Fork, Kuhn’s three anglers caught 38 channel cats weighing a total of 101 pounds from the same hole in little over two hours.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) Inland Fisheries biologist Aaron Jubar wants anglers to take advantage of Lake Fork’s bounty.

“Throughout its history, Lake Fork has been synonymous with trophy largemouth bass, and anglers have long known about the excellent crappie fishery in the reservoir,” Jubar said. “Over the past decade, we have watched the catfish population explode with an abundance of harvestable channel catfish, but the number of anglers targeting these fish remains relatively low. We want to make anglers aware of this opportunity. This fishery is nothing short of phenomenal, and it gives anglers even more reason to visit Lake Fork.”

In addition to Lake Fork, numerous other lakes in Texas provide anglers with outstanding catfish fishing, according to Dave Terre, TPWD’s chief of management and research for Inland Fisheries. “I think most of our larger reservoirs are under-exploited for catfish, especially channel catfish,” Terre said. “It blows me away to see the quality of our catfish populations. Clearly, we have some of the best catfishing opportunities in the country.”

For those who can’t make it to a large lake to fish or just want to fish an hour or two close to home with friends or family, TPWD provides the Neighborhood Fishin’ program. Channel catfish are stocked into selected lakes every two weeks during most of the year in nine urban areas. In addition, catfish are stocked annually into dozens of community fishing lakes in every part of the state. Visit http://archive.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat/fish/recreational/wheretofish/ to find fishing opportunities near you.

Timpanogos Cave National Monument America’s Best Idea: National Park Getaway

ODC Editor — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 18:58:40 +0000

AMERICAN FORK, Utah – From the outside, the park featured in this week’s National Park Getaway looks like a painting by Pablo Picasso. The walls of the American Fork Canyon form sharply inclined geometric planes that slant toward each other, seeming to intersect and fracturing the view in Cubist fashion. The painter has restrained his palette and rendered the canyon walls in earth colors—gray, ruddy brown, and tan—overlain with the dark green of firs and other trees.

If Earth’s surface at Timpanogos Cave National Monument is early 20th-century, Earth’s interior is Baroque. The ceilings of three caves—Hansen, Middle, and Timpanogos—dangle ivory-colored stalactites, while stalagmites rise from the ground. These tubular formations resemble the pipes of a sonorous organ, while twisting helictites recall the flourishes of ecclesiastical and palatial architecture. The helictites create frills around the hanging stalactites, and the cave walls and ceilings—white stone in which ridges trace doily-like patterns—embody the word “ornate.”

If you like the idea of traveling from a rugged exterior to a lavish interior—check out this week’s National Park Getaway. The travel article, found at www.nps.gov/getaways, guides you through a visit to Timpanogos Cave National Monument. This week’s feature is the 53rd in a series of articles, all of which introduce readers to places of natural and cultural significance where, as at Timpanogos Cave, visitors can connect with family and friends.

First Lady Michelle Obama Asks Junior Rangers to Take It Outside at Our National Parks

ODC Editor — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 18:49:33 +0000

WASHINGTON – “Let’s Move Outside, Junior Rangers!” is First Lady Michelle Obama’s call to kids across the country this summer. Today, the National Park Service kicks off Let’s Move Outside Junior Ranger in 20 parks. National Park Junior Rangers will not only have fun and get exercise but also receive an extra reward for working up a sweat.

Young people who complete at least one physical activity in pursuit of their Junior Ranger badge receive a special sticker that designates them as a Let’s Move Outside Junior Ranger. The activities range from adventures like hiking with a ranger at Grand Canyon National Park to body surfing at Canaveral National Seashore and canoeing at Mississippi National River and Recreation Area.

Let’s Move Outside, led by the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture, provides tools and information to parents to make it easy to enjoy the outdoors and be active. It is part of First Lady Michelle Obama’s nationwide campaign to end childhood obesity within a generation.

“The Let’s Move Outside program in our national parks provides a wonderful way for parents to help their children gain a passion for outdoor recreation while teaching them about our nation’s beautiful lands, our rich cultural heritage, and our storied past,” said Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar.

The program engages young people from all backgrounds in a range of educational programs and self-guided activities on America’s public lands and waters. From hiking and biking, to swimming, paddling, and horseback riding, these activities promise to be fun, healthy, and family friendly.

Throughout the summer, Let’s Move Outside programs and events will be held in conjunction with schools, community groups, and other partners.

“Young people inspire us; we want to help them be vigorous and curious for life. It starts with family fun. National parks are amazing places where exercise is disguised as adventure, and we sneak in some learning too,” National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis said.

Let’s Move Outside will soon be integrated into other programs, like the Fish and Wildlife Service’s “Let’s Go Outside” initiative, which seeks to reconnect kids and families to nature in our country’s 552 national wildlife refuges, and the Bureau of Land Management’s “Take It Outside” program.

Primary federal partners in this initiative are the Department of the Interior’s National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, and Bureau of Land Management, and the Department of Agriculture’s U.S. Forest Service.

“As a department that manages one fifth of our nation’s land, the Department of the Interior will play a vital role in Let’s Move Outside!” said Julie Rodriguez, director of the department’s Youth Office. “Our parks, refuges, and other public lands are waiting to be explored and enjoyed by our nation’s young people, and we are eager to help them get outdoors.”

By summer’s end, 50 national parks will offer Let’s Move Outside Junior Ranger. Before heading out, visit www.letsmove.gov/outside for more information about activities and participating parks. This website hub will link families to the great outdoors and give tips and ideas on how to best plan and enjoy an active visit.

The 20 parks launching today: • Canaveral National Seashore, Florida • Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio • Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska • Effigy Mounds National Monument, Iowa • Fire Island National Seashore, New York • Fort Dupont Park, Washington, DC • Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona • Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Colorado • Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee and North Carolina • Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, West Virginia • Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Indiana • Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, Minnesota • Mount Rainier National Park, Washington • New River Gorge National River, West Virginia • Prince William Forest Park, Virginia • Redwood National and State Parks, California • Rock Creek Park, Washington, DC • Shenandoah National Park, Virginia • Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Michigan • Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho

NOAA Expands Fishing Closed Area in Gulf of Mexico

ODC Editor — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 18:35:54 +0000

NOAA has expanded the closed fishing area in the Gulf of Mexico to capture portions of the oil slick moving beyond the area’s current northern boundary, off the Florida panhandle’s federal-state waterline. This boundary was moved to Panama City Beach.

This federal closure does not apply to any state waters. Closing fishing in these areas is a precautionary measure to ensure that seafood from the Gulf will remain safe for consumers.

The closed area now represents 80,806 square miles, which is approximately 33.4 percent of Gulf of Mexico federal waters. This leaves more than 66 percent of Gulf federal waters available for fishing. The closure will be effective at 6:00 p.m. EDT. Details can be found at http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/. The last closed area modification was June 7, when 78,264 square miles were closed to fishing, or roughly 32 percent of federal waters of the Gulf.

Fishermen who wish to contact BP about a claim should call 800-440-0858.

NOAA has a number of methods for the public to obtain information or be notified when there is a change to the closed area:

NOAA’s mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth’s environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and

marine resources. Visit us at http://www.noaa.gov or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/usnoaagov.

Outdoor Central News Network

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