Hello ProRangers and Park People!

A portion of my week was spent catching up on reports, doing park upkeep tasks, and getting myself ready for seasonal academy that starts in just a few weeks! Not every week can be action packed, but that doesn't mean I didn't get to do some awesome things!

One of the biggest highlights of my week was shadowing natural resources during their water quality testing. With perfect weather on our side, we conducted lake sampling on Little Beaver Lake.  I helped launched their boat onto the lake and we spent the afternoon measuring and recording the quality of the lake. The National Park Service is one of the leading organizations in natural resource management and to ensure the standardization of all lake testing each sample we collected had a standard operating procedure. 

Ranger Kainulainen driving the boat!

Getting the boat out on Little Beaver

This net is one of many devices we used to capture water for testing 

For consistency, every month water sampling is conducted to check the general health of the lake, invasive species, and any other abnormalities. I watched as both rangers meticulously poured water specimens into pre-washed bottles without spilling a drop. To help, I wrote down the list of numbers produced by a special computer that measures multiple pollutants. While we worked, I asked them questions about working in natural resources and they asked me about visitor resource protection. I truly respect the work that they do and their affinity for environmental science, math, and resource management. Additionally, It was awesome to have an open dialog about what we do everyday and to share with them what law enforcement does in the park.

Another highlight of my week was our nighttime boat operation to check boater safety, out of bounds camping, and illegal fires in the backcountry. This is a weekly operation conducted during weekends when the park has increased visitation and camping. During the shift we checked multiple permits, contacted out of bounds campers and issued tickets to several people with illegal campfires.

Ranger Gosselin and I enjoying the cliffs after a solid night of boat patrol

     Here's to hoping the days go slowly!

     Until next time,

     ProRanger Dover

      

Site Visit

Site Visit!

Hello ProRangers and Park People!

          This week my program directors, Ranger Fernandez and Dr. McGarvey travelled to Pictured Rocks for a site visit. It was their first time at PIRO, so we spent a whole day exploring the park. The best way to see the cliffs is by water and what better way than on the Arrowhead. We spent the morning driving up under the waterfalls and along the cliffs. With the sun shining and the calm waters, I think we captured the beauty of PIRO. 

Prepping the boat for our morning tour

Ranger Tuuri and I putting the hazard buoy out in the marina

          After a solid BBQ lunch with Ranger Turri and Chief Hughes, I started them on a parks highlight tour! We explored the Miner’s Castle overlook, to Au Sable Light, to the superior overlook all the way down to Grand Marais. We weren’t able to see everything in the park, but that just means they will have to come back!

I was super excited to show them Au Sable Light and give them the VIP tour

          The next day, Ranger Fernandez and Dr. McGarvey met with the wonderful LE staff including Superintendant Horne, Chief Hughes, and Rangers Paupore and Turri. I truly admire and am very thankful for the rangers here that have gone out of their way to help me succeed. So to be able to introduce them to the ProRanger Staff was a lot of fun. 

Ranger Fernandez, Chief Hughes, Ranger Tuuri, and Ranger Paupore receiving the official 2019 Participating Parks award 

          Before we parted ways, I took them to the beach. You can’t come to the UP and not dip your toes into Lake Superior. I sent them on their way home to Philly with a refreshed love for the waters in the Virgin Islands!

Happy Fourth of July

Happy Fourth of July

Hello ProRangers and Park People!

          Happy Fourth of July! Like most national parks, the weekend of the fourth means a significant increase in park visitation. At PIRO, a large majority of the recreation includes water based activities on Lake Superior including boating, kayaking, paddle boarding and swimming. Due to this, marine patrol on the Arrowhead is a priority. To help Ranger Paupore and I tackle the day, two officers from the U.S. Coast Guard Station Marquette joined us on the water. Not only was having them on our boat a blast, but their expertise in boating and water operations was extremely valuable when making vessel stops.

The NPS Arrowhead flying the U.S. Coast Guard Flag to identify our guests on board

Making a law enforcement contact on the water is very dynamic and requires a great deal of concentration, precision, and multi-tasking. Although Ranger Paupore is extremely experienced with marine operations, it can still be difficult to make contacts on the water. With the U.S. Coast Guard on board we had multiple boat operators and crewmembers to make vessel stops easier. It also ensured time for Ranger Paupore to supervise me while I assisted with vessel stops.

Ranger Debelak looking patriotic at the Miner's Castle overlook 

Throughout the course of the day, we wrote multiple tickets for operating with person’s in unsafe locations and insufficient PFDs. Safety is taken very seriously at PIRO. Failure to have the required safety equipment will result in a ticket and/or the termination of a voyage until the visitor obtains the proper equipment. 

For vessel over 16 feet they must have PFDs (also known as Life Jackets) that are U.S. Coast Guard approved, in good serviceable condition, and of suitable size for each person on the boat. Wearable PFDs shall be "readily accessible”, unless it is a child under the age of 6. Then a PFD must be worn at all times. Type IV throwable devices shall be "immediately available." They must also have a visual distress signal for both day and night, a fire extinguisher, and a sound producing device. Kayaks and paddle boarders are required to have U.S. Coast Guard approved PFDs and a sound producing device.

Another violation we were on the lookout for was boating under the influence. One vessel stop we made was checked for a BUI by the U.S. Coast Guard. Thankfully the driver was not impaired. However, they had multiple safety violations that resulted in the termination of the vessels voyage per the U.S. Coast's protocol.

The day wasn’t over yet, because you can’t have the 4th of July without fireworks! Munising, Michigan has one of the coolest fireworks displays I have ever seen, not to mention we had the best view. The Arrowhead was requested to set up and maintain the picket line (or boundary line) for the boats on Lake Superior. This entailed clearing a zone between the docks and ships for safety, making sure all boats on the lake had their navigation lights on, and monitoring vessel traffic back into the dock after the celebration.

The Munising Fireworks from the Arrowhead

We worked hard throughout the day to keep the visitors and park safe on the 4th of July. It was inspiring to be with such a dedicated and professional team of law enforcement officers. Watching the fireworks over Lake Superior with the rangers and Coast Guard was the cherry-on-top to an already awesome day.