First State National Historical Park

Covid-19 Update

Unfortunately due to Covid-19 Hawaii Volcano National Park had to cancel plans. However, I've been interning at First State National Historical Park. This is the first and the only National Park in the State of Delaware. It is a fairly new park within the Park Service. Its enabling legislation was created on March 25, 2013, under the Obama Administration.

First Reaction

I personally like this park. Even though it does not have Law Enforcement, I'm able to work with the Facility Operations Specialist, Alan McLoughlin, and see what goes on in this park. I actually like that I get to see what other U.S Rangers do that are not Law Enforcement. It gives me an understanding that a Park Ranger certainly has many hats and is capable of doing extraordinary things. Working with Alan, I've seen first hand how landscaping and resource protection are essential to a park. However, unfortunately this park has a couple of issues that are caused by the general public. From what I've seen a huge issue is littering, illegal parking, and soil erosion. I am tasked with developing a method that can reduce these harmful actions towards First State National Historical Park.
                                                                   

Where is it?

Here below is the map of First State, I am interning at the Beaver Valley (Brandywine Valley) section at the top of Delaware and below Pennsylvania. 

First State National Historical Park runs from the top of the State to the bottom of the state. Brandywine Valley consists of 1,100 acres of land with 18-mile trails.

This Week 

I patrolled Smith Bridge parking lot with Ranger Fernandez. This location is considered a hot spot for constant littering and refuses from the general public that visit. In this park, it is prohibited to bring any alcoholic beverages. However, that does not stop the general public from bringing a huge case of beer and then leave the trash. I spent two hours on Monday morning picking up trash such as beer bottle caps, pampers, pads/tampons, liquor bottles, paper plates, T-shirts, underwear, swim trunks, and inflatable tubes. 

Tuesday 21/2020

This case of beer was found on one of the trails within a social trail which was created by the general public. This case of beer maybe one to you, but it's the 10th I've seen in a day. There are numerous bottle caps within trails and Smiths Bridge Parking lot. These beer bottle caps so engraved in the dirt that bare hands can not get them out. 

Monday  20/2020 & Tuesday 21/2020

This is one of many social trails that I came across in a day. This little trail leads straight into River. It is beneficial for the general public but disastrous for the environment as it causes soil erosion and devastates the vegetation. In the photo, you can see how the vegetation is destroyed and only left with dirt in the middle and grass on either side.

Tuesday 21/2020

On another patrol Ranger Fernandez and I took, we saw a shotgun casing that was used deep within one of the trails. This shows evidence that individuals shoot rounds on Government property and that these isolated trails need to be patrolled more often. We did not find any other rounds or shells near this location. However, I would be surprised if some ended in the river.

Tuesday 21/2020

On another trail, I saw a tree that was craved up with a bunch of initials of couples and drawings that simply indicate that this tree was vandalized. The vandalism on this tree can lead to the death of trees as the bark is meant to protect and secure the tree. Now that the bark has been exposed, the tree can actually get sick and cease to exist. 

Monday 20/2020

Here is another social trail that was located near Smith Bridge parking lot. The soil erosion exposes the rocks that can be seen as steps for the general public to enter the river. Individuals would set up their picnic stations near these social trails to have access to the water instead of walking down to the proper river entrance. 

Tuesday 21/2020

Another social trail near Smith Bridge parking lot that has a similar characteristic of the other social trails have. Easy access into the river and building the picnic station around this entrance. 

Monday 20/2020 & Tuesday 21/2020

Here is a photo of the illegal parking that occurs at Brandywine Valley. There is a sign right there that says "No Stopping, Standing or Parking". Yet there are five cars that have illegally parked here. Other than being illegal, the cars are parked on what used to be grass and vegetation. The cars have caused the grass to recede and cease to exist with the constantly parked cars.  With the cars that park here, I would like to add a camera that captures the license plates of the vehicles and report them to law enforcement. First, start with a warning and write some of the plates down and determine if they are repeat visitors. After the warning, the vehicles should be towed from the location.