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2004

May 8               2004     The commemorative Oregon State Quarter, which was released by the United States Mint in 2005, features an image of Crater Lake on its reverse.   To some, it’s a symbol of Oregon and a potential boon to tourism. To others, it’s something to be collected and prized. And others caution against placing too much value in what is, after all, just a 25-cent piece.

The Oregon commemorative quarter, with an image of Crater Lake on one side, is to be introduced today amid official hoopla in Portland.

June                  2009     Summer programs and scheduled facility maintenance severely cut because of the lack of sufficient funding.

Only three interpretive rangers funded from the annual budget. Six more are hired using royalties from the lake boat operation and restaurant fees.

June 29              2009    Long awaited plans to create a pedestrian walk-way at Rim Village are in jeopardy, again.

Although President Bush has included $8.74 in his bidet to relocate the parking area away from the Rim, the House Interior Appropriations subcommittee has “zapped” the money from its budget. “We fully expected no problem with that,” said a disappointed Chuck Lundy.

August 17         2004    The Park is currently experiencing 10 wildfires 1/4 acre to 125 acres in size, being managed as a “complex”. A Type II incident Management Team has been called in to manage the fire.

Summer            2004    $1.7 million spent at Crater Lake National Park to suppress a 100-acre fire.

New Mazama/Annie Spring store and restaurant built for $3.5 million

Sewer Lagoons and historic HQ Warehouse rebuilt.

Price for Rim Parking lot removal and conversion of old Cafeteria building and a visitor center rises to $8.3 million. Interior displays will run around $1.5 million.

The Park spent $1 buying the buildings from the concessionaire.

$6 million set aside to rebuild the West Entrance Road.

Science and Learning Center costs for old Superintendent’s Residence come in at $2.7 million.  Money from: Congress, entrance fees, grants, and Oregon license plates.

September 22   2004    Large survey conducted – tree-to-tree – looking for evidence of beetle kill among the  Verbenone is being applied in an attempt to ward off beetle attack.

November 3       2004    A fierce windstorm uproots dozens of trees in the Park. $100,000 worth of damage to four buildings. Three large hemlocks heavily damaged the Community Center. Not even a 90-ton crane could lift one of the fallen trees. The comfort station at Goodbye was damaged, along with the newly rebuilt Naturalist House and one residence in Sleepy Hollow. Because of the lack of funding, some repairs were delayed for several years.

November 16    2004    Missing snowboarders found   Herald and News, Klamath Falls, Oregon

By LEE JUILLERAT

Three Klamath Falls snowboarders are safe and uninjured after spending Sunday night and early Monday lost in Crater Lake National Park’s snowy backcountry.

Coty Huard, 14, Donald Lucero, 16, and Justin Silva, 12, were found by searchers about 11 p.m. Sunday night after being reported missing six hours earlier by Lucero’s mother.

Early Monday morning the boys, accompanied by a trio of park rangers, snowshoed out and were reunited with their parents.

“For them to have survived a night would have been a very dangerous thing,” said Chief Ranger David Brennan, noting the trio did not have extra clothing or survival equipment and were unfamiliar with the area. “It’s a good feeling when you can have a success story instead of a tragedy.”

Soon after receiving the missing persons report, a trio of park rangers – Pete Reinhardt, Steve Thomas and Scott Girdner – began the initial search. With the help of Lucero’s mother, they were able to determine where the boys were last seen. Traveling on cross-country skis, the rangers quickly located and followed snowboard tracks.

Brennan said the rangers eventually made voice contact with the boys. After helping the missing boarders to warm up, the searchers and boys snowshoed another two miles to a park road, where they arrived about 2 a.m. Although they were cold and tired, Brennan said the boys were happy to be reunited with their parents.

Along with the trio of rangers on skis, the park also mobilized about 30 others, including search and support personnel from the National Park Service, Crater Lake Ski Patrol, Klamath County Search and Rescue and Chiloquin Volunteer Ambulance Service.

The boys had a cell phone, but there was no cell coverage in the area.

November 22      2004   $8.7 million federal appropriation unlocks plans to relocate parking lot at Rim Village. By Lee Jullerat  After decades of persistent lobbying and postponed promises, plans to relocate the large parking lot at the rim are ready to move ahead. The money for the parking lot and the rebuild of the cafeteria are in the omnibus-spending bill that President Bush will sign this week.  Lobbying by Rep. Greg Walden put money for the project back in the bill.  Plans are being made to provide alternative services while the building is being rebuilt.

Ground has been cleared for the 10,000 square foot Mazama Village restaurant near the south entrance station.

Fiscal Year         2004    Park Annual Budget – $4,010,000

Visitation:                      466,665 visitors  (Online says: 417,066)

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