Saturday Evening Programs at Rocky Mountain National Park-May 2008

Date: May 20, 2008
Contact: Kyle Patterson, 970-586-1363

Saturday, May 24, 7:00 p.m. - First National Parks
Join park ranger Don Cope take a look back in time to learn about some of our first national parks. Yellowstone National Park was established by an Act signed by President Ulysses S. Grant on March l, l872, as the nation's first national park. Rocky Mountain National Park became America’s tenth National Park set aside by President Woodrow Wilson on January 26, 1915.

Since these early parks, many more units have been added to the National Park Service which was created to administer the growing system by an Act signed by President Woodrow Wilson on August 25, l9l6. These American treasures comprise 391 areas covering more than 84 million acres in every state (except Delaware), the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. These areas include national parks, monuments, battlefields, military parks, historical parks, historic sites, lakeshores, seashores, recreation areas, scenic rivers and trails, and the White House.

The National Park System is committed to preserving these areas for future generations. George B. Hartzog, NPS Director, 1964-1972 said:

"The national park idea has been nurtured by each succeeding generation of Americans. Today, across our land, the National Park System represents America at its best. Each park contributes to a deeper understanding of the history of the United States and our way of life; of the natural processes which have given form to our land, and to the enrichment of the environment in which we live."

Learn how and why we continue to preserve and protect Rocky Mountain National Park and other National Park units and how you play an integral part of helping to preserve these national treasures for the future.

Saturday, May 31, 7:00 p.m. -Native Trout of Rocky Mountain National Park: Past, Present & Future
RockyMountain National Parkand Alpine Anglers from Trout Unlimited present this special evening program. Renowned trout expert Dr. Robert J. Behnke takes a historical look and explains the fate of the cutthroat trout native to Rocky Mountain National Park. From the Colorado River Cutthroat on the west side of the park to the greenback cutthroat trout on the east side, Dr. Behnke reviews the early restoration efforts from 1969-1975 to the success of the program until 1994. After 1994, genetic analyses raised doubts concerning hybridizations. Dr. Behnke critiques the uncertainties of genetic data as it pertains to the native trout species.

Trout Unlimited, the national cold-water conservation group with membership of more than 152,000, has featured Robert Behnke in its quarterly magazine, "Trout," for more than twenty years. Professor of ichthyology at Colorado State University, Behnke is a pre-eminent authority on trout biology, as well as a conservationist and fisherman. Known as "The Trout Doctor," Behnke writes about topics such as native species introductions, genetic markers, endangered species, improving habitats, angling tips, and improved conservation in the wake of the efforts of Trout Unlimited.

All evening programs are on Saturdays at 7:00 p.m. at the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center in Rocky Mountain National Park. They are free and open to the public. For more information about Rocky Mountain National Park, please call the park’s information office at [phone].