Crater Lake Institute

08/21/2021

08/14/2021

Photographer, Peter Britt, took the first photograph of Crater Lake on August 13, 1874. Britt’s wagon carried a large wet plate camera, stereoscope camera, 200 pounds of photographic equipment as well as camping gear to Crater Lake’s Rim. This image may not have rocked the world at the time, but it and other photographs prompted scientific research of the lake and later was used to substantiate the establishment of Crater Lake National Park in 1902.

[black and white photo of a clouded sky above Crater Lake]

Photo courtesy of Southern Oregon Historical Society, image #740

07/25/2021

“What is the long-term trend of official snowfall at your park? Have changes impacted your operations or the lake itself?” - Murray Bolesta, from Facebook.

The latest installment of “Ask The Ranger” had us touching base with our Natural Resources team.

Average annual snowfall has, on average, been decreasing over the last several decades. Back in the 1930s, Crater Lake received an average annual snowfall of 614 inches (51.2 feet). The 2010s annual average, 80 years later, had dropped by 34% to 404 inches (33.7 feet).

We asked long-time Lake Researcher, Scott Girdner, if he and his staff have noticed any Lake changes that might be tied to reduced snow levels. “It is hard to identify impacts with so much year-to-year variability in snowfall…(so) we don’t have any specific known impacts from the decreasing snow fall.”

On land, however, decreased snow fall (and corresponding increased rainfall averages) appear to be affecting animal and plant communities:

- New animal species are appearing in the Park (e.g., raccoons);

- Longer grazing time in the Park for deer and elk, who can find food here a little longer;

- Heavier animals who avoid late fall / early spring high elevation snow (e.g., coyotes, wolves) can now come up to higher elevation for longer periods, creating more competition for food with lighter species who would typically dominate those areas (e.g, Sierra Nevada red fox, bobcats, pine martens);

- Increased spring rains, followed by cold weather and snow, can wreak havoc on nesting birds, decreasing nesting success;

- Increased (earlier) growing season that might lead to mis-matched pollinator/bloom relationships;

- Multiple blooming/seeding cycles per year in some non-native plants, benefitting weeds; and

- A lengthened fire season, with more opportunity for high intensity fire behavior (drier fuels).

Good question, Murray! Fortunately, on land and on the lake, researchers have been monitoring ecological variables for decades, and we have the means of identifying many environmental changes by looking at the Park’s long-term monitoring data.



NPS Image assembled by Audrey Golden and Kate Williams

[Image shows a Park Ranger standing in front of an over 12 foot tall snowbank, with an image of a bar graph depicting average annual snowfall in Crater Lake, by decade]

07/20/2021

It is July 1886, and you want to know how deep Crater Lake is – how would you find out?
Step 1 - load onto the Cleetwood (see 7/13 and 7/17 posts), a 2,000 foot long spool of piano wire and a metal pipe
Step 2 - row to a chosen location
Step 3 - drop the metal pipe into the lake with one end of the piano wire attached to it
Step 4 - wait until the spool stops unwinding
Step 5 - measure the length of piano wire that came off the spool
Step 6 - rewind the piano wire onto the spool
Step 7 - row to another location
Step 8 - repeat steps 3-7, 167 times at different locations around the lake.

The measurements, also known as soundings, revealed in 1886 that Crater Lake was (and still is) the deepest lake in the United States.

[Man demonstrating spool with piano wire to another man on the rim of Crater Lake]
Photo Courtesy of NPS

07/11/2021

07/07/2021

Happy Wildlife Wednesday!

Visitors have been spotting wildlife here in the park since it was founded in 1902, and of course seeing wildlife in this place even before that! This photo of a black bear was taken in 1952, a time when bears were more commonly seen in the park because they were more habituated to humans. Today, feeding wildlife is prohibited, our trashcans are bear proof, and campgrounds have bear proof containers for visitors to store their food, so the bears are not habituated to people. Therefore, bears are seen more rarely since they try to avoid heavily populated areas, this is better for the bears and for our visitors, however, they are occasionally still seen by visitors as they run across park roads.

Do you have any wildlife photos or stories about wildlife sightings? Share with us in the comments below!



1952 NPS Photo

07/06/2021

One plant, two looks! The 5-6 inch tall Western Pasqueflower’s, 𝐴𝑛𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑜𝑐𝑐𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙, white flower with yellow stamens and pistils are found throughout the park soon after the snow melts. Over the last week or so the Western Pasqueflower flower transformed into a 10-15 inch tall, white, feathery seed head. Composed of many hairy achenes or single dry-seeds, the Western Pasqueflower’s seed head remains on the plant until the wind disperses them in the fall.

Have you seen Western Pasqueflower seed heads?

[left photo flower, right photo seed head]

Photos by Audrey Golden

07/03/2021

Get Off The Beaten Path!

The Grayback Road is a peaceful out-and-back trail (5 miles each way) with a 1,000 ft elevation change. This forested trail has beautiful views of the Klamath Basin and goes from Vidae Falls to the Lost Creek Campground (currently closed). It was once a part of the original Rim Road surrounding the lake. After the Rim Drive was created, this trail became a scenic auto drive through the woods and several years ago it was closed to motor vehicles. Now, it is used for hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, and is dog friendly. Yes, you can ride a bike or horse on the trail, although multiple large trees have fallen across the trail making it difficult. Get out and enjoy!

Grayback Road, Karen Cervino 2021



[image of forested view from Grayback Road overlooking Klamath Basin with scattered clouds in late afternoon]]
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