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Yellowstone National Park News Release

INCREASED THERMAL ACTIVITY AT NORRIS GEYSER BASIN
REQUIRES TEMPORARY CLOSURE
July 22, 2003 - PR 03-62

Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Suzanne Lewis announced today that due to high ground temperatures and increased thermal activity that could affect visitor and employee safety, a portion of the Back Basin at Norris Geyser Basin on the west side of the park has been temporarily closed. Yellowstone's more popular features within the Norris Geyser Basin, including Steamboat and Echinus Geysers and all of Porcelain Basin, remain open to the public.

The temporary closure, effective July 23, is clearly marked and covers most of the western portion of the Back Basin trail starting at the Norris Museum. There are approximately 12,500 feet of trails in the Norris Geyser Basin - with approximately 5,800 feet affected by the temporary closure.

Norris is the hottest and most seismically active geyser basin in Yellowstone. Recent activity in the Norris Geyser Basin has included formation of new mud pots, an eruption of Porkchop Geyser (dormant since 1989), the draining of several geysers, creating steam vents and significantly increased measured ground temperatures (up to 200 degrees Fahrenheit). Additional observations include vegetation dying due to thermal activity and the changing of several geysers' eruption intervals. Vixen Geyser has become more frequent and Echinus Geyser has become more regular.

Park staff continue to monitor temperatures and thermal features in the area. When conditions have returned to acceptable ground temperatures and stable surface conditions have improved, the trail will be reopened. Norris is another example of Yellowstone's thermal features that are constantly evolving and changing.

Listed below are a set of questions and answers on Norris Geyser Basin.

Questions and Answers Norris Geyser Basin Temporary Closure

July 22, 2003
1. Where is Norris Geyser Basin?
Norris Geyser Basin is located in the northern section of Yellowstone National Park, 22 miles south of Mammoth Hot Springs.
2. Is Yellowstone safe for an individual or their family to visit Norris Geyser Basin and Yellowstone in general?
Yes. The changes at Norris are part of the dynamics of Yellowstone; thermal areas are ever changing, and the recent temporary closure is a precaution to assure visitor and staff safety in an area where increased thermal activity has been noted.
Keep in mind that all thermal features have water that is near or above boiling. Visitors should remain on established boardwalks and trails whenever in thermal areas.
3. Is it safe for employees to live and work at Norris Geyser Basin and Yellowstone in general?
Yes, as noted above. Safety is the top priority for both park visitors and park staff. The area is closed to most park staff and all concessioner staff. For those employees that may have to enter the area, a job hazard analysis is being completed.
4. What is the boiling temperature at Norris Geyser Basin?
The altitude of Norris Geyser Basin is 7,500 feet. Water boils at about 200 degrees Fahrenheit at Norris Geyser Basin. Typically, water boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit at sea level.
5. What led to the temporary closure at Norris Geyser Basin?
Park staff have measured ground temperatures of 200 degrees Fahrenheit in the closure area?an unacceptable level for visitor and employee safety. Also, many thermal features in the Back Basin have heated up as indicated by expelling steam - rather than water and steam. Concerns for visitor and staff safety regarding the high ground temperatures and presence of steam necessitated a temporary closure at this time. A portion of the trail system has been closed to allow the assessment of any potential steam eruptions.
6. How long has this activity been occurring?
The most recent change in thermal activity began July 11, 2003, as noted by NPS staff and electronic instrumentation. A new mud pot and other thermal features were formed in the Back Basin area, and Porkchop Geyser (dormant since 1989) erupted on July 16. Historically, Norris is one of the more dynamic areas in the park and is ever changing.
7. Is the park concerned that there will be a volcanic eruption at Norris?
Park staff and other scientists have no evidence that volcanic activity is occurring at Norris Geyser Basin. In any geothermal area, there always exist the possibility of steam eruptions as indicated by the many geysers in Yellowstone.
8. How have drought conditions influenced what is happening at Norris?
We do not know what impacts drought conditions have had on Norris Geyser Basin.
9. When will the temporary closure at Norris be lifted?
Park staff will continue to monitor ground temperatures and geyser activity in the Norris area. The temporary closure will be lifted when conditions have returned to acceptable ground temperatures and stable surface conditions have improved.
10. Are wildlife affected by this increased thermal activity?
We do not expect any affect on Yellowstone's wildlife. Wildlife in Yellowstone has adapted to living in thermal areas.
11. Does the recent closure of the Gibbon, Madison, and Firehole Rivers have anything to do with the increased thermal activity at Norris?
No. Although some river temperatures in Yellowstone are affected by thermal activity, the major control on Yellowstone's river temperatures is air temperature and water levels. The park has been experiencing high air temperatures over the past several weeks.
12. How many people visit the Norris Geyser Basin on a daily basis?
Norris is one of the more popular geyser basins in the park. For instance, last week rangers contacted 3,786 visitors at the information desk at the Norris Geyser Basin Museum.
13. Are other areas in the park being affected by thermal activity?
Currently, we have no evidence for increased thermal activity in other areas of the park. We have a large network of seismic instrumentation throughout the park that is monitored on a daily basis.
14. You noted that Porkchop Geyser showed recent thermal activity? What happened at Porkchop Geyser?
Porkchop Geyser was the site of a steam eruption. Porkchop Geyser was in continuous steam eruption from 1985 to 1989 when it was destroyed by the 1989 explosion.

Norris Location Map of Closure Area

-NPS-

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