Welcome to America's National Parks Podcast. I'm Abby Epperson coming to you from

Ura, Colorado and each month we set aside one episode to share with you the

latest news and happenings in our nation's treasures.

The White House has announced its nomination of Charles F. Chuck Sams the 3rd

as Director of the National Park Service.

Sams has worked in state and tribal governments

and the nonprofit natural resource and conservation

management fields for more than 25 years.

He currently serves as a council member to the Northwest Power and Conservation Council, appointed by

Oregon Governor Kate Brown. He's had roles as the President, Chief Executive

Officer of the Indian Country Conservancy, National Director of the Tribal Native Lands Program for the

Trust for Public Land, President, Chief Executive Officer for the Earth Conservation

Corps and more. Chuck holds a Bachelor's of science degree in business administration

from Concordia University, Portland and a master of legal studies in

indigenous peoples law from the University of Oklahoma. He is a veteran of the U.S. Navy. If confirmed by the Senate,

Sams will be the first Native American to head the National Park Service.

In less in Volcanic National Park, the Dixie Fire has now consumed over 63,000 of the parks 106,000 plus acres.

The park closed August 5th after the fire entered the park's southeast corner near the

Juniper Lake.

According to park officials, no opening date has been set as the detailed task of assessing damage to trails and other resources is currently

on hold as personnel is solely focused on fighting the fire still raging in the park.

Park officials even went as far as to say some locations could be closed until summer,

...