THE GOVERNMENT NEWS DESKPERMANENT NPS STORY ARCHIVE
Organized by publication date and destination. Each story retains its permanent State & Nation address and official NPS source.
On Oct. 17 and 18, Congaree National Park will celebrate its 50th anniversary, hosting a series of free events including a commemorative ceremony, interpretive talks, guided hikes, special activities and talks by guest speakers
Official NPS sourceCongaree National Park is planning to conduct prescribed burns in multiple units April 14-16, 2025, weather and conditions permitting. The park is planning to burn approximately 900 acres to reduce ground fuels and assist with habitat restoration.
Official NPS source
Congaree National Park today announced the dates for the 2025 Synchronized Firefly Viewing Event and the lottery for vehicle passes for this year's event.
Official NPS source
Beginning on Monday, January 6, contractors will begin work on the removal and replacement of boardwalk sections B, D, and F. During this project, sections of the boardwalk trail will be closed and detours to access park trails will be in place.
Official NPS source
The park is announcing the awarding of a contract to replace sections B, D, and F of the parks iconic Boardwalk Loop Trail. Depending upon conditions, work on this project is expected to begin prior to the 2024 holiday season and completed by the summer of 2026.
Official NPS sourceCongaree National Park closing September 26 at 4:00 p.m. and remaining closed September 27.
Official NPS source
Congaree National Park will be conducting daytime feral hog management work in the fall months this year. This work is scheduled to take advantage of increased activity of feral hogs during daylight hours at this time of year.
Official NPS sourceThe recently released 2023 Visitor Spending Effects report shows that visitors to Congaree National Park last year spent approximately $14.9 million in communities near the park and supported 173 jobs.
Official NPS source
Congaree National Park is accepting entries for the annual SwampFest Student Art Competition. This competition is open to students grades K-8 from the Midlands.
Official NPS sourceStaff at Congaree National Park are currently preparing for the expected impacts of Tropical Storm Debby. This storm is expected to begin impacting our area as early as late Monday evening and while moving through our area will bring a high likelihood of excessive rainfall and flash flooding, with estimated precipitation totals in the range of 10-15 inches.
Official NPS sourceResource management staff from the NPS and USDA will be conducting feral hog management work in the park during the months of July and August. This work will take place in different areas of the park and some trails and areas will be closed to access while this work is ongoing.
Official NPS sourceResource management staff from the NPS and USDA will be conducting feral hog management work in the park during the months of April and May. This work will take place in different areas of the park and some trails and areas will be closed to access while this work is ongoing.
Official NPS source
Prescribed burns to take place between April 5-7.
Official NPS sourcePark rangers from Congaree National Park, along with staff from other NPS and partner agencies, are planning to conduct prescribed burns in in one or more of the park’s upland burn units between March 20 and April 30, 2024, weather and conditions permitting.
Official NPS sourcePrescribed burn on March 14, 2024
Official NPS source
Congaree National Park today announced the dates for the 2024 Synchronized Firefly Viewing Event. This year’s event will take place May 16-25, offering the public opportunities to witness this magical natural phenomenon.
Official NPS sourceThe National Park Service announced last week that 400 parks reported a total of 325.5 million visits in 2023. Congaree National Park was one of 20 National Park Service units to break annual visitation records in 2023, welcoming 250,114 visitors, nearly 35,000 more visits than that of the park’s previous record, set in 2021.
Official NPS sourceStaff from Congaree National Park, USDA APHIS, and Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park, will be conducting feral hog management work beginning on the evening of Wednesday, November 15, with a heavy focus on areas near the Harry Hampton Visitor Center and Boardwalk Trail. This work is being conducted due to recent reports and observations of increased feral hog activity in areas that see heavy visitation on a regular basis.
Official NPS sourceCongaree National Park will continue accepting entries until October 26
Official NPS source
Congaree National Park is accepting entries for the annual SwampFest Student Art Competition
Official NPS sourceStaff at Congaree National Park are currently preparing for the expected impacts of Hurricane Idalia. The storm is forecast to travel through coastal Georgia before reaching South Carolina in the early morning hours of August 31.
Official NPS source
A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 204,522 visitors to Congaree National Park in 2022 spent approximately $11,831,000 in communities near the park. That spending supported 138 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of over $14,220,000.
Official NPS sourceStaff from Congaree National Park, alongside staff from USDA/APHIS, Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park, and Cumberland Gap National Historical Park will be conducting feral hog management work in the park August 27-28, a continuation of the work done at the end of last month.
Official NPS sourceCongaree National Park will be closing the evenings of July 30 - August 1 for feral hog management.
Official NPS sourceCongaree National Park will be conducting feral hog management work over the next two weeks during the resource management closure in place for the protection of the synchronous firefly habitat during their active period of synchronization.
Official NPS source
Congaree National Park is seeking public comment on potential changes to the park’s policy permitting dogs on the Boardwalk Loop Trail. Current regulations permit dog owners and their pets to use the park’s 2.6 mile boardwalk as long as dogs are kept on a leash no more than 6 feet in length and all pet waste is cleaned up. Proposed changes to current park policy are being considered for the protection of park visitors and resources in light of increased visitation to the park and instances of dogs off leash and pet waste being left behind on the Boardwalk Loop Trail.
Official NPS source
Congaree National Park today announced the dates for the 2023 Synchronous Fireflies Viewing Event, which will take place on May 13-16 and May 19-24,2023, and will offer the public opportunities to observe the synchronous fireflies.
Official NPS source
Park rangers from Congaree National Park and other NPS units, along with staff from the SC Forestry Commission, are planning to conduct a prescribed burn between Wednesday, March 8 and Friday, March 10, weather and conditions permitting, in the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker (RCW) and Harry Hampton West Units. Originally planned for last fall, this operation is intended to help with fuel reduction and habitat restoration, in accordance with the park’s fire management plan.
Official NPS sourceCongaree National Park will be implementing an increase in nightly reservation fees for campsites in the park's designated frontcountry campgrounds. Increased reservation rates will be effective starting January 1, 2023
Official NPS source
Park rangers from Congaree National Park, along with staff from Kings Mountain National Military Park, Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and the SC Forestry Commission, will be conducting a prescribed burn on Wednesday, November 9, weather and conditions permitting. The fire will be conducted in the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker (RCW) and Harry Hampton West Units and encompass approximately 300 acres. The fire is intended to help with fuel reduction and habitat restoration, in accordance with the park’s fire management plan.
Official NPS sourceCongaree National Park staff are planning wildlife management operations in backcountry areas on several weekdays from October 11 through October 27, 2022. Several backcountry areas will be closed to anglers, paddlers, hikers and campers during these windows, The entire park will remain open on weekends throughout October.
Official NPS sourceDue to the forecasted path of Tropical Storm Ian, Congaree National Park will be closing at 4:00 pm today, Thursday, September 29, and will be closed until further notice.
Official NPS source
Congaree National Park staff was recognized this week for their work in enhancing wilderness stewardship at a ceremony to Celebrate America’s National Parks and the Dedication of Those Who Serve, held in Washington, D.C. by the National Park Service and its philanthropic partner the National Park Foundation.
Official NPS source
A variety of National Park Service (NPS) employees, volunteers and partners were honored at a ceremony to Celebrate America’s National Parks and the Dedication of Those Who Serve.
Official NPS sourceCongaree National Park will temporarily close front country areas August 16-18, 6:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.
Official NPS source
Gregory Hauburger has been selected as the new superintendent of Congaree National Park. Currently the superintendent of William Jefferson Clinton Birthplace Home N.H.S., he will begin his assignment in mid-October.
Official NPS sourceStaff from Congaree National Park, along with staff from USDA APHIS and Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park, will be conducting scheduled feral hog management work during the upcoming closure of the frontcountry areas for the synchronized fireflies. Work will take place on non-event nights.
Official NPS source
Congaree National Park staff will be conducting a prescribed burn on Friday, April 22. This burn is being done in order to meet fuel reduction and habitat restoration goals.
Official NPS sourcePark rangers from Congaree National Park, along with staff from Kings Mountain National Military Park, Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and the SC Forestry Commission, will be conducting a prescribed burn March 28-April 8, weather and conditions permitting. The fire will be conducted in the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker (RCW) and Harry Hampton East Units and encompass approximately 500 acres. The fire is intended to help with fuel reduction and habitat restoration, in accordance with the park’s fire management plan.
Official NPS source
Congaree National Park today announced opportunities for the public to view the park’s fireflies from May 20-22 and May 27-29, 2022
Official NPS sourcePark rangers from Congaree National Park, along with staff from Kings Mountain National Military Park, Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park and the SC Forestry Commission, will be conducting a prescribed burn during the last two weeks of February and first week of March, weather and conditions permitting.
Official NPS sourcePark rangers from Congaree National Park, along with staff from Kings Mountain National Military Park, Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park and the SC Forestry Commission, will be conducting a prescribed burn during the first two weeks of November, weather and conditions permitting.
Official NPS sourceThe National Park Foundation, Friends of Congaree Swamp, and Open Space Institute announced the donation of the Running Creek property to Congaree National Park in South Carolina.
Official NPS sourceCongaree National Park is seeking entries for the Annual SwampFest Student Art Competition.
Official NPS sourceThe Congaree Biosphere Region has established a new partnership agreement with local organizations. Together, these organizations will work to jointly establish a local advisory council to bring together other people and organizations to achieve the CBR mission
Official NPS source
Congaree National Park will be offering the public opportunities to view the park’s fireflies on May 20-22 and May 27-29, 2021.
Official NPS sourcePark rangers from Congaree National Park, along with staff from Kings Mountain National Military Park, Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park and the SC Forestry Commission, will be conducting a prescribed burn the week of April 5, weather and conditions permitting.
Official NPS sourcePark rangers from Congaree National Park, along with staff from Kings Mountain National Military Park, Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park and the SC Forestry Commission, will be conducting a prescribed burn on Thursday, March 11, weather and conditions permitting.
Official NPS sourceOn January 7-8, the National Park Service and Friends of Congaree Swamp will be hosting a virtual symposium inspired by the themes of the Smithsonian Institution’s Water/Ways Exhibit. The exhibit, which is currently on display at Congaree National Park, dives into how essential water is to our life on our planet environmentally, culturally, and historically. The Water/Ways Virtual Symposium will connect these larger themes to the local community through engaging presentations, panel discussions, and question-and-answer sessions.
Official NPS source
In an effort to slow the spread of invasive plant species within Congaree National Park, a new boot brush station has been installed near the Harry Hampton Visitor Center.
Official NPS source
Congaree National Park and Friends of Congaree Swamp will be co-hosting the Smithsonian traveling exhibit Water/Ways from Friday, November 13, 2020 through Wednesday, January 13, 2021.
Official NPS sourceFollowing guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local public health authorities, Congaree National Park is increasing access and services.
Official NPS sourcePark rangers from Congaree National Park, along with staff from Kings Mountain National Military Park and the SC Forestry Commission, will be conducting a prescribed burn on Wednesday, November 4, 2020, weather and conditions permitting.
Official NPS sourceNews Release relating to proposed expanded amenity fees for picnic shelter rentals and canoe tours.
Official NPS sourceNews release containing information on the park increasing access to park campgrounds and the ANP bookstore.
Official NPS source
Congaree National Park is awarded a Women In Parks grant from the National Park Foundation. The grant will support an all-women field crew to assist in upland forest restoration work.
Official NPS sourceTourism to Congaree National Park creates Over $9.6 Million in Economic Benefits. Report shows visitor spending supports 102 jobs in local economy.
Official NPS sourceFollowing guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local public health authorities, Congaree National Park is increasing recreational access.
Official NPS sourceCongaree National Park is beginning to increase access to backcountry areas of the park for recreational activities within parts of the park.
Official NPS sourceCongaree National Park has canceled the 2020 Fireflies Festival, which had been scheduled for May 11-24.
Official NPS source
Join park rangers from the National Park Service, US Forest Service and South Carolina State Park Service on Friday, April 17 and Saturday, April 18 for the 2020 South Carolina Virtual Campout.
Official NPS sourcePress release on modifications to park operations - full park closure - starting 4/2/2020, in response to continuing COVID-19 pandemic
Official NPS sourceContains the latest changes to park operations being implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Official NPS sourceStay up-to-date with changes to park operations due to latest health guidance.
Official NPS source