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Sequestration Will Have Deep Impact On National Parks
A few weeks ago we shared leaked documents that gave us a glimpse of how the looming budget sequestration could impact America's national parks. Those documents indicated that the National Park Service would implement a hiring freeze, push back the hiring of seasonal help and possibly cut hours and services in order to deal with the potential lack of funds. At the time, we speculated that those choices could have an impact on the overall experience for park visitors this year but as more details emerge it seems that reduced staff is just the tip of the iceberg.According to a new report from the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees (CNPSR), the same source that shared the original leaked documents, the direct impact of sequestration on some of the country's top national parks is becoming much clearer – not to mention grimmer. Some of the specific cuts include a delayed opening of some of the roads into Yellowstone this spring, which would affect more than 78,000 visitors and reduce revenues by $150,000. Similarly, the Grand Canyon would see delayed openings of its East and West Rim Drives, turning away an additional 250,000 visitors as well.
Delayed openings are just the start of the issues that travelers could be facing this year, however, as other parks will be closing down certain areas altogether. For instance, Grand Teton National Park will shutter two visitor centers and a preserve, impacting a combined 300,000 visitors, while Cape Cod National Seashore will close a visitor center as well, turning away 260,000 travelers. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park will have to operate without five campgrounds that typically house 54,000 visitors on an annual basis and Mt. Rainier will close its Ohanapecosh Visitor Center, which serves 85,000 people each year.
The CNPSR report has even more information on the impact of sequestration, which automatically goes into effect on March 1 provided the President and Congress aren't able to come to a budget compromise first. The document is a sobering read for fans of the national parks to say the least. I recommend that anyone planning a visit to one of the parks this year checks in ahead of time to find out exactly what services are being cut due to a lack of funds.
[Photo Credit: National Park Service]
Filed under: Climbing, Hiking, North America, United States, Camping, News
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
mike Feb 21st 2013 1:37PM
We are shot as a country, we give billions to butthole countrys that hate us and want to kill us. What do we do for our people? We choke off funding for programs like the national parks, cripes, it's not like rangers and the other people make a lot of money. Actually it's shameful what we pay park staff.
Wayne Feb 21st 2013 3:28PM
Why is it that if the government wants more money in taxes we are expected to suck it up and get by with less, but they scream and cry if they have to cut just a couple cents on the million ?
Most of these stories are pure hoke'em made up to try and scare people into putting pressure on congress to raise taxes.
carol Feb 22nd 2013 8:31AM
Agreed. The government needs to be run like a business. How about finding ways to Increase productivity instead of going to the public trough for more taxpayer dollars.
flysail Feb 21st 2013 6:40PM
obama spends that much playing in Air Force One.
Brad Feb 22nd 2013 8:05AM
Ummmmmmmmmmmmmm............can ;ou say "Mitt Romney" ????????????
55% now are walking around with their hands out...........
You wouldn't believe it at 47%...........now, only two months into his next four years, everything is coming full circle to bite you and me in the A-s
Stew Feb 21st 2013 2:31PM
Heh, I love the National/State parks. Very much into the outdoors. BUT, until we have government officials who can work together....this will only get worse. I am independent voter. I am sick and tired of the blame game democrats and republicans engage in. This is beyond anything ethical. Both parties are horrible. I wish there was a strong third party, made up of people who have had enough of the democrats and republican garbage!
gary Feb 21st 2013 3:40PM
No third party will emerge unless we are willing to join it before it becomes one of the Big Two Big Government Parties.
I am a libertarian and I often vote Libertarian (hope you know the critical difference).
In both 08 and 12, I voted for Ron Paul and I'm so glad I did. Some see this as futile, a "wasted" vote, but I see it as only voting for someone I really agree with, not picking the slightly lesser of the evils.
Gary
mitchell Feb 21st 2013 2:45PM
Having an impact on Nat'l Parks,is not th end of the world.There are other places just as good.Some people have to make a big deal out of nothing.
LINDA LA CHANCE Feb 21st 2013 3:29PM
Hey then the repub's can let all their wood cutting corporate buddies rape our forests again, that is all they care about what their owners want.
Tim Querry Feb 21st 2013 6:10PM
Linda: Look toward the New York City mayor if you are looking for people who want to cut down more trees to make more paper take out containers and drink containers. I believe he is a liberal democrat and not a republican. Dah
Hugh Jorgon Feb 21st 2013 3:20PM
Buncha baloney. Even with sequestration, we will be spending more this year than we did last. The leftists in charge are simply taking away the most visible things they can to play politics and try to prove a point. They dont have to take from the Pentagon or other crucial areas. We actually need to cut much more from all the worthless liberal programs before defense should be touched. Its all a game.
carlos Feb 22nd 2013 5:50AM
well I guess the liberals are to blame for the Bush years....who got us into this mess originally....
not the liberals... sorry Huge... read up on your history who got us into this mess...... Read my Lips........ Bush.....
Larry Feb 21st 2013 4:17PM
Don't people realize that it's up to BO which programs get hit? Don't blame the outcome on sequestration, but rather put the blame where it belongs. Sequestration was BO's idea, so he deserves any & all blame!
gregg Feb 21st 2013 5:34PM
Actually the sequestration was something the congress came up with and congress has the power to stop it. All they have to be is be willing to be flexable and willing to compromise. But we all know that won't happen. They want disaster for the USA. It's plain as day congress does not hold our country's best interest in their hearts.
MyKisa Feb 21st 2013 4:31PM
poppy bush saw to it with executive order 12803 that the parks can and will be leased or sold....along with ALL infrastructure
Rawker Feb 21st 2013 6:06PM
Whew Unbelievable both parties behaved just likelittle kiddos no older than 3 years old or so by being stubborn and refused to deal reasonably on these horrible economic problems. Yeah we all are so tired of being fearful worried about cutting off medicare, social security, national parks
Tim Querry Feb 21st 2013 6:10PM
Gregg:
Do a little more research before you make an incorrect comment about Congress and the sequestration. The sequestration was oblama's idea and oblama convinced Congress to buy into that idea. Oblama never expected his idea would come back to haunt him during his administration. Oblama thought he could kick the can down the road over and over again until he was out of office gone and forgotten.
So when you state sequestration was a Congressional idea, you are totally wrong - it was an oblama idea. Read the Washington Post link below and rethink.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/obamas-fanciful-claim-that-congress-proposed-the-sequester/2012/10/25/8651dc6a-1eed-11e2-ba31-3083ca97c314_blog.html
doug Feb 21st 2013 7:33PM
yes it was B O 's idea but it can be taken care of with 85 billion in cuts so not to happen! and that's far better than 1.2 trillion any day !
daskon Feb 21st 2013 7:34PM
Not only is what you said true, but in a campaign speech, Obama is recorded saying, I will veto any bill congress sends me to avoid the sequestration
gary Feb 22nd 2013 7:43AM
If the president thinks the sequester is a bad idea, he and Jack Lew shouldn't have proposed it. Now, he won't budge on his demands. The man has no idea of negotiation. it's like talking to a ten year old who wants something. I'm sick of the bunch of them. And budget cuts??? They have $60B in new taxes from the Boehner concession late last year versus a $44B cut this year? I see no cut.