Government shutdown impact on public lands

Wilderness Society blog, Jan. 3, 2019, National parks in crisis: Tales of the Trump Shutdown

“President Trump’s threat to hold the government hostage for a destructive border wall is irresponsible and dangerous,” said Jonathan Asher, Government Relations Manager, Wilderness Society. “The idea of keeping park gates open while shutting down services and sending rangers home is window dressing at best – an attempt to avoid bad optics that will only lead to bad outcomes.”

LA Times, Dec. 26, 2018, Welcome to Joshua Tree. Sorry about the shutdown. Now, about the toilets…

Joe De Luca, a sales associate at Nomad Ventures in downtown Joshua Tree:.

“It’s a free-for-all in there. Absolutely ridiculous,” De Luca said. Besides the toilets and trash, he cited breakdowns in the campground reservation system, illegal camping practices and visitors stringing Christmas lights from delicate Joshua trees that they are supposed to leave untouched…

De Luca thinks “the park needs to shut their gates. We’re seeing so much damage. New Year’s is coming up and that’s going to be crazy.”

Earth Island Journal, Jan. 3, 2019, We shouldn’t be keeping parks open during the government shutdown

Jonathan B. Jarvis, former director, National Park Service:

“Wildlife, normally fully protected, will be subject to poaching or threats, such as the recent break-in at the endangered Devil’s Hole pupfish enclosure in Nevada.

“Visitors to parks are reporting dogs off leash, drone activity, off-highway vehicles and the public walking on or near fragile resources, such as the hot pools and thermal features of Yellowstone.”

USA Today, Jan. 2, 2019  Trevor Hughes, National parks left to rot during government shutdown

"Visitors are still coming and that need is still there," said Phil Francis, chairman of The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, and a retired 41-year park service employee.

Francis said the lingering park shutdown is an insult to the service's approximately 17,000 employees: "This is not a political issue to them. This is bread-and-butter to them: Coming to work, doing their job and being paid for it in a timely way."

Z-107.7 FM, Jan. 2, 2019, Theft of artifacts and vandalism force Joshua Tree National Park sites to close

Joshua Tree National Park Superintendent David Smith said people are illegally driving to the historic sites and taking things, as was the case with the ore car from Carey’s Castle. Smith said, “Some members of the public do not realize that the historical and archaeological significance of places like this are protected to preserve our heritage for all Americans to see.” Both areas will remain off limits until an archaeological survey is completed and until a way to secure them has been determined.

Contacts

Michael Reinemer, Deputy Director, Communications Strategy, 202-429-3949, michael_reinemer@tws.org.

Jonathan Asher, Senior Representative, Government Relations, 202-429-2693, jonathan_asher@tws.org.

The Wilderness Society is the leading conservation organization working to protect wilderness and inspire Americans to care for our wild places. Founded in 1935, and now with more than one million members and supporters, The Wilderness Society has led the effort to permanently protect 109 million acres of wilderness and to ensure sound management of our shared national lands. Visit www.wilderness.org.