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Government shutdown impacts parks


The scene that greeted visitors during the 2013 government shutdown over a Republican attempt to repeal Obamacare resulted in park closures. Under the Trump administration, government shutdowns leave parks open and mostly unprotected with little staffing and no visitor services. The 2018 Christmas shutdown over President Trump's demand for border wall funding is his second.

As of midnight, Friday, December 21, 2018, a portion of the federal government has been shut down as no funding bill or continuing measure has been passed to keep more than a dozen federal departments open. How is it impacting national parks? Here's the latest information:

Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park remains open to the public during the shutdown but will not be fully staffed. National Park Service personnel will not be available to provide guidance, assistance, maintenance, or emergency response. Visitors are advised that entry to the park during the shutdown is at the visitor's sole risk. No visitor services will be provided, and park personnel will not issue permits, conduct programs, collect trash, maintain roads or walkways, or update the park website or social media.

Campgrounds remain open, but reservations will not be observed as there will be no NPS personnel to manage them. Vault toilets in the park will remain open, but park visitor centers will be closed (and their restrooms), and all flush toilets, water filling stations, and any dump stations will be closed.

Death Valley National Park

During the shutdown, Furnace Creek, Sunset, Texas Springs, and Mesquite Springs campgrounds will be closed. There will be no NPS provided services within the park. Other closures at Scotty's Castle, Mosaic Canyon Road, and Upper Wildrose Road past the charcoal kilns, remain in effect, though unrelated to the shutdown.

Mojave National Preserve

The Mojave National Preserve has posted no information on closures during the shutdown. The dump station at Hole in the Wall Campground is reported as closed for the winter, and a portion of Ivanpah Road is closed for repair work. Campgrounds may be closed or left open but not staffed. The Kelso Depot Visitor Center and its restrooms are probably closed.

According to Department of the Interior contingency plans, park staffing levels will be based on the assumption no visitor services will be provided. Parks may remain wholly or mostly accessible to visitors, but park management is directed to not use the presence of visitors within the parks to justify higher staffing numbers than approved in previous shutdowns. Emergency responders, including fire, medical, and law enforcement personnel deemed not required for essential activities, will be placed on furlough, though they may be called back to duty if an emergency arises.

In general, roads, lookouts, trails, and open-air memorials will generally remain accessible to the public, though there will be no visitor services provided. Roads will not be plowed our maintained, trash will not be collected, vault toilets will not be restocked or cleaned, campground or tour reservations will not be honored, tours and programs will not be held as scheduled.

Individual park superintendents may restrict commercial operations within parks by concessionaires or tour operators, and may close sensitive sites to the public during the shutdown.

BLM lands, including Sand to Snow and Mojave Trails national monuments

Public lands managed by BLM will usually remain open to the public, but most employees will be furloughed and most services will not be available. No visitor services will be provided. Visitor centers will be closed, trash collection and toilet cleaning will be halted. Road maintenance will be suspended. Campgrounds may remain open, though water systems and restrooms may be closed. Visitors may use campgrounds at their own risk.

Some law enforcement and emergency services personnel may remain on duty, with others on call in the event of an emergency.

Recommendations

During a federal government shutdown, you should approach visiting and use of public lands and campgrounds as having no support in the event of an emergency. If you're visiting, you will want to bring with you all supplies necessary, from extra water, to toilet paper. Bring trash bags with you and pack out what you bring in. Don't add to the problem.

While the government shutdown is in effect, please exercise greater caution than usual, and be vigilant for opportunists who may seek to use the lack of rangers and staff as an opportunity for theft, vandalism, and destruction. Please call law enforcement to report any suspicious activity you encounter. These are our public lands and if the government isn't willing or able to fund their proper operation and management, we need to step up and do what we can to prevent harmful and expensive damage to our park facilities.

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