National parks brace for cuts but not closures

[XemaSab]

Visitors to California's national parks may notice more trash on the trails, longer lines at service booths and fewer rangers this summer as the pinch of the federal government's budget problems grows increasingly difficult to overlook.

Unlike the state's park system, which is scheduled to close 54 parks for lack of money this summer, the vast resources of the U.S. Park Service will prevent Yosemite or any of the state's national parks from shutting their gates for now.

Still, park enthusiasts warn that Washington's budget squeeze - after consecutive years of cuts - will be felt from Redwood's old growth forests to Death Valley's barren dunes.

"The cuts will significantly decrease the quality of the experience visitors have in the national parks," said Ron Sundergill, Pacific Region director of the National Parks Conservation Association, an advocate for the parks in Washington.



Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/28/MN4A1OMDIG.DTL#ixzz1wHaldBqL

[msongs]

1. big choice - murder people using drones or fix up national parks. nt

[bongbong]

2. You'll see plenty of ....

... idiots driving cars festooned with repig bumper stickers whining about the cut in services.

[AtheistCrusader]

6. While throwing trash out the windows.

[dbackjon]

3. Parks needs MORE Funding

Just don't build a plane.

That'll pay for it.

[hatrack]

4. Not surprising - I'll be out at Arches & Canyonlands next weekend - will scope for cancellations

nt

[XemaSab]

5. I am SOOOO jelly

Arches is one of my favorite parks.

(My aunt said that the traffic last week was gnarly, so you might wish to get an early start on your way in there.)