WTA helps defend national parks in Congress
Last week, Washington state senator Patty Murray defended our national parks during a Senate hearing. Sen. Murray consulted with WTA and other outdoor recreation partners to highlight how National Park Service cuts impact businesses, outdoor access and public safety for communities across Washington state.
National public lands, including national parks, are vital to the health, well-being and economy of Washington state and the people who live here. Last week, Washington state senator Patty Murray defended our national parks during a hearing of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Sen. Murray asked Secretary U.S. Department of the Interior Doug Burgum, whose department oversees the National Park Service, about staffing cuts and attempts to sell national public lands.
Hiker experiences, safety and the communities surrounding national parks like North Cascades National Park are impacted by staff and funding cuts. Photo: Sun shines through a light wildfire smoke haze in North Cascades National Park as a hiker makes her way through Cascade Pass at the end of a fall day. Photo by Nathan Pilling
Sen. Murray questioned how the National Park Service could fulfill its mission to conserve landscapes for the “enjoyment of future generations” while making widespread cuts to the staff who are caretakers of those places.
Sen. Murray highlighted impacts to communities in Washington state, where national parks and other public lands are core to our economy, public health and identity. People in our state value these places across partisan lines.
Cuts to our national parks are cuts to communities across the state
According to Outdoor Recreation Roundable, outdoor recreation contributes $22.5 billion to Washington state’s economy and supports over 120,000 jobs in our state, supporting livelihoods in rural communities.
“In Ashford, which is the main town right outside of Mount Rainier National Park, everything is closely tied to the National Park — from our economy to our safety. So these cuts, while perhaps just seen as being cuts to the National Park, in some ways are really cuts to our community,” said Nickolas Neville, president of the Mount Rainier Business Alliance.
National park staff support everything from volunteer trail maintenance and wildfire prevention and response to emergency rescue operations. Photo by Jenn Seva
Cuts put access and safety at risk
Sen. Murray consulted with WTA and other outdoor recreation partners, including The Mountaineers and American Alpine Institute, in preparing her report.
WTA’s policy and planning manager Michael DeCramer carried the voices of hikers into the Senator’s report. He shared concerns that the experience for visitors and the conditions they encounter on trail will be hurt by staffing cuts. He also highlighted public safety concerns with fewer park staff able to educate visitors and act as first responders.
“If there is a search and rescue operation needed, they might not be able to provide the staff for the level of service that we expect. Things might have to close if there's a wildfire in the park. We may not have the staff with the skills needed to respond in the way that we're used to. And I see a lot of potential risk to the public. Not to be dire, but these cuts will be felt both in terms of loss of services but also decreased safety for the public, because park rangers are first responders,” said DeCramer.
We appreciate Sen. Murray for standing up for our public lands and the people in our state who depend on them: members of Tribal nations, small business owners and everyone who participates in outdoor recreation.
- If you want to join other hikers and WTA to protect our public lands, you can join our Trail Action Network.