Sad state of our National Parks-II

[Yosemite_Sam1]

Again, this is not political. It is to our interest as RVers and for Camping World business to have an outstanding national parks that usually provide the cheaper camping facilities and best places to visit and see.

Just recently been to one of the most popular national park and the results of funding cuts (7%), fund diversion ($22 million for the frivolous July 4 parade) and distorted priorities or even hostility towards the environment (area around Sequoia National Park are set to be opened for oil explorations).

The symptoms of these are all over. Campsites opening late, maintenance not being done, exodus of park rangers and unfilled positions. One very obvious situations on the two camps I've stayed are slots marked unavailable because it's inaccessible when a simple mini dozer could have graded the dirt road, closing of all toilets because of unapproved requisitions and requests for repairs of pipes for the water system...

I've written the top federal department responsible -- not even a form letter acknowledgement of my concerns.

Maybe if more of us...

[Yosemite_Sam1]

monkey44 wrote:
...particularly visitors from other nations....

Indeed we can do our share in enforcements. Not more than once, I have to tell people the meaning of those yellow ribbons. -- and several times to group of Chinese tourists that they are not supposed to cross them because the meadows are on rehab and the sensitive eco-system needs to recover.

Had they not listened, I am ready to call a ranger as I once did for group of teenagers thrashing a stream bank with their uncollected beer bottles (best sellers on the private park concessionaire stores).

[Yosemite_Sam1]

Carlos & Ranae wrote:
OP, you are absolutely correct

Thanks, please see my post above and feel free to add your voice via your representatives.

[Yosemite_Sam1]

monkey44 wrote:
I'd like to see this remain open to discuss the conditions of the parks. If we begin taking political pot-shots at individuals, we're aiming at 'closed' topic.

I've been camping and visiting national parks for too many years to count - well, don't want to count - and many are degrading due to crowds and due to visitors treating wildlife like a petting zoo.

Education of our visitors is paramount to our parks remaining a viable resource for watershed and wildlife habitats. Please educate yourself, and others, particularly visitors from other nations. It's on US to save the parks and the wilderness areas they protect. WE own the parks, not the Feds, not the States, not the Vendors.

Thank you for brining back sanity and sobriety on the topic.

Indeed when I OP's this topic, I am armed with my personal observations, spoken with rangers in the field and the budget numbers where the current government proposed a 7% decrease but, on the latest official numbers, the cut turned out to be actually bigger.

I am always optimistic but the above facts caused me to be otherwise.

In fiscal management principles, you need 2% additional funding matched with inflation rate just to stay in place and in a glide path.

Rangers are providing education to the new generation how to appreciate, preserve and love the environment. And the enforcements of park regulations both for safety and prevent further destructions of facilities. Fortunately, most people and campers like us are not usually the problem. And yet, those critical staffing are also part of the cut, never filled up and causing the exodus of personnel.

Volunteering and outside assistance from environment organization simply cannot fill up the gap. Privatizing some popular and profit-making operations might have exacerbated the situation with loft sided development and focus on the former and the neglect on service and no-fee facilities.

I have written my senator, my representative and made added donations to my environment-outdoors org. The senator and my representative assured me of their efforts and assistance in this regard. But as I said, I did not even get a form letter both the Interiror-NPS whose has responsibilities over our national parks.

It appears I cannot also get help from members of this forum despite the possible benefits they will get out of a well maintained campgrounds.

So I just have to keep pressing in somewhere.

[Carlos___Ranae]

OP, you are absolutely correct

[monkey44]

I'd like to see this remain open to discuss the conditions of the parks. If we begin taking political pot-shots at individuals, we're aiming at 'closed' topic.

I've been camping and visiting national parks for too many years to count - well, don't want to count - and many are degrading due to crowds and due to visitors treating wildlife like a petting zoo.

Education of our visitors is paramount to our parks remaining a viable resource for watershed and wildlife habitats. Please educate yourself, and others, particularly visitors from other nations. It's on US to save the parks and the wilderness areas they protect. WE own the parks, not the Feds, not the States, not the Vendors.

[Yosemite_Sam1]

JRscooby wrote:

2oldman wrote:

JRscooby wrote:
And like many others, let's put "Acting" in the title, so no need to publicly discuss the non-qualification for the job.

Acting loyal.

But maybe not to the country

To their pocketbooks, their cronies and to the vested interests and campaign contributors.

[2oldman]

JRscooby wrote:

2oldman wrote:

JRscooby wrote:
And like many others, let's put "Acting" in the title, so no need to publicly discuss the non-qualification for the job.

Acting loyal.

But maybe not to the country

🙂

[JRscooby]

2oldman wrote:

JRscooby wrote:
And like many others, let's put "Acting" in the title, so no need to publicly discuss the non-qualification for the job.

Acting loyal.

But maybe not to the country

[2oldman]

JRscooby wrote:
And like many others, let's put "Acting" in the title, so no need to publicly discuss the non-qualification for the job.

Acting loyal.

[JRscooby]

DFord wrote:
At the present rate, there won't be any public lands to worry about soon.

Opponent of Nation's Public Lands Is Picked to Oversee Them

Associated Press, Wire Service Content wrote:
WASHINGTON (AP) — An ardent critic of the federal government who has argued for selling off almost all public lands has been named the Trump administration's top steward over nearly a quarter-billion federally controlled acres, raising new questions about the administration's intentions for vast Western ranges and other lands roamed by hunters, hikers and wildlife.

And like many others, let's put "Acting" in the title, so no need to publicly discuss the non-qualification for the job.

[lane_hog]

We've stayed in National Park campgrounds all over the country, and have no complaints whatsoever, aside from them being way too crowded...

[philh]

Charlie D. wrote:
They may have had a surplus but saddled with massive debt.
https://www.usdebtclock.org/state-debt-clocks/state-of-california-debt-clock.html

The national debt doubles every eight years, no matter who is in office.

[ReneeG]

wanderingaimlessly wrote:

ReneeG wrote:

wanderingaimlessly wrote:
I can tell you, It didn't go to Curtis Bay, The home of the Coast Guard Yard.
Coast Guard Yard

Even here we tried,,,,,

Not sure what this has to do with the topic. Seems like a well run outfit.

The comment before this was saying the millions that go to Baltimore are a waste, I was trying to say that not all was.

Thanks!

[Charlie_D_]

Yosemite Sam1 wrote:
California included increased funding for state parks as a result of its economic recovery and 4 years of surplus. Washington state and Oregon have excellent well-maintained state parks with topnotch camping facilities.

They may have had a surplus but saddled with massive debt.
https://www.usdebtclock.org/state-debt-clocks/state-of-california-debt-clock.html

[Charlie_D_]

MDKMDK wrote:
You are the luckiest people on the face of the earth, to live in your country with the vast amount of personal freedoms you enjoy. Just look to your north to see what happens to a country when they can't see the forest for the trees. We started out at roughly the same time as you all, but chose to keep the European/British style of government, instead of adopting your federal constitutional republic with 3 separate and equal segments of government methodology. Over the years, while we stumbled and agonized over what was wrong with our system, you developed into the greatest bastion of personal freedom on the planet, bar none. You flourished while we struggled, and now you're a giant compared to most countries on the planet, us included. While you may have had some speed bumps along the way, and arguably aren't a perfect society overall, you overcame them all, and haven't missed a major beat since your birth in 1776. I wish we had joined you back then and shared a common legacy going forward, but it was not to be. That's why we've lived in your shadow for over 240 years, and depend on you far more than you might ever depend on us. In population alone, you dwarf us, with or without immigration, and that speaks volumes about how different our paths have been, since we all began moving forward from our common ancestry. Economically, there's no comparison either, so don't get me started. If it wasn't for us living next door under your protective military umbrella, I think we'd already be speaking Mandarin or Russian by now. Thanks for that, as I had to learn to speak French all those years ago, and I don't want to learn a 3rd or 4th language any time soon. :B

I thank you for your post and recognizing that, although we are not perfect, we are the best that there is. We have spent trillions of dollars helping other countries, saving the world and Europe from extinction twice, and sacrificed the blood of countless Americans to do so.