National Parks to close, but BLM and National Forests open — Barker

Rocky Barker has a blog today about the upcoming status of public lands in the government shutdown.

National forests and BLM lands will remain open but national parks close. By Rocky Barker. Idaho Statesman

Update. Looks like some deal was worked out late Friday night. Government remains open


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Comments

  1. Jim Macdonald Avatar

    What happens to bison in captivity and IBMP management operations? Are bison abusers essential employees? If not, what happens to the bison? If so, why?

    1. skyrim Avatar
      skyrim

      Great question Jim. I would guess (read: hope) caring volunteers will step up here regardless of whether their actions are welcomed, appreciated or necessary because of the “non-essential” issue. There will be news coming forth on this matter, me thinks……..

      1. Justin Avatar
        Justin

        There won’t be any volunteering with a shutdown though. Volunteers can still create a liability for the government and they would be working unsupervised.

      2. skyrim Avatar
        skyrim

        I would agree Justin, but the volunteers I’m talking about care a helluva lot more about Bison than they do liability issues. Then one must ask, what “non essential” employee is going to be standing by saying no?
        Some brave soul has to be plotting right now as I write, to slip in and open the gate (as someone down the page has already suggested.

  2. Alan Avatar
    Alan

    Maybe somebody will forget to lock the gate on the way out.

  3. JB Avatar
    JB

    Great question, Jim. I was listening to NPR this morning and they ran an interview with John Koskinen, who oversaw the last govt. shutdown. Koskinen reported that many agency offices had to physically bar employees from entry–they came despite the knowledge that they would not be paid for their work because they knew their jobs are important and needed to be done–regardless of politics. I have already spoken with some friends at NPS who admit they will just work from home using their private phone, computer and email to do the government’s work.

    Reality stands in stark contrast to conservatives near continuous rhetoric about “cushy” government jobs and lazy government employees.

  4. Kayla Avatar
    Kayla

    Now over at Trailspace there is a good article on what will
    happen in case of a Government Shutdown if one wonders.
    it can be seen on the front page at http://www.trailspace.com for
    those that wonder.

    Personally I was about to go down to the Escalante
    Canyons but now am wondering. I would love to go but
    might just stay home because of the shutdown.

    The Trailspace Article is wonderful for those that wonder.

Author

Dr. Ralph Maughan is professor emeritus of political science at Idaho State University. He was a Western Watersheds Project Board Member off and on for many years, and was also its President for several years. For a long time he produced Ralph Maughan’s Wolf Report. He was a founder of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition. He and Jackie Johnson Maughan wrote three editions of “Hiking Idaho.” He also wrote “Beyond the Tetons” and “Backpacking Wyoming’s Teton and Washakie Wilderness.” He created and is the administrator of The Wildlife News.

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