FS land transfer

[Foxtrot1]

Using a self inflicted problem to justify transfer. I suspect we'll see a lot more of this in the next 2 years.

The Forest Service is poised to hand off one of the West’s most visited landscapes - High Country News

Pitkin County, Colorado, will take over management of the Maroon Bells scenic area, following Forest Service budget cuts and staffing cuts.

www.hcn.org

 

[COEngineer]

1. How is Trump's DOGE-thrashing of USFS employees and Repub's plank of land transfer considered "self-inflicted?"
2. The article brings up the concern of "privitization," but it's another government entity taking over management of a very specific tourist hot spot. There is no change in ownership and certainly not going to private ownership.

 

[R.K.]

1. How is Trump's DOGE-thrashing of USFS employees and Repub's plank of land transfer considered "self-inflicted?"
2. The article brings up the concern of "privitization," but it's another government entity taking over management of a very specific tourist hot spot. There is no change in ownership and certainly not going to private ownership.

The federal government has massive restrictions on selling off public lands. States, counties, and smaller entities do not. So by transferring management or ownership, certain protections are eroded to the detriment of the public.

 

[Ben Lamb]

1. How is Trump's DOGE-thrashing of USFS employees and Repub's plank of land transfer considered "self-inflicted?"
2. The article brings up the concern of "privitization," but it's another government entity taking over management of a very specific tourist hot spot. There is no change in ownership and certainly not going to private ownership.

1.) It goes deeper than the current administration. Looking at funding charts for DOI & USDA over the last 3 decades and you see a significant drop in both dollars and personnel. That's the self-inflicted wound. Those appropriations go up and down over time, but the overall trend is to deny funding and personnel to the agency in a long-term approach to achieving the heritage foundation's goal of divesting of public lands. We're all frogs being boiled in their pot 3 degrees at a time.

2.) Agree. There are some good ways to co-manage these resources and the article has been corrected to intimate that this is only for 1,300 acres. I'm a bit skeptical though, as most counties don't have the associated revenue streams dedicated to actually doing the management work necessary. Can Pitkin County realistically assume the upkeep, maintenance, security, etc. within their existing budget? I do think that's a legitimate question.

 

[COEngineer]

1.) It goes deeper than the current administration. Looking at funding charts for DOI & USDA over the last 3 decades and you see a significant drop in both dollars and personnel. That's the self-inflicted wound. Those appropriations go up and down over time, but the overall trend is to deny funding and personnel to the agency in a long-term approach to achieving the heritage foundation's goal of divesting of public lands. We're all frogs being boiled in their pot 3 degrees at a time.

2.) Agree. There are some good ways to co-manage these resources and the article has been corrected to intimate that this is only for 1,300 acres. I'm a bit skeptical though, as most counties don't have the associated revenue streams dedicated to actually doing the management work necessary. Can Pitkin County realistically assume the upkeep, maintenance, security, etc. within their existing budget? I do think that's a legitimate question.

1. Agree, but "self-inflicted" by the OP sounded more like the USFS decided to spend less and less money and fire half their staff. To me, it's more like Trump/Republican-inflicted.
2. The article alluded to increased fees. Pitkin Co will collect (parking/entrance?) fees to cover costs. The article said these would be lower fees than if USFS outsourced to a contractor.

 

[Ben Lamb]

1. Agree, but "self-inflicted" by the OP sounded more like the USFS decided to spend less and less money and fire half their staff. To me, it's more like Trump/Republican-inflicted.
2. The article alluded to increased fees. Pitkin Co will collect (parking/entrance?) fees to cover costs. The article said these would be lower fees than if USFS outsourced to a contractor.

I mean, if it walks like a duck & quacks like a duck...

I'd hope there's an actual plan and budget that shows how the fees collected would be used, and what the budget allows. Details are mission critical for success.