Land management agency impact stories...

[Bonasababy]

More real impact. Americorp funding cuts. 32,000 jobs lost. Multiple natural resources projects benefitting fish and wildlife habitat utilizing cheap staff from that program won't happen now. Natural Disaster response, many other functions they provide gone too.

 

[Bonasababy]

Not a natural resource issue but another sad impact.

Talked to an acquaintance who runs a small local manufacturing facility. Built it up with the help of federal funds that were just cut from the Dep. of Commerce. Now employs dozens in this rural area with good paying jobs with good benefits. He was hoping mad and said small businesses and start ups all over are mobilizing to hit their congressman hard on this (most of them republicans here).

It was not a huge amount of money by any means but he said it had helped dozens of places (news article said hundreds) like his get started and thrive, providing manufacturing and tech jobs in rural parts of our state.

 

[SAJ-99]

Probably more local to the area of E Wash, E Oregon, and W ID, but also tip-of-the-iceberg.

Army Corp of Engineers to shutter 10 recreation sites along the lower Snake River. All due to lack of staffing.

Lower Granite Dam and Lock
- The Visitor Center will be closed Sundays through Thursdays, open Fridays and Saturdays and available for scheduled school and VIP tours.
- Blyton Landing, a campground and day-use area with a boat ramp about 20 miles west of Clarkston.
- The Confluence Park parking area and restrooms off the Levee Bypass near D Street in Lewiston.
Little Goose Dam and Lock
- Lambi Creek Recreation Area off of Casey Creek Road downstream of Lower Granite Dam.
- Willow Landing upstream of Central Ferry.
- Illia Dunes Recreation Area & Habitat Management Units.
Lower Monumental Dam
- Riparia Recreation Area downstream of Little Goose Dam.
Ice Harbor Dam and Lock
- Ice Harbor Visitor Center (School and VIP tours available)
- Fishhook Park Class A Campground near Burbank, Wash.
- Levey Park near Pasco.

Corps of Engineers closes recreation sites along lower Snake River

Staffing shortages caused by the federal hiring freeze and DOGE-linked deferred resignation program is forcing the Army Corp of Engineers to shutter 10 recreation sites along the lower Snake River.

www.spokesman.com

 

[Treeshark]

That sucks. It’s a shame that these recreational areas are not managed by the respective states so they could remain open.

 

[Forkyfinder]

That sucks. It’s a shame that these recreational areas are not managed by the respective states so they could remain open.

Wait til you here what their plans would be for fees!

 

[SAJ-99]

That sucks. It’s a shame that these recreational areas are not managed by the respective states so they could remain open.

Those dams produce a lot of electricity. The COE has both the money and the knowledge to manage and maintain them. The rec sites were a bonus. WA is already looking at a large budget deficit that it is trying to fill. Camping fees wouldn't fill the hole. The simple answer is electricity prices have to go up.

 

[Bonasababy]

Sounds like they might have a chance to meet some prior agreements now but heard today a federal tree nursery in Michigan--whose staff has been gutted by cutbacks--were not able to meet obligations to provide trees for planting on non-federal lands.

 

[Deleted member 16864]

Ok, what’s his username?

Ethics Probe: Wyoming BLM Chief Accepted Gifts, Gave Girlfriend Travel Perks

Wyoming BLM Director Andrew Archuleta is on leave after an ethics probe by the Office of Inspector General, which alleges he accepted a gift dinner and…

cowboystatedaily.com

 

[Nameless Range]

More real impact. Americorp funding cuts. 32,000 jobs lost. Multiple natural resources projects benefitting fish and wildlife habitat utilizing cheap staff from that program won't happen now. Natural Disaster response, many other functions they provide gone too.

It’s all BS, but this one really sucks to me.

I think for a lot of reasons, something like Roosevelt’s Civilian Conservation Corps could be a positive resurrection for this country - for younger Americans and public lands. Americorps wasn’t necessarily that, but I know a handful of good natural resources professionals who got a start in their careers in the woods and on the waters and even in agriculture through that program.

 

[Laszlo Cravensworth]

That sucks. It’s a shame that these recreational areas are not managed by the respective states so they could remain open.

Wait til you here what their plans would be for fees!

 

[Bonasababy]

It’s all BS, but this one really sucks to me.

I think for a lot of reasons, something like Roosevelt’s Civilian Conservation Corps could be a positive resurrection for this country - for younger Americans and public lands. Americorps wasn’t necessarily that, but I know a handful of good natural resources professionals who got a start in their careers in the woods and on the waters and even in agriculture through that program.

Actually, our version of Conservation Corps WAS funded by these dollars that were cut. Many folks learning hoping to break into a permanent natural resources job doing good habitat work at a cheap price....gone.

 

[marksjeep]

FY26 budget request.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-conte...al-Year-2026-Discretionary-Budget-Request.pdf

 

[rogerthat]

FY26 budget request.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-conte...al-Year-2026-Discretionary-Budget-Request.pdf

Page 28 bottom line item - transfers small national park assets to the states to run; no mention of how the states would fund this as well as I bet these sites have significant deferred maintenance that would need to be addressed at some point

 

[marksjeep]

Same page, BOR. The Budget reduces funding for programs that have nothing to do with building and maintaining water infrastructure, such as habitat restoration.

ugh

 

[rogerthat]

Same page, BOR. The Budget reduces funding for programs that have nothing to do with building and maintaining water infrastructure, such as habitat restoration.

ugh

Yeah conservation, recreation and rec access, and therefore public land hunting better get ready to take a beat down anyway you slice it.

 

[Treeshark]

In many instances, states be able to do a better job managing wildlife habitat than the feds.

 

[Forkyfinder]

In many instances, states be able to do a better job managing wildlife habitat than the feds.

 

[Forkyfinder]

Apostle Islands National Lakeshore (U.S. National Park Service)

Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, located at the northern tip of Wisconsin's Bayfield Peninsula, features 21 stunning islands, a scenic 12-mile shoreline along Lake Superior, and is located within the ancestral homeland of the Ojibwe people. Established in 1970, the park showcases picturesque...

www.nps.gov

Ice Age National Scenic Trail (U.S. National Park Service)

The Ice Age National Scenic Trail spans 1,200 miles, traverses some of Wisconsin's finest geologic and glacial features, and passes through the ancestral lands of 15 Tribes. The Trail is built, managed and maintained by dedicated volunteers, Ice Age Trail Alliance, Wisconsin Department of...

www.nps.gov

Something tells me yellowstone, rocky mountain, grand teton, bryce canyon, glacier, etc wont make the cut to go back to the states - but places ive never heard of nor will ever visit (mostly visited by locals) like this will lose significant funding.

Ironic.

 

[Treeshark]

The Public Trust Doctrine in the context of wildlife conservation essentially means that governments hold wildlife resources in trust for the benefit of all citizens of each individual state.

From a conservation standpoint, it makes sense to extend this principle to the land the wildlife needs to thrive.

The Ice Age Trail goes through my parents front yard (same house I grew up in). Just down the road, it weaves in and out of several areas of state and county-owned public land.

I used to hunt that spot quite a bit because I could ride my bike to it. We had a lot of state and country land in the area, thankfully still do.

 

[BuzzH]

From a conservation standpoint, it makes sense to extend this principle to the land the wildlife needs to thrive.

Unless you think about it.

Western States don't have the staffing or funding to manage it. Fire fighting costs alone make it impossible tack on all the other associated costs of management beyond wildlife habitat, you're done.