Guests | Members | Community | Environment
The government has been partially closed for one month, and gateway towns like Groveland, CA are beginning to consider the long term effects to their economy, health and safety. Founding member Bryant Burnette, in collaboration with Aspen Outdoor Management Services, reached out to several small businesses in his community outside of Yosemite National Park to find out what their biggest concerns were. In addition to financial hardship, he found growing concern for government workers, Yosemite's diverse plants and wildlife, wildfire mitigation and visitor safety.
The National Park and the surrounding towns are still reeling from the Ferguson Fire which burned 96,901acres, cost two lives and closed the National Park for nearly three weeks. The subsequent government shutdown makes this year eerily similar to 2013 when the residents went head to head with the Rim Fire and a complete government shutdown. Thankful small business owners cite that the park is at least partially open, but recognize that the long term effects of this partial shut down are the real threat. The National Forest Service, for one example, manages the land surrounding Yosemite, Groveland and most other gateway communities That agency controls everything from recreation to fire mitigation for 193 million acres across the United States and 20% of the clean water in our country.
"This shutdown is unprecedented, we just don't know what happens to wildlands when they are neglected for a month or more", says Bryant Burnette.
Towns like Groveland, CA are among the most resilient in the nation, but we need your help this time. Please contact your Congressperson and help us get our National Parks and Forests open and funded!