Colorado National Parks Face Uncertain Future as Staffing Cuts Loom
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO - As a scientist based in Colorado, Madison Sankovitz has witnessed firsthand the impacts of climate change on our state's beloved national parks and public lands. But now, these irreplaceable landscapes face a new threat - drastic staffing cuts that could devastate Colorado's gateway communities and the millions who depend on these outdoor treasures.
In February, the National Park Service abruptly terminated over 1,000 employees nationwide and saw over 700 resignations, including essential staff at national recreation areas like Glen Canyon just downstream from Colorado's headwaters. This move was made with no clear plan to replace those positions, raising alarm bells for Colorado families and businesses who rely on healthy, accessible parks.
"Without them, basic services at parks, including restrooms, collapse. The economic fallout is equally concerning. Gateway communities that border national parks and monuments — including towns throughout Colorado like Estes Park, Fruita and Cortez — depend on steady visitation and smooth park operations."
According to Sankovitz, Colorado national parks supported 11,000 jobs and contributed $864 million to the state economy in 2023 alone. Undermining the workforce that drives this system isn't just bad management - it's bad economics for Colorado.
The threats don't stop there. Two bills - House Resolution 521 and Senate Bill 220 - seek to gut the Antiquities Act of 1906, the law that gives presidents the authority to designate national monuments. This could jeopardize future conservation efforts across Colorado, including key parts of Chimney Rock and Browns Canyon National Monuments.
Meanwhile, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum has ordered a sweeping review of national monuments with the express goal of opening them up to oil, gas and mineral extraction - a move that flies in the face of what Colorado families and businesses want. According to the Conservation in the West poll, 88% of Western voters support keeping national monument designations in place.
As a Coloradan, Sankovitz is urging our congressional leaders to act. "Speak out against the mass termination of National Park Service employees and pay cuts. Demand the restoration of these critical public workers before the peak visitor season. And stand firmly against legislative or administrative efforts to weaken the Antiquities Act or reduce the protections on our national monuments."
The future of Colorado's beloved national parks and monuments hangs in the balance. Our state's outdoor way of life, local economies, and natural heritage are all at risk. It's time for our leaders to defend these irreplaceable landscapes before it's too late.
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