Security, Fire Duties Strain Park Rangers
WASHINGTON, D.C.—With the National Park Service's rangers and other staff out fighting wildfires and bolstering homeland security, it is a safe bet that visitors did not see as many rangers in the parks this summer and that some projects were pushed to the back burner.
"There's no aspect of field park operations that has not been affected by the combination of a very difficult fire season and homeland security," said Ken Mabery, president of the Association of National Park Rangers. "The impacts to the parks and visitors have been huge."
At one large western park, prior to the terrorist attacks and the summer wildfires, only 6 percent of visitors had the opportunity to participate in a ranger-conducted program, said Mabery. "Now it may be half of that or worse."
After September 11, the Department of Interior reassigned law enforcement rangers to secure several areas around the country, including the major dams and landmarks such as the Liberty Bell, Cape Canavaral, and Pearl Harbor. Then, after this summer's outbreak of significant fires throughout the West, park employees were reassigned from their home parks to battle wildfires.
Even prior to the attacks of September 11 and the historic number and size of wildfires over the summer, the Park Service's field staff reached its lowest level in 20 years, adjusted for significant increases in park visitation and acreage.
"One ranger from Yosemite has been home just six days in the past three months, just enough to do laundry and rest," said Mabery. "There are probably 100 rangers in that same situation."
Dennis Burnett, the Park Service's law enforcement administrator, said 400 rangers left their parks in February to aid with security at sites around the country or at the winter Olympics in Utah. On the 4th of July, another 300 rangers guarded sites such as Mount Rushmore and the Gateway Arch in St. Louis. "The real impact has been to visitors," said Burnett, "and it continues."
Given the Park Service's added responsibilities, some say the agency cannot meet its mission without more money from Congress. Time spent planning or executing projects has been "cut to the bone" this year, Mabery said.
Americans for National Parks (ANP), launched last September by NPCA, is a coalition working with Congress to secure additional operating funds for the national parks. Although the campaign requested an additional $280 million for parks this year, so far Congress and the administration have not met that amount.
"Inadequate funding and staff put the parks and the experiences of millions of visitors annually at risk," said Jennifer Coken, ANP's national campaign director. "We must act now, because there's just too much to lose."
