Most people don’t spend a lot of time contemplating the meaning of the word “infrastructure.” But then, most people don’t live and work in Washington, D.C.
"Today s historic budget plan from the Biden administration comes as a welcome and much needed change for our national parks, their staff and all who love and care for these treasured places." - Theresa Pierno, NPCA s President and CEO
A hiker enters a trail on the Blue Ridge Parkway
Leaders of a U.S. Senate panel on Wednesday extolled national parks for providing a respite during the COVID-19 pandemic, but cautioned that enthusiasm for outdoors recreation will create its own problems in this summer’s tourism wave.
Sen. Angus King, a Maine independent and the chairman of a subcommittee that oversees the U.S. National Park Service, said this summer would “be the biggest season in the history of the Park Service,” and ranking Republican Steve Daines of Montana agreed with that prediction.
To help with overcrowding, the National Park Service plans to launch a public education campaign Thursday to encourage visitors to make plans and reservations in advance, acting director Shawn Benge told senators.
Forest Service probes low flow problems at Starrigavan well
Posted by Robert Woolsey, KCAW | May 26, 2021
District Ranger Perry Edwards says that changes in the flow rate at the artesian well over the years have generated theories that the City of Sitka was either 1) intentionally limiting the water flow, or 2) treating it with fluoride and chlorine. Neither is true. Edwards says the well is untreated, and is tested monthly for coliforms, and annually for heavy metals. If there were ever a safety concern, he says, “We would shut down the well immediately.” (USFS photo)
The Sitka Ranger District hopes to have the Starrigavan artesian well flowing freely again in the near future.
Rather than starving public lands of resources, we hope the Biden administration will join us in upholding the coexisting relationship Congress created between oil and natural gas and maintenance of national parks, wetlands, and other public lands by lifting the ban on leasing.