Yosemite National Park Closed Due To Government Shutdown, Tourists Angry, Fire Cleanup Continues

Yosemite National Park is closed today due to the 2013 government shutdown and tourists are angry at the closure.

As previously reported by The Inquisitr, a Google doodle marked the 123rd anniversary of Yosemite National Park on the very same day the federal government shutdown threatened to shut down the park.

Now that government shutdown threat has become a reality, costing upwards of $76 million per day to the communities who rely on national parks across the country, according to the National Park Service. Yosemite National Park attracts nearly four million visitors a year, but yesterday was just another item on the government shutdown chopping block. Already slammed financially by effects from California’s Rim Fire, the Yosemite National Park clean-up effort looks like it might go on hold as well due to government shutdown.

Public affairs officer for adjacent Stanislaus National Forest Jerry Snyder highlights the difficulties of maintaining any degree of normalcy with the government shutdown affecting all areas of Yosemite National Park, making even something as vital as fire recovery that much harder:

It will be difficult for teams to purchase supplies and equipment. Permission can be granted, but there isn’t a budget to purchase necessary materials beyond what they already have on hand.

In addition to the fire efforts being jeopardized, the bad tourist press isn’t helping matters any. As it stands, day trippers are immediately being kicked out and overnight visitors to the park have 48 hours to vacate. Ron and Laura Kane of Houston were already on their way to Yosemite National Park when they learned of the possible government shutdown. The Kane’s say about the now-wasted trip:

A place like this, we should be able to enjoy it. We’re terribly disappointed with all the idiots in Washington. I love the U.S., but the Congress makes me crazy sometimes

Though entrances are currently open to traffic, but surrounding roads giving access to the giant sequoia groves, visitor centers, open-air trams are all closed. Six hundred government employees have been furloughed with only 150 people remain on duty, including law enforcement, facilities maintenance — such as electricity and sewer — and emergency medical service.

With Yosemite National Park closed due to the 2013 government shutdown, how do you think the crisis should be handled?