Guest opinion
Congressional support critical for Glacier, local economy
Montana is blessed with two crown jewels of the national park system, Glacier and Yellowstone. As Montanans we enjoy those parks in many ways, and they are key ingredients in our quality of life.
The parks also make significant and increasing contributions to Montana's economy. In addition to being natural treasures, they are economic assets fueling our vibrant tourism industry, and they serve as economic anchors for Montana's thriving gateway counties.
A new report this spring by the independent Government Accountability Office (GAO) in Congress confirms what we have all seen in America's national parks: National Park Service budgets are shrinking and this is taking a toll on the health of the parks and the visitor experience.
GAO researchers examined the last five years of National Park Service budgets, and visited national parks across the country to talk to park staff directly about critical needs. Their finding: In national parks nationwide, increased demands and unfunded mandates such as homeland security have strained park budgets and adversely affected the experiences of visitors.
A March 2005 Congressional Research Service report estimated that the backlog of maintenance projects in the national parks is between $4.5 billion and $9.7 billion, with a mid-range figure of $7.11 billion. The condition of Glacier's Going-to-the-Sun Road is a prominent example.
According to the National Parks Conservation Association the annual operating budget of the national parks is short more than $600 million annually, limiting the ability of the Park Service to repair shoddy roads and trails, conduct wildlife research and monitoring, restore crumbling historic buildings, and provide sufficient educational programs for school groups and park visitors. Soaring energy and construction costs add to the pinch.
The annual funding shortfall in Glacier alone approaches $7 million. At Glacier, three campgrounds no longer will have potable water this summer. Many of Glacier's 297 historic buildings are in serious need of repairs. And at a time when the travel industry is encouraging visitation during slower spring and fall months, budget cuts are forcing the parks to slash ranger services during these shoulder seasons.
This chronic funding shortfall and burgeoning backlog was not created overnight. It results from decades of budget struggles spanning multiple administrations. But there is something we can do about it—the decisions whether or not to reinvest in our magnificent national parks rests with Congress.
The Bush Administration has recommended cutting next year's national park budget by $100 million. Montana Senators Burns and Baucus, along with Representative Rehberg, hold key budget positions in Congress and must resist these proposed cuts that further endanger our parks.
We need their leadership to reverse the trend by championing elimination of the maintenance backlogs and operation deficits. And we need their immediate cooperation to secure the much-needed $50 million allocation for fixing the Sun Road, which currently seems to be floating in political limbo.
It would be folly to believe that Montana can take our national parks for granted. Vacationers, entrepreneurs and families have many choices on vacation destinations and where to locate. If the quality of the park experience is degraded, word will get around and we will suffer.
From a simple business perspective, it would be highly unwise to sit by idly and allow the condition of our treasured national parks to continue to deteriorate. As local stewards of these world-class landmarks, we have a responsibility to speak up. Please write or call your congressmen!
This guest column was submitted jointly by the following individuals and organizations:
Linda Anderson, Glacier Country Regional Tourism Commission
Sheila Bowen, Whitefish Chamber of Commerce
Rhonda Fitzgerald, Member if the Governor's Tourism Advisory Council
Dori Hamilton, Flathead Convention and Visitor Bureau
Donna Lawson, Bigfork Chamber of Commerce
Jan Metzmaker, Whitefish Convention and Visitor Bureau
Carol Pike, Columbia Falls Chamber Commerce
Steve Thompson, National Parks Conservation Association
Joe Unterreiner, Kalispell Chamber of Commerce