Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities


** Parks crawl back online after shutdown
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Wednesday, November 19, 2025
Zion National Park; Source: Amit Shubinsky/Pexels ([link removed])

National parks across the West are grappling with the impacts of a 43-day government shutdown, leaving returning rangers with the daunting task of assessing and addressing damage, which the National Park Conservation Association says ([link removed]) could take months. The shutdown furloughed about two-thirds ([link removed]) of National Park Service staff nationwide, worsening an existing crisis caused by the permanent loss of around a quarter of the agency's workforce since January.

The shutdown allowed damage ([link removed]) to occur at national parks, which were forced to stay open during the shutdown by the Trump administration, including graffiti painted on formations in Arches National Park and illegal BASE jumping and climbing in Yosemite National Park. Parks also face major funding shortfalls thanks to the shutdown. Zion lost an estimated $1.7 million ([link removed]) in entrance fee revenue during October alone. These fees help fund visitor safety, trail maintenance, and resource protection—and losing them, coupled with congressional budget cuts, jeopardizes park resources and services ([link removed]) .

While states spent hundreds of thousands of dollars ([link removed]) to keep major parks open, the bill Congress passed to reopen the government only guarantees funding through January, posing a challenge ([link removed]) for long-term planning within the park system.


** Quick hits
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As the shutdown ends, a long recovery begins at Zion National Park

Salt Lake Tribune (http://)

Nuclear project brings jobs to southwest Wyoming. But the area has other woes

Marketplace ([link removed])

Washington says it won’t give Colorado wolves for winter release

Colorado Sun ([link removed]) | Denver Post ([link removed]) | Colorado Newsline ([link removed])

Drilling lease slated 2 miles from world’s largest sage grouse lek, center punching planet’s longest mule deer migration

WyoFile ([link removed])

Haze control for parks exposes Trump admin tensions

E&E News ([link removed])

Forest Service completed prescribed burns on 127,000 acres during shutdown, despite reduced workforce

Los Angeles Times ([link removed].)

Here's what Mountain West states paid to fund park visitor centers during the shutdown

Nevada Public Radio ([link removed])

State of Idaho once again approves selling 160 acres of state land near the Tetons

Idaho Capital Sun ([link removed])


** Quote of the day
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” When you lose that fee, and you’re also facing year over year congressional budget cuts, you move out of a situation of sustainability and solvency... You’re having to move as much as you can to visitor front services, and then you start losing things like habitat protection, resource protection.”

—Natalie Britt, CEO of Zion Forever Project, Salt Lake Tribune ([link removed])


** Picture This
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@Interior ([link removed])
The majestic South Fork of the Snake River flows 66 miles across southeastern Idaho through high mountain valleys, rugged canyons, and broad flood plains. In autumn, the landscape turns the cottonwood gallery forest ablaze in yellows!

Photo by Jessica Gottlieb / @BLMNational ([link removed])

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