Crater Lake snow plowing might fall victim to federal budget cuts
CRATER LAKE, Ore. (AP) — The federal budget cuts known as the sequester are threatening an annual rite of spring in Oregon — plowing the snow that has buried the roads at Crater Lake National Park all winter.
Acting Superintendent Vicki Snitzer said Tuesday the park has to cut 5 percent from its $5 million budget, and one place being considered is the snowplowing budget.
She says monitoring natural resources, such as wildlife populations, may also be reduced, along with summer ranger talks and tours.
Located at the crest of the Cascade Range, Crater Lake is Oregon's only national park.
Plowing Rim Drive and the North Entrance Road typically starts in May.
Snitzer says one way to look at it is that summer would just start a little later at Crater Lake this year.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.
"She says monitoring natural resources, such as wildlife populations, may also be reduced, along with summer ranger talks and tours"
All of this could go away and it wouldn't cause any harm. Wildlife populations and natural resources managed just fine before "monitoring" ever became an expense.
This Obama myth is a brazen lie on at least two counts: Â first, the budget cut isn't a cut, it's a reduction in the rate of growth and second, it is to take place in the 2014 fiscal year, which starts this fall. Â Activities are already funded for the current fiscal year, so there should be no impact on services until this fall - if then. Â This is just a mean spirited Obama stomping his foot, holding his breath, and having himself a tantrum. Â Some people say don't blame Obama - blame the people who elected him. Â I say blame both.
@Reis Kash Typical Progressives, do as we say or we will punish you. The slave masters.
Now I am just a dumb farm boy from SE Oregon.... But it seems to me that No access=No revenue. Â I would hope that there is someone clever enough to make the 5% cuts elsewhere.
@Phil If the guidance from the Administration is to make any cuts as visible and as wide-ranging  as possible (like closing the White House to tours, for example) this is clearly the way to go, however. Sort of like the threatened cuts if the city of Eugene doesn't get its $5 million Fee For Life.