Recreational budgets for the nation’s forests are shrinking so fast, federal agencies are struggling to provide some basic services. Forests like the Clearwater National Forest in Idaho lack basic services such as garbage removal, road maintenance and trail clearing on popular public lands. In 2011, only 4,495 of the 31,836 miles of national forest roads in Montana – 14 percent – were properly groomed. The Bureau of Land Management says it doesn’t have money to test and turn on the water system this summer at popular recreational sites. 

The veteran trail maintenance coordinator at Clearwater, Rick Martin, claims that the forests are dependent on volunteers to clear the trails. “…you can’t believe what [his crew of college kids] can do in a day,” Martin said, “but I’m retiring soon, and I’m not sure they’ll be able to fill my position.” The call from federal managers for volunteers is almost desperate. There is simply not enough money to hire full-time workers.

Unsurprisingly, the forest officials all across the nation have proposed a raise of admission costs and recreational fees in their forests. This could result in an even greater decline in revenue over time because higher costs of admission combined with decreased property maintenance will discourage recreational visitors. The government must increase their funding of these forests, otherwise they will not be able to sustain themselves on volunteers alone.