Latest news with #EXPLOREAct
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Fifteen years later: Remembering deadly Albert Pike flood that left 20 dead
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Ark.- It's been 15 years since a deadly flood at what was once a popular campsite took the lives of 20 people. The campsite remained closed until a bill sponsored by an Arkansas congressman was signed into law this year. For many families back at Albert Pike Recreation Area along the Little Missouri River, it brings back memories. However, June 11th also carries a somber memory. 'It's almost like visiting a haunted house,' said Cathy Smith, a visitor at Albert Pike. Albert Pike Recreation to remain day-use only 10 years after fatal flash flood On June 11, 2010, heavy rain during a storm fell over the campsite at night, causing a flash flood where 20 campers who were sleeping died. 'We actually knew a couple and their grandchild that perished in the flood, so it was absolute horror,' Smith said. The O'Rand family says they used to come to the site often but have rarely been back since the flood. 'Some of the best parts of my childhood was being in this area and knowing that something like this happened really quickly with very little warning they had. It was devastating,' Aaron O'Rand said. The camping area has remained closed after the flood, only allowing some areas for day use until Arkansas Congressman Bruce Westerman worked on the EXPLORE Act, a bill signed into law this year by former President Joe Biden in early January. 'Part of the EXPLORE Act requires reopening and rebuilding the campground at Albert Pike; it requires the campsite to be above the 100-year floodplain,' Westerman said The Montgomery County Judge Bart Williams stated that when the new campground is built, the area will go back to being an overnight campsite and will be beneficial. 'Montgomery, Polk, Howard and Pike counties will benefit through stimulation of local economies in our small communities through tourism. The local governments will see an increase in the tax base,' Williams said. 'Montgomery County residents grew up with this area open and want to be able to spend time there with their families and pass it along to future generations.' Study to look at future use of Albert Pike after fatal flood Westerman added that he 'knows they're already working on designs on how to build the new campsite and how to get the existing families back up.' Both families say they're glad that the campsite will be reopening as they bring their family members to the areas that are available for day use. 'We were expecting it to be totally different and look different and like the vibe different but it's really about the same,' Megan O'Rand said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
How Cutting Public Lands Workforce Will Impact Mountain Bike Recreation
The new presidential administration has led the Forest Service and other agencies to reduce their workforce by about 10%, primarily targeting employees with less than a year of service. Reports show that this could affect approximately 200,000 federal employees and counting. These layoffs impede agencies' capacity to protect public lands and preserve beloved outdoor spaces. They will also reduce the staff responsible for public lands' day-to-day operations, including hundreds of miles of mountain bike trails, hiking trails, and national park operations. In the past decade, staffing at land management agencies like the National Park Service (NPS) and U.S. Forest Service (USFS) has declined despite rising visitation. Since 2010, NPS staffing has been down 20%, while visitation rose 16%. Last autumn, the Forest Service faced ongoing budget deficits and implemented a hiring freeze for seasonal workers, hindering its ability to maintain trails, campgrounds, and recreation areas nationwide. With fewer employees within the USFS, over 90,000 mountain bike trials will be left without adequate staffing for maintenance and upkeep as we quickly approach the summer and visitor rates increase. This means that critical facilities that improve quality of life will not be maintained for thousands of visitors to trail systems. This impact might seem small on paper, but the lack of staffing nationwide will quickly become noticeable during peak seasons and winter when most maintenance is performed on these trail systems. Trails will not receive the attention required to keep them running smoothly. Volunteers and local IMBA chapters will be responsible for facilitating the upkeep of the trails we enjoy. Get involved with a local trail crew or support your local . Despite Congress enacting the EXPLORE Act in December to improve outdoor recreation on public lands, it underscored the importance of outdoor access for communities and public health. However, implementing the Act is just one small part of the mission; progress will falter without adequate staffing at land management budget cuts at the National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service widely affect less seasoned employees who are essential for outdoor recreation. They maintain trails, oversee campgrounds, assist visitors, issue permits, support search and rescue, respond to emergencies, monitor wildlife, and restore landscapes by removing invasive species and aiding reforestation. Eliminating these positions will significantly harm the quality and accessibility of outdoor recreation and increase the risk for everyone visiting parks and recreational areas. Terminating early-career employees does not resolve inefficiencies; instead, it undermines the future workforce and prevents constructive growth and progress within these agencies. While it might appease a delusional system in the short term, the long-term ramifications will be noticeable in the coming years. Such reductions disproportionately impact on-site staff responsible for keeping public lands, trails, and visitor centers operational. Consequently, this will undoubtedly lead to a noticeable deterioration in the outdoor recreation experience for anyone who enjoys these national parks or even local trail systems. These reductions will hinder emergency search and rescue operations, putting more responsibility on individuals to remain prepared and vigilant. One of the scariest impacts of these budget cuts is the negative impact on wildfire prevention and response, straining the already limited firefighting resources. Seasonal employees are crucial for improving wildfire preparedness by reducing fuel buildup and assisting with initial fire suppression efforts on the ground during a burn. Cutting back on wildfire prevention will raise the risk of uncontrolled fires in public lands and nearby communities, especially as we see real-time effects of climate change rapidly change the areas we know and love, and wildfire-affected regions continue to grow yearly. We strongly encourage you to write to your lawmakers and ask them to oppose cuts to land management agencies, especially those that affect on-the-ground staff, which are crucial to outdoor recreation experiences.
