Budget proposal threatens forest roads, campgrounds

White House seeks 73 percent cut for fiscal 2018.

WASHINGTON — The roads to the national forests could get bumpier. Trails could get messier. Maintenance on bridges, dams and recreation sites could become tougher under President Donald Trump’s proposed budget for fiscal 2018, which begins Oct. 1.

The White House is seeking only about $100 million in funding for capital improvement and maintenance by the National Forest Service, down from $363 million this year.

That 73 percent cut could have a huge impact on recreation, according to Rebecca Turner, senior director of programs and policy for American Forests, a nonprofit conservation organization.

Turner said roads are used to access the trails leading to “majestic overlooks,” and lakes and rivers in the forests. She said the budget cuts would also lead to campsites and facilities not being maintained.

Turner said that if the Forest Service is unable to maintain safe roads, boat launches and campgrounds, they’re likely to close.

“When you can’t access the forests, then it’s much harder to enjoy them,” she said.

John Haynes, a spokesman for the Forest Service, said it would be “premature” to comment on before Congress approves a budget.

The Forest Service, part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, manages the 154 national forests around the country, covering more than 180 million acres. Millions of people visit the forests every year.

Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell said the agency will focus on maintaining “staff and expertise” in anticipation of Trump’s infrastructure plan, few details of which were outlined in the budget proposal.