California National Parks Criticized Following Government Closure

Road lined with garbage in Yosemite National Park (California).
(Dakota Snider via AP)

As the government's partial closure approaches its third week, California's national parks are plunged into scenes of decadent misuse, with reports of overflows from the government. garbage, human waste, environmental damage and even a ball gown be spotted on sites.

National parks such as Yosemite, Death Valley and Joshua Tree, among others, have been strained by the government-imposed two-week shutdown, the Los Angeles Times reported. Dakota Snider, 24, who lives and works in the Yosemite Valley, described the place as a "free" act. Campsites at these sites have been hit by vandalism, illegal camping and off-road driving. all. "

" It's so heartbreaking. There is more litter and human garbage and non-compliance than I have seen in the last four years that I live here, "Snider said.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

National Park Service Spokesperson Andrew Munoz said that piles of garbage left in campgrounds attract bears, which increases the risks

Garbage being thrown on the ground in Yosemite National Park, California. “/>

Garbage being thrown away on the ground in Yosemite National Park, California.
(Dakota Snider via AP)

In the absence of a full-time paid staff to patrol the parks, reserve teams and volunteers use to compensate for the damage emptying dumpsters, replacing garbage bags in garbage cans and washing bathrooms.

"We simply can not keep up with the pace we've had in the past 12 days," said Sabra Purdy, a coordinator of volunteer cleanup efforts.

The Joshua Tree Campgrounds were closed. Wednesday noon, as Yosemite National Park implemented time restrictions and roadside checkpoints. The Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, meanwhile, fully closed their parks on Wednesday, leaving employees unable to maintain roads and walking trails. Munoz said visitors who would violate the closure of the parks would be cited.

At the same time, the country's parks, from Washington's national monuments to Lake Mead, Nevada, suffered the same fate, leaving the city's government to clean up the mess. The Associated Press contributed to this report.