Economists are still adding up all the damage from the government shutdown, but one thing is for sure, public lands in the West are a low priority for this administration. Closing down the recreation economy in many communities that depend on public lands proves once again that a portion of our elected officials are blind to the real economic drivers of the 21st century.
Many communities near public lands are growing in spite of closing coal-fired power plants and low prices for natural gas. Growth in these areas is coming from the increased demand for high quality of life that access to public land brings.