The Mountaineers
As federal land managers like the Forest Service and the Park Service continue to sustain deep cuts that will jeopardize their ability to steward public lands and manage outdoor access, members of Congress and the recreation community are coming together to support the landscapes and outdoor experiences they cherish. The Mountaineers continues to stand up for our public lands, including by sharing how ongoing agency workforce reductions are affecting Washington’s federally managed parks and forests - the landscapes that host 60% of our organization's courses and trips.
Thanks to a deep partnership with Outdoor Alliance, our Conservation & Advocacy Director Betsy Robblee leveraged a great opportunity to bring Mountaineers advocacy back to the nation’s capitol last week and offer a Northwest perspective on a congressional briefing on the outdoor recreation economy and land manager workforce reductions. Betsy’s presence in D.C. and voice on the panel helped the recreation community shine a light on the local, on-the-ground impacts of the harmful agency cuts to Washington’s public lands and our outdoor experiences.
The congressional briefing was organized by Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) - a proud sportsman, former Outdoor Alliance Board member, and strong champion for public lands in Congress. Bringing together outdoor recreation voices from across the country provided congressional staff and other stakeholders an opportunity to hear how recent administrative actions are harming public lands and the outdoor recreation economy. While just one tool in the advocacy toolbelt, these briefings play an important role in elevating the profile of The Mountaineers and Outdoor Alliance’s advocacy and highlight bi-partisan support for the outdoors, spurring lawmakers to take action to defend public lands.
“Welcoming more than two million visitors a year, the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest is the most visited national forest in the country. A 70% reduction of the forest’s recreation staff will impact the future of safe and sustainable recreation for Washington’s and visitors alike,” shared Betsy.
The briefing featured other representatives from the recreation community, who shared powerful reflections that illustrated how a reduced land manager workforce threatens the outdoor recreation economy and increases risk to communities that face the growing threat of wildfire. The panel shared concern about what’s in store for the busy summer recreation season, as well as the long-term future of the agencies that perform the critical work of ensuring that public lands remain resilient, thriving, and accessible for future generations.
We’re grateful for Congressman Vasquez’s work to raise awareness about the importance of outdoor recreation and introduce the bipartisan Public Lands in Public Hands Act to stand against efforts to sell off or transfer public lands.
In addition to speaking on the panel, Betsy joined partners from Outdoor Alliance and the Outdoor Industry Association in advocacy meetings with leaders of key committees who have jurisdiction over public lands and federal land manager funding. Our community’s opposition to public lands sell-offs is getting through to lawmaker offices and gaining bipartisan support.
Betsy also checked in with staff working for members of Washington’s congressional delegation. Washington’s senators and representatives continue to engage on these issues and take steps to garner broader support for public lands and land management agencies on Capitol Hill. We appreciate their ongoing leadership, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to support their efforts.
Betsy and partners from the Outdoor industry Meet with Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA). Photo courtesy of the outdoor Industry Association.
Together with our Outdoor Alliance partners, we will keep fighting to protect the places we all love and to ensure those places stay public, accessible, and protected for generations to come. As we learn more about existential threats to our lands and waters, we’ll continue to elevate ways that you can speak up and join our advocacy.
