GLEN JEAN, W.Va. — Workers in the New River Gorge National River Area in West Virginia are poised for a furlough. A government shutdown appears looming in Washington and the impact will be felt nationwide, including the federal installations in West Virginia.
“October is actually the second busiest month for us here at the Gorge, second only to July,” said National Park Service Chief of Interpretive and Visitor Services Robin Snyder. “It will certainly impact quite a few visitors who come for fall activities and special events.”
The biggest of those events is Bridge Day, scheduled for October 19. Snyder said despite the size and scope of Bridge Day, it probably will go unaffected.
“I am happy to say that particular event is a well oiled machine with a lot of outstanding partners,” she said. “We are confident Bridge Day would still go on and the activities would still take place in a safe manner.”
The New River Gorge Area has just over 100 federal employees on staff. Seven of those are considered essential personnel and would remain on duty or on call during a shutdown. Seven of the employees are rangers in charge of area protection services. Two employees in the maintenance division would remain on duty to monitor water treatment plants on the park property.
Snyder said if the government shuts down at midnight, all will report to work Tuesday morning and have four hours to shut down operations and then all would be considered furloughed until further notice.
Campers in the park will have 48 hours to pack up and leave. All visitor centers in the park will be closed. All who had reservations and permits for picnic shelters or events within the park will be notified their events will be delayed or rescheduled.
The other impact could be on the ongoing Gauley River Rafting Season. The National Park Service does not have the legislative authority to “close the river.” Commercial licensing of guides is a state function, however, Snyder said the daily river patrols by park rangers will be severely limited along with any response by park service personnel to an emergency.