Forest service budget cuts hit hard

SUMMIT COUNTY — A massive Forest Service budget cut could spell a 10 percent reduction in the agency’s work force nationally, but probably won’t hit the local area too hard, according to acting district ranger Scott Ludwig.

“I haven’t heard any indication of staff cuts, or that the district would affected to that extent,” Ludwig said. “Until the regional office and the (White River National Forest) supervisors office get their numbers, it’s status quo,” he said.

Nationally, the Bush administration’s budget cuts the Forest Service budget by 8 percent to $4.1 billion. Congressional critics of the budget said that could mean cutting 2,700 jobs and reductions in many programs, including recreation, according to the Associated Press.

According to Ludwig, the Dillon District is well-staffed with all the specialists needed to work on a plethora of projects, including ski area expansion proposals and ongoing forest health work.

Ludwig said he expects the funding for the critical pine beetle mitigation to continue.

The agency plans on completing more timber contracts to remove dead trees and reduce the wildfire danger to residential areas in the next few months.

The agency’s fire-fighting budget increased, but there is less money available for prevention and preparedness.

According to the Forest Service, most of the work force reduction could be through attrition, as current employees leave the agency or retire. That could leave important positions unfilled in an agency that is already under-staffed, especially in crucial areas like recreation and enforcement, critics said.