Governor orders his staff to form plan to keep Colorado’s national parks, public lands open if there’s a federal shutdown

Gov. Jared Polis is ordering his administration to form a plan to keep Colorado’s four national parks and other federal lands open if Congress is unable to reach a budget deal before the end of Saturday and the federal government shuts down on Sunday. 

“My administration is committed to examining all potential avenues to keep our national parks and federal lands open and maintained in the event of a federal government shutdown,” Polis said in an executive order issued on Thursday afternoon. 

It’s prime leaf-peeping season in Colorado, a time when tourists flock to the high country to see Aspen trees change color. Two of the most popular peeping spots are Rocky Mountain National Park and the Maroon Bells near Aspen, which would be affected by a shutdown. The Maroon Bells are in the White River National Forest, which is federally managed.

Polis said in his order that he wants to prevent as much economic disruption as possible if a shutdown happens.

“Closure of our national parks and federal lands would adversely impact Colorado communities, businesses, workers, and the outdoor recreation economy, which rely on tourist and visitor traffic,” the order said.

The governor directed his Department of Natural Resources to work with the Office of State Planning and Budgeting to figure out how to fund continued operations at the state’s national parks and federal lands. 

Congress is barrelling toward a federal shutdown with Republicans in the House unable to agree on what a budget bill should look like. 

This is a developing story that will be updated.