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Show MOUNTAIN America’s Troubled National Continued from page 8 Web computer linkup, where it advertises Arches, Canyonlands and Zion with color photos, And tourism to Utah’s parks is dramatically up. ply the road Three million through Zion autos now each year. Visitation to Arches was 859,000 last year, up 35 percent from just six years established Parks to acquire new parks. The fund is built from fees on offshore oil leases and now is worth a hefty $11 billion. But Congress uses the fund in a numbers game to reduce the federal deficit, rather than use the money in the parks’ budget. Only million was released Service last year. a palty $43 to the Parks ago, and continues to be over- crowded. Tourist-generated income is up in Utah, but the parks don’t get any of those funds — save entry fees. Would you be more likely to vote for someone who wants to . . . . Close some national parks? Silly 4b is" not only Republicans that are respon- sible for the present condition of the parks, Pritchard says. “This is a continuing problem.” For example, in 1987 park entry fees were increased to generate Yes 4% Doesn't matter 5% The National Parks and Conservation Association, in conjunction with Colorado State University, conducted a nationwide survey, which shows the broad support National Parks enjoy. A resounding 96 percent answered ‘yes,’ when asked if they would e 58 percent said ‘no,’ when asked if Minnesota’s Voyageurs National Park should be opened up to snowmobiles. 70 percent said the National Park Service not Congress should decide if additional roadways are required into Denali National Park. be more likely to vote for a presidential e 61 percent said they support candidate committed to parks. And 75 returning wolves to Yellowstone. percent of those surveyed said ‘yes,’ when asked if their Congressional representaWould you be more likely to vote for record on tive’s voting National Parks was imporsomeonw who wants fo . . . tant. . sell some national parks to private interPerhaps not surprisingly, respondents of all political persuasions favored increasing the budget for \ Yes 4% National Parks. The survey Doesn't included a sample made up matter 7% of 30 percent Republican, 30 percent Democrat, 35 percent Independent and 5 percent “other.” 7 ‘he survey was based up 809 respondents $50 million. The following year, a Democrat-controlled Congress de-creased the parks TIMES budget by the same $50 million. Perhaps even more curious is how Congress allows park concessionaires to reap profits without giving much back. They took in some $700 million last year but provided only 3 percent of that back to the parks in franchise fees. Stranger yet is the Land and Water Conservation fund, which Congress The declining condition of the parks is becoming painfully obvious to even the most casual observers, Pritchard noted. “People knew intellectually that the parks are in trouble. This summer, they will know it emotionally.” If there is any good news, it is that Americans now say they are willing to vote for representatives that favor increasing parks and parks’ budgets Americans tected, e want according their parks to survey pro- results. 89 percent said they would be willing to pay a small tax on sugar to help restore Everglades National Park. e 72 percent said mining outside Yellowstone should be stopped in order to protect the park and its waterways ¢ 66 to 73 percent said National Parks should not be turned over to states. 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