Lake remains accessible, but without services

The Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area will remain accessible to the public, but with no visitor services, during the current shutdown of the federal government.

That’s according to a statement issued by the National Park Service unit on Saturday, after Congress and the president failed to compromise on a bill to keep the government fully open.

“During the shutdown of the federal government due to the lapse of appropriations, national parks will remain as accessible as possible while still following all applicable laws and procedures,” a news release stated. “Park roads, boat launches, and campgrounds at Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area will remain accessible to visitors, but emergency and rescue services will be limited.

“There will be no NPS-provided visitor services at Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area, including public information, restrooms, trash collection, and facilities and roads maintenance, including plowing if applicable.

“Because of the federal government shutdown, NPS social media and websites are not being monitored or updated and may not reflect current conditions.”

The Department of Interior is largely affected by the shutdown. No statements were issued by local Bureau of Indian Affairs or Bureau of Reclamation offices.

The Bureau of Reclamation’s Grand Coulee Project has been largely unaffected by past shutdowns because it is not funded through congressional appropriations but by revenue from the Bonneville Power Administration, which markets electrical power produced by federal dams on the Columbia River.