Keep It Wild

Five Ways to Help Our Public Lands…

The North State region is blessed with some of America’s most spectacular public lands. From the deep wilderness of the Shasta-Trinity National Forest to the steaming fumaroles of Lassen Volcanic National Park, from the high ridges of Siskiyou County to the oak woodlands of Tehama and Butte, these places are our shared backyard.

Today, the future of these lands feels uncertain. According to government data, at least one-fifth of the country’s 433 parks have been severely strained this year by steep staffing and funding cuts. Lassen, for example, was unable to hire custodians, leaving a skeleton maintenance crew juggling trash collection, plumbing, electrical and carpentry duties.

The pressures aren’t letting up. Budgets are shrinking, yet visitation is at record highs. The Park Service reported 331.9 million recreation visits in 2024, surpassing the 2016 record of 330,971,689. More people are coming, but fewer rangers, custodians, and trail crews are on the job.

And yet, there is some good news. Despite funding struggles, these lands remain economic engines for our economy and sources of joy for many Americans. In 2023, visitor spending around national parks pumped $55.6 billion into the economy and supported more than 415,000 jobs.

“The outdoor industry is a trillion-dollar economy nationwide,” said Bob Doucette, public affairs specialist with the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. “When you recreate near our public lands and spend locally in these gateway communities, there’s a huge economic benefit to the people who live here and watch over the land.”

Restaurants, lodges and small businesses in gateway communities thrive thanks to park and forest tourism.

The question is: How can ordinary citizens help? How can people who live, work and play in Siskiyou, Shasta, Trinity, Tehama and Butte counties ensure our parks and forests are protected for future generations?

Here Are Five Ways:

1. Volunteer Your Time:

• You can roll up your sleeves and make a difference. National parks and forests rely heavily on volunteers to maintain trails, clean campsites, staff visitor centers and support education programs. Volunteers in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest have helped rebuild fire-damaged trails, monitor wildlife and remove invasive plants. At Lassen Volcanic National Park, volunteer “Trail Ambassadors” help guide visitors and keep paths safe.
• “If you really want to give back, getting involved in volunteer organizations is a huge benefit, not just for the forest, but for you,” Doucette said. “ You get to see more. And, you know, I think it will make you walk a little taller and feel good that you did something positive for your public lands. We all depend on these lands. We all enjoy them. So, taking responsibility seems like the right thing to do.”
• Whether you can give one weekend a year or one day a month, your time adds up. And volunteering has its perks—you’ll learn from rangers, connect with fellow outdoor lovers, and feel a more profound sense of stewardship for the places you already love.
• Check out groups such as the Friends of the Shasta-Trinity or Lassen Association for opportunities.

2. Leave No Trace (and then some)

The simplest way to help is to respect the land. “Leave No Trace” principles aren’t just slogans. They’re survival rules for fragile ecosystems under stress.

But these days, “Leave No Trace” isn’t enough. With understaffed crews, visitors can go one step further: pick up stray trash, report vandalism and kindly remind fellow hikers about responsible behavior. Every act of care makes life easier for overworked rangers.

“If you pack it in, pack it out,” says Doucette. “Try to leave the place you visit in as good or better condition than how you found it. There isn’t a giant army of people out there to pick up after us — so it’s on all of us to be good stewards.”

3. Advocate and Donate

Funding cuts don’t happen in a vacuum—they’re choices. One way to help is to raise your voice. Contact your representatives, write letters to the editor, and let decision-makers know you support full funding for the Park Service and Forest Service.

If you’re able, consider donating to nonprofit partners. Groups like the National Parks Conservation Association or California State Parks Foundation work on behalf of public lands. Closer to home, the Lassen Park Foundation funds youth education and trail projects. Dollars donated locally stay local.

4. Choose Sustainable Recreation

Our National Parks system often get the spotlight, but our National Forests carry an equally heavy load—sometimes more. Forests have a multiple-use mission: they’re managed not only for recreation but also for timber, grazing, and habitat.

Stick to designated trails to prevent erosion. Avoid overcrowded hot spots by exploring lesser-known areas. You protect ecosystems and ease pressure on rangers and facilities by spreading out and treading lightly.

5. Support Gateway Communities

Every visit to a national park or forest ripples out into nearby towns. Grab breakfast at a diner in Chester, shop for gear in Mount Shasta, or book a family-owned cabin in Weaverville. In 2023 alone, visitors spent $26.4 billion nationally in park gateway communities, supporting jobs and livelihoods.

When you spend locally, you’re voting with your dollars to keep these communities vibrant.

Why It Matters

The North State knows the stakes. These lands are more than vacation destinations and tourism revenue—they’re our water sources, our clean air, our wildfire buffers and our living classrooms.
“Most of our fresh water in Northern California comes from the forest,” Doucette explained. “Even if you’re not in the forest every day, if you live in Redding, the water you drink, cook with, and water your yard with — it comes from the Shasta-Trinity National Forest.”

Lassen’s steaming vents remind us of Earth’s raw power. The Shasta-Trinity National Forest’s 2.1 million acres give us timber, trails and trout. The oak woodlands of Tehama and Butte shelter deer and raptors.
They are our heritage, and they are under pressure. But the story doesn’t have to end with budget cuts and staffing shortages. It can end with communities stepping up, visitors pitching in, and everyday people realizing these aren’t “public lands” in some abstract sense—they’re ours. We are the stewards, and they are our responsibility.

Walter Stegner, Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist and lover of public lands, proclaimed, “The national parks are the best idea we ever had.” Keeping all public lands strong in the face of challenges may be the best idea we can carry forward to future generations.

Economic Impact of Shasta-Trinity National Forest

• The Shasta-Trinity National Forest supports about $117.9 million annually in labor income for wage earners and local businesses. This includes food and lodging services, arts, entertainment and recreation, real estate, rental and leasing, and retail trade services.
• The Shasta-Trinity National Forest supports about 2,420 jobs annually.
• Nearly 1 million people visit the Shasta-Trinity National Forest to recreate annually, which represents an economic value of over $71.6 million to those visitors.
• Visitors to the Shasta-Trinity National Forest spend about $48 million during their trips.
• For example, 5,000 visitors annually climb the iconic 14,179-foot Mt. Shasta by purchasing Special Use Permits, totaling $176,21312.
• Visitors to the Shasta-Trinity National Forest contribute more than $15 million towards wages and income of local businesses.
• The economy of California is fifth largest in the world, and California’s National Forests contribute almost $2.6 billion annually in wages and income to small businesses, a critical component of the rural economy of the state.

Article Written by
Al Olson loves culinary arts, adult beverages and hiking in the North State wilderness. You may find him soaking up the scenery at one of our area’s many state or national parks or sitting in a barstool sipping a cold locally brewed craft beer.