"California mountain towns are surrounded by public land. Their recreation-based economies are part of an industry worth $640 billion nationwide, more than oil and gas, agriculture, vehicle manufacturing or air transportation. These rural towns depend on functioning federal agencies, like the Forest Service, to manage public land. The Forest Service has already been operating with a diminished staff, according to former employees, locally elected officials and nonprofit organizers. Now, it’s a skeleton. That’s going to have an impact on rural communities in the Sierra Nevada..."
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