Federal shutdown impacts national sites in the Highland Lakes
The Texas White House at Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park between Stonewall and Johnson City. Access to the park might be limited during the federal government shutdown. Photo by National Park Service
Services and access to national parks and facilities in the Highland Lakes will be limited due to the federal government shutdown, which began Wednesday, Oct. 1, and has no quick end in sight.
Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge, Inks Dam National Fish Hatchery, and Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park are all impacted by the federal spending freeze. Each will remain open to some extent, but only a handful of employees will be on site.
Congressional lawmakers failed to meet a Wednesday deadline to approve government spending, triggering mass pauses on wages and funding for national agencies such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which oversees the Balcones Canyonlands refuge and Inks Dam hatchery, and the National Park Service, which manages the LBJ historical park.
The parks will have restricted communication abilities during the shutdown and might not respond to phone, email, or social media inquiries from the public.
“The National Park Service will continue to keep parks as accessible as possible during the lapse in (federal) appropriations,” reads a statement from the National Park Service in an emailed response to questions from DailyTrib.com. “For information about what is open, visit doi.gov/shutdown. Critical functions that protect life, property, and public health will remain in place, including visitor access in many locations, law enforcement, and emergency response.”
Balcones Canyonlands NWR
Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge is accessible to the public for the most part, but the refuge headquarters at 24518 RR 1431, just outside Marble Falls, will be closed until the shutdown ends.
The massive, free-access greenspace lies in Burnet, Travis, and Williamson counties and is a popular hiking destination and federally protected habitat for native wildlife and plants.
The refuge’s guided hike program will be paused until the shutdown is over, and the family-friendly Round Up event scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 4, has been canceled.
The drawn hunts on the refuge in November and December will not be affected, and registered hunters should expect an email with details by the last week of October.
Visitors can still access the refuge’s free trail system at:
- Warbler Vista, 21646½ RR 1431 in Lago Vista
- Doeskin Ranch, 10645 FM 1174 in Bertram
- Shin Oak Observation Deck, 1929 RM 1869 in Bertram
Inks Dam National Fish Hatchery
“Because of the federal government shutdown, FWS.gov is not being updated and the agency will not be able to respond to inquiries until appropriations are enacted,” reads a notice on the official site for Inks Dam National Fish Hatchery.
The main functions of the hatchery, 345 Clay Young Road in Burnet County, are to raise fish and contribute to scientific research on aquatic species, but it is also a popular hiking destination in the Highland Lakes.
Information about the shutdown’s impact on the hatchery is minimal, but it should remain open.
LBJ National Historical Park
LBJ National Historical Park, located between Stonewall and Johnson City, will be open to some extent during the shutdown, but the visitor center, gift shop, and any employee-run services might be limited or paused.