Following the resolution of the partial government shutdown, officials at the White Mountain National Forest say they’ll be back to a full staff of 120 employees by the end of the week.
Forest Supervisor Tom Wagner says he received official word late Wednesday night, and began calling employees back to work first thing Thursday morning.
“I probably have about 50 percent of my workforce back now, and the remainder will be up and operational tomorrow at 8 o’clock in the morning.”
The shutdown forced the national forest to cut its staff down to roughly 16 employees.
As the shutdown dragged on, Wagner says he had to close recreational facilities and bathrooms.
He says this was an issue during the Columbus Day weekend.
“Many people had to change their plans and use either private or state campgrounds or go to other parts of the forest that didn’t have those developed facilities.”
He expects forest operations to be back to normal by mid-day Friday.
