Supporters of Donald Trump who enjoy Pennsylvania’s outdoors likely did not expect him to launch policies so harmful to clean water, wildlife and public lands. If they are paying attention now, they’re fearful of our outdoors’ future.
Trump’s gutting of natural resource and environmental agencies is something we’ve never seen in American life. The questionably empowered Elon Musk slashed staff from the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), National Park Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service and Environmental Protection Agency.
One example of the threat to fisheries is the sea lamprey, an invasive eel-like fish that entered the Great Lakes through canals. Lampreys decimated Great Lakes game fish. The USFWS finally achieved control over the lamprey through skilled use of chemical toxins, developed through federal research. Lampreys are now suppressed, and lake trout are rebounding. But Musk fired USFWS personnel who performed lamprey control. If lampreys invade the lakes again, they will destroy Pennsylvania’s popular steelhead fishery.
The Office of Surface Mining and USFWS restored West Branch Susquehanna tributaries polluted by acid-mine-drainage. Trout now thrive in the West Branch but gutted environmental standards and a halt in funds jeopardize this recovery.
Two of America’s most esteemed conservationists were federal employees. Pennsylvanian Rachel Carson, author of “Silent Spring,” worked for USFWS. Aldo Leopold, admired as the “Father of Wildlife Management” and author of “A Sand County Almanac,” worked for USFS.
When public lands are uncared for, will the administration sell those national parks and forests to private owners?
Ben Moyer
Wharton Township, Fayette County