COVID-19 and Litter in National Parks

COVID-19 has changed almost everything in our lives, from the way we work to the way we vacation. Air travel dropped significantly this year. The top ten major network carriers reported only 370,859 scheduled domestic flights in July 2020 compared with 717,684 flights in July 2019. In turn, people are looking to less traditional ways to spend their PTO days.

Many people have been taking socially distanced vacations to get away safely. What better way to socially distance than to traverse the great outdoors?

A Rise in Traffic

In July, the RV Industry Association's monthly survey of manufacturers found total RV shipments ended the month with 43,035 units, an increase of 53.5% from the 28,044 units shipped in July 2019; this was the highest July shipment numbers in four decades.

Additionally, people flocked to national parks this summer. Even with limited international visitors due to the pandemic, Yellowstone National Park saw a 2% increase in visits from 2019, and Grand Teton National Park had the fourth highest number of recreation visits on record in July. According to the national park service website, “Most hiking trails in the park have increased daily traffic and all campgrounds in the park are filling earlier each day when comparing this summer to previous years. In general, hiking use in the park has increased approximately 13% and camping in concession-operated campgrounds increased 2% with backcountry camping up 13% in July 2020 compared to July 2019.”

Visitor numbers rose in state parks, too. The Utah Division of Parks and Recreation announced a 36% increase in visitation during May-August of 2020, up 1.7 million visitors from 2019. According to West Virginia Explorer, state-managed parks and forests in West Virginia have experienced a record-breaking number of in-state guests this year.

Uproar on Social Media

It’s wonderful Americans are taking advantage of this unprecedented time by exploring the wonders of our own backyards, but not everyone is happy to have tourists swarming to the outdoors. Residents of Lake Tahoe are frustrated with the rise in visitors at Lake Tahoe the trash they leave behind. On August 9, Tahoe local, Josh Lease, posted the following message on Facebook:

“TAHOE FOLKS....So seeing as how the numbers of out of town folks seem to keep rising every weekend and our Lovely City won’t do anything about it I feel it’s time to take matters into our own hands.”

Lease has a point. California State Parks employees collect 44% more trash per week from their sites at the West Shore, Kings Beach and Donner Lake compared to two years ago; every week, they collect more than 100,000 pounds of trash with a bill of almost $400,000. The post lead to protests asking local government to limit the tourism during the pandemic.

Other state and national parks are seeing similar trends in increased clutter. According to the Denver Post, in Colorado, rangers at Eldorado Canyon State Park reported an uptick in litter including plastic bottles, gloves, facemasks and food wrappers despite encouraging visitors to follow Leave No Trace principles by packing out what they bring. At Rocky Mountain National Park, visitors drive over fragile vegetation to create their own parking spots. 5280 Magazine reports visitors leave granola bar wrappers in the wildflower fields and poop directly on the trails.

Leave No Trace

1. Plan and Prepare: Know the regulations of the places you visit. being prepared for any unexpected occurrences, such as hazardous weather and emergencies, using a map or compass, visiting in small groups if possible and letting people know your plan ahead of time, including where you are going and when you will be returning.   

2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces: Durable surfaces include maintained trails and designated campsites, rock, gravel, sand, dry grasses or snow. The best campsite is one that was already there when you arrived. Keep in mind that you must always camp at least 200 feet from lakes and streams.

3. Dispose of Waste Properly: Pack it in, pack it out. This includes all trash, leftover food, litter, toilet paper and hygiene products. It is best to utilize toilet facilities whenever possible; otherwise, deposit solid human waste in holes dug 6 to 8 inches deep, at least 200 feet from water, camp and trails. Always try to leave your site cleaner than when you arrived.

4. Leave What You Find: Leave rocks, plants, cultural and historical structures as you found them. Take pictures and leave everything else behind.

5. Minimize Campfire Impacts: 2020 saw a high number of record-breaking wildfires across the United States that caused destruction to wildlife, structures, including people homes, and even the loss of people’s lives. It is incredibly important that if you have a campfire you are safe about it. Only have fires where permitted in established fire rings, fire pans, or mound fires, keep fires small and put out the fire completely when you are done.

6. Respect Wildlife: Observe wildlife from a distance and do not follow or approach them. Additionally, never feed wild animals and protect wildlife and your food by storing your food and trash securely.

7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors: Respect other visitors and protect the quality of their experience. This means yielding to others on the trail, camping away from other visitors, and avoiding loud voices and noises.

Final Thoughts

The list of seven principals can be found on the Leave No Trace website. Check it out for more information on how you can protect our environment and keep our national and state parks clean.  Remember, it is a privilege to travel to these amazing and beautiful spaces, and each one of us must do our part to keep them wonderful for generations to come.