Since its been super quiet here for a few weeks, figured I'd start a thread.

Hypothetically, let's say the park suddenly got an insane, unrealistic budget increase, such that they could afford to do any & all work that they wanted (repairs, improvements, everything). 

What would you want to see them invest in?  What would you want them to leave as-is?

(2022-09-17, 12:31 PM)netllama Wrote: Since its been super quiet here for a few weeks, figured I'd start a thread.

Hypothetically, let's say the park suddenly got an insane, unrealistic budget increase, such that they could afford to do any & all work that they wanted (repairs, improvements, everything). 

What would you want to see them invest in?  What would you want them to leave as-is?

Pay me to do backcountry foot patrols

Charge less for campgrounds

Grade the maintained roads more frequently

Not much else

Helicopters and other fancy gear for search and rescue. While this creates a bit of a moral hazard, lowering the chances of a catastrophic situation can't be bad.

Subsidized HC and 4WD rentals for us out-of-towners.

I know they're frowned upon, but drones would be great for water caching. 

Really good question, that I'd never thought about but am looking forward to seeing the discussion.

I definitely agree that helicopters etc. for search and rescue would be very good to have.

I'd like to see more ranger patrols in an attempt to keep idiots from doing damaging things like driving on the Racetrack. Not sure how to prevent graffiti, but maybe at least putting up some sort of protection over the fossil track sites and petroglyph sites.

I'd also like to see more collaboration with (responsible) 4WD clubs, like the work the NPS did with Overland Bound to put up posts around the Racetrack to help deter idiots from driving on it. I think it'd be great to see some officially authorized collaboration to maintain the 4WD roads, but not improve them to the point that general tourists would attempt them and get into trouble, or that idiots would then go off the established roads and cause damage (like with graffiti, not sure if it's possible to prevent this, but at least maybe somehow establish some sort of deterrents).

And hopefully use some of that budget increase to pay the park rangers more too!

We don’t need more helicopters. CHP and China Lake SAR birds are more than sufficient and have been doing a bang up job for years. There aren’t very many rescues a year and a dedicated air asset that gets limited use and duplicates existing air resources doesn’t seem worthwhile.

We don’t need more road grading. Less please. Although, sure, short spur roads like Salt Creek and what not should get frequent grading. Stop grading Racetrack Road though. Needs some deep “gatekeeping” ruts to keep inappropriate vehicles off of it.

Do like the idea of perhaps having a MOU with various 4WD clubs to fix major washouts while leaving roads in a largely primitive state.

What we really need is more education and patrols. Many Parks are getting loved to death and DVNP is a likely next victim. If we could get more rangers on staff to be out educating new visitors that would be huge. Signage helps of course, but rangers are the most respected government employees in the US in survey after survey. Hire more and get them out at the highly visited sites interacting with and educating people. That will do more, in my opinion, to protect DVNP then almost any other infrastructure project. And I really, really, REALLY, am not interested in infrastructure that increases visitation or access. The people are already coming, we don’t need to “build it” so that even more come. We should focus on educating the ones that do come rather than just encouraging more to come.

Interesting thread, have enjoyed the responses so far and looking forward to others!

Here are some interesting financial numbers to ponder.

The NPS currently has a deferred maintenance and repair estimate of $21.8 billion...

Fiscal Year 2022 Quarter 1 Deferred Maintenance and Repair by Asset Category

Death Valley National Park's deferred maintenance and repair is estimated at $214 million and that was before the recent storm damage...

Reports by State and Park

Wow, thanks Desert Fog! Direct link to the DVNP report for others:

https://www.nps.gov/subjects/infrastruct...Q1_508.pdf

I mean I’ve got opinions and everything, but the Park has a massive list of its own already. There seems to be lots of basic and fairly critical stuff still waiting to being done. Hard to argue I know any better than them…

Here is another good page to check out on current park planning and project priorities...

(PEPC) Planning, Environment & Public Comment

As far as my wish list of what I would like to see, it isn't much.  With improvements come an increase of traffic and visitors.  They could keep things just as they are and that would work for me.

Same as much posted. I have suggested to the park a few times. Protect more from damage. Something drastic might have to happen at The Racetrack. Better protection of Westside road places. Keep vehicles off the playa there. Better signage about no pets and bikes at trail heads and parking lots, even at Zabriskie Point. I see more abuse every year with people saying they didn't know about dogs not allowed on trails/other areas. A lot of confusion for people that don't read the park literature.

I did fill out the survey about upcoming projects. I voted no on paving the road to Mosaic Canyon. Already too crowded. I remeber when you culd drive up Golden Canyon!

I don't back country camp(yet). I trailer in the campgrounds. I'd like to reduce generator hours at FC campground. At the north end of the campground right past the group sites I'd like to see primitive RV/tents sites that don't allow generators and perhaps no fire rings either. As an attractive alternative when Texas Springs is full. At Sunset campground overflow area as you drive in, no generators.

Fantasy wishes:

At Wildrose and Grapevine Stations, RV hook up sites. Better views from higher up than existing campgrounds at both!

To re-create Furnace Creek Ranch as opposed to the disaster called the Oasis. Park owned like SPW. Perhaps in conjuncture with the tribal folks on their land to the south. Or on land north of FC campground or perhaps along the road to Sunset/Texas Springs. Best place for this would be at Cow Creek area!

(2022-09-17, 12:31 PM)netllama Wrote: What would you want to see them invest in?  What would you want them to leave as-is?

The money spent by Cal Trans to repair the highways after the flash floods could be saved by engineering large storm culverts to channel the flood plains underneath the pavement/highways. This could improve safety for visitors and staff who drive during the floods. 

I have not attempted to count up how many culverts would need to be installed but it's probably at least twenty. They could leave the minor flood plains alone because they rarely erode the pavement. I don't have the skill to complete a cost analysis on such projects. I assume that environmental concerns may nix my proposal. 

I'd like to see more Indigenous presence around the park. This is a sensitive topic for the Timbisha Shoshone as well as NPS staff and many locals in the area. For example I wish that the Visitors Center had a full time staff position filled by tribal members to answer questions and produce informative programs. If I were wealthy I'd establish something similar to an endowed department chair at universities.