GRAND COUNTY, Utah – Grand County officials declared a state of emergency due to the economic disruptions that came as a result of the closure of Arches and Canyonlands national parks and federally managed campgrounds and river ways in the area.
The closures are a result of the shutdown of the federal government.
According to a proclamation from the Grand County Council, more than 75 percent of the land in the county is managed by the federal government.
The proclamation indicated that the county receives more than 2.5 million visitors each year, and that more than two-thirds of those visitors used commercial areas of the county to access the parks.
The document also stated that about 76 percent of the county’s economy is dependent on tourism, and it estimated that more than $2.6 million in commercial business revenue has been lost since the shutdown on Oct. 1.
According to the document, “This closure is having a devastating impact on those Grand County residents who rely on visitors to federally managed lands.”
The proclamation states that Grand County is in state of local emergency, and “Grand County is authorized to provide all appropriate aid and assistance in relation to this proclamation.”
The full proclamation is available for download here: Proclamation Declaring A State of Local Emergency in Grand County.
Gov. Gary Herbert said Wednesday he is considering using state funds to reopen the parks.
