Joshua trees cut down, desert vandalized at Joshua Tree National Park during government shutdown

A picture provided by the National Park Service shows a felled Joshua tree at Joshua Tree National Park. The park sustained extra damage during the partial government shutdown. A picture provided by the National Park Service shows a felled Joshua tree at Joshua Tree National Park. The park sustained extra damage during the partial government shutdown. Photo: National Park Service Photo: National Park Service Image 1 of / 15 Caption Close Joshua trees cut down, desert vandalized at Joshua Tree National Park during government shutdown 1 / 15 Back to Gallery

Joshua Tree National Park has stayed open through the government shutdown, despite a lack of funding and staffing. But it reportedly hasn't made it through unscathed.

A post by National Parks Traveler details the extent of the damage the park has sustained during the past several weeks. Beyond the overflow of human waste and garbage, visitors have also cut down Joshua trees, left graffiti, and gone off-roading through "pristine desert," according to park superintendent David Smith.

In some cases, Joshua trees were reportedly cut down so off-roaders could get around barriers. The spiky-leaved Joshua tree, or Yucca brevifolia, is found in the southern California national park that bears its name, as well as other parts of the American southwest.

"We have two new roads that were created inside the park. We had destruction of government property with the cutting of chains and locks for people to access campgrounds. We've never seen this level of out-of-bounds camping," Smith told the nonprofit news organization.

"They would just go out into the country, and then once 20 or 30 cars would go over it you would essentially have a new road created in pristine desert," Smith explained.

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With far fewer rangers patrolling the park's 1,200 square miles of desert landscape, preventing vandalism and damage has been a challenge. According to National Parks Traveler, only eight law enforcement rangers have been working through the shutdown.

"While the vast majority of those who visit Joshua Tree National Park do so in a responsible manner, there have been incidents of new roads being created by motorists and the destruction of Joshua trees in recent days that have precipitated the closure," the park said in a statement announcing it planned to close Thursday morning.

But late Wednesday, Joshua Tree changed course and announced the park wouldn't be closing after all. The national park said it had freed enough money from recreation fees to prevent the closure of outdoor areas, although most visitor centers won't operate. Some campgrounds, a road, a trail and a picnic area that were closed due to damage are set to reopen.

Authorities say the money will allow them to bring back maintenance staff to deal with problems.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Read Alix Martichoux's latest stories and send her news tips at amartichoux@sfchronicle.com.

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