Across the nation, National Parks are in need of infrastructure improvement with total maintenance backlog costs nearing $12 billion, up $440 million from last year.

Congress appropriated $90 million for non-transportation maintenance, while a new highway bill sets aside $28 million for park transportation projects.

However, National Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis says, “What we need is almost twice what has been appropriated.”

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area has over $84 million in improvement needs alone. In Utah, National Parks statewide report $292.5 million in backlogged maintenance with deteriorating paved roads being the biggest need.

Aging facilities, increasing use of those facilities, and scarce resources are the main sources of maintenance backlogs.