SANTA MARIA - The U.S. Department of Agriculture oversees and administers the Forest Service and the Los Padres National Forest.
The USDA estimates the automatic cuts under the sequester will slash as much as $2 billion from its annual budget and will force furloughs on one-third of its employees.
As a result, the USDA projects the closure of some 19,000 recreation sites including Forest campgrounds, picnic areas and trailheads under sequestration
Sequestration in the Forest Service would also most likely mean shorter operating hours for front and backcountry Ranger Stations.
The Forest Service would also be forced to reduce law enforcement staffing as well.
The projected cutbacks are not sitting well with taxpaying Forest lovers looking forward to spending time in the backcountry when the weather warms up.
"These are places for us to enjoy", says one Los Padres National Forest visitor, "it should be taken care of in a different way, not cutbacks there."
