Tom Wagner

The supervisor of the White Mountain National Forest is stepping down.

Tom Wagner announced this week that he’s retiring at the beginning of September. He’s served in the role for 15 years, overseeing 800,000 acres of forest in New Hampshire and western Maine.

The extent to which the federal shutdown will hurt the White Mountain National Forest – and tourism - will depend on how long the shutdown continues, says forest supervisor Tom Wagner.

Wagner says the current workforce – about 120 people – will be cut to sixteen.

That’s to cover 800,000 acres.

People can still enjoy the views and the trails. But there’s a question about facilities.

If the federal government shuts down at midnight it will affect the White Mountain National Forest at a time when many tourists are headed there for fall foliage.

The White Mountain National Forest covers about 800,000 acres and normally has about 120 full or part-time employees, says Tom Wagner, the forest supervisor.

If the federal government shuts down more than 100 of them will be off work.

“Sixteen of those employees between our law enforcement and our line officers at each office will continue to work if this is an extended shutdown," Wagner said.

The White Mountain National Forest is getting some help with repairing damage done by Tropical Storm Irene.

NHPR’s Chris Jensen reports.

The White Mountain National Forest got some good news from the non-profit National Forest Foundation Wednesday.

That’s according to Tom Wagner, the White Mountain National Forest supervisor.

“They hope to raise a $1 million of private funds that would be matched by a $1 million of Forest Service funds.”