The federal government is opening again (or so it seems), bringing long-awaited relief to the agencies, contractors, and communities that depend on federal funding.

The latest government shutdown isn’t just a story about politics and paychecks; it’s about water. Across the country, towns and cities are watching vital clean water projects stall while federal agencies sit in limbo.

When the federal government shuts down, it isn’t just a matter of locked doors and furloughed employees. For the vast ecosystems of our national parks and the watersheds they sustain, the impacts can be far-reaching, long-lasting, and quietly destructive.