Stopgap repairs have kept the building safe for visitors, but the cracks in the walls aren't getting any smaller. And minimal increases in federal funding aren't enough to rebuild.

"It's this gradual but discernible loss of buying power — you keep putting off those kind of projects," said Ron Tipton, vice president for programs with the National Parks Conservation Association.

The independent park advocacy group is adding a regional office in Salt Lake City this summer, in partnership with the Grand Canyon Trust, a nonprofit conservation organization.

Unlike some national parks in more heavily populated regions, development and sprawl aren't big issues for the ones in Utah. The land is rugged and remote and not really suitable for subdivisions or strip malls.

Tipton said Utah's parks have actually done pretty well in keeping up with visitor services. But managing problems such as invasive species and protecting archaeological sites aren't getting the attention they need, he said.

A report released last week by the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees listed concerns including safety, longer emergency response times and threatened protected resources in addition to deferred maintenance at parks around the country.

Shuffling significant money from a budget that already has to cover the war in Iraq and relief from last fall's devastating hurricanes isn't going to happen.

But Bill Supernaugh, an NPS employee for nearly 38 years and former superintendent of Badlands National Park in South Dakota, hopes visitors will push members of Congress to keep up the funding. He said if visitors notice slightly less upkeep in the parks this summer, they can blame the budget.

"In today's environment, it will be an uphill battle, but we would be remiss if we didn't make the effort," Supernaugh said. "We want to keep people aware of what they have and what they eventually might lose."

At Capitol Reef, Hendricks is expecting a typical summer. He said the scenic drive fee is staying put at $5, which visitors can leave at a self-serve entrance.

Hendricks is awaiting his new chief ranger, a position that opened last fall because of a retirement.

Capitol Reef could use a larger visitor center and Hendricks has a pending request, but right now that kind of project isn't on the horizon.

"There's always the opportunity to do more, but I think we have been successful in maintaining our facilities," he said. "I recognize that the real judge of that is asking the people who come here."

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On the Net:

www.nps.gov/care/

www.nps.gov/zion/