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Federal Government Shutdown Effects in Wisconsin

Wonder_Al, Flickr

Among federal agencies sending workers home in Wisconsin - Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, U.S. Geological Survey's water monitoring center and Fort McCoy.

The budget impasse in Washington is forcing some federal agencies to close or furlough workers including, in Wisconsin.

In the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, workers routed out campers, closed boat rentals and concession stands and chained gates, before heading home. All national parks have closed.

The U.S. Geological Survey's office in Middleton monitors water quality and levels in Wisconsin's rivers and streams. Spokesman John Walker says equipment will continue gathering data and an employee will remain on call in case of flooding or other emergency, but otherwise, workers are no longer on duty.

Nearly 900 civilian workers at Fort McCoy in western Wisconsin have been furlough and left their jobs. However, the military training exercises planned for a South Dakota Army unit will continue as scheduled, so will the fort's deer hunt for people with disabilities this coming week.