'We Will Return Your Call As Soon As the Government Reopens'

You can't close a river, but the federal government shutdown has closed National Park Service facilities in the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. 

Call the local riverway office Tuesday morning and you get this recording:

"Because of the federal government shutdown, the St. Croix River Visitors Center and all National Park facilities at the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway are currently closed. Please leave a message and we will return your call as soon as the government reopens."

The park website was working until about 9:30 a.m., when it began redirecting to a nearly blank National Park Service shutdown page with this brief message: 

"Because of the federal government shutdown, all national parks are closed and National Park Service webpages are not operating. For more information, go to www.doi.gov."The visitors center in St. Croix Falls was scheduled to close for the season on Oct. 27. The Arcola Mills visitors center was set to close Oct. 21. (The Namekagon River Visitor Center closed Labor Day.)

How is the government shutdown affecting you? Leave a comment below. 

Related at Hudson Patch: 

• National Park Service Urges 'Extreme Caution' As Ice Out Occurs
• U.S. Government Shutdown Won't Affect St. Croix Crossing