Chattahoochee River parks open, but tread lightly

The federal government shutdown is having ripple effects throughout the country as hundreds of thousands of employees are furloughed.

Why it matters: At the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, that means you can still visit.

• But don't expect park programming, an open visitors center or regular trash collection until Congress can reach a compromise, according to the Chattahoochee National Park Conservancy.

Zoom in: Bathrooms will be open but not regularly restocked or cleaned, the park's official nonprofit friends group said in an email. Park staff won't be available to answer questions.

• The National Park Service emergency services are working but might have limited resources. Call 911 for local law enforcement assistance.

The bottom line: The parks are officially closed but you can still jog or hike at the Chattahoochee River.

• But please tread lightly, leave a small footprint and pick up the dog poop.