Word Friday that the partial government shutdown would be lifted for three weeks, if not longer, was welcomed by groups concerned about the state of the National Park System. But they also called on Congress to ensure a similar event never happens again.

As the plan came together Friday afternoon, the temporary lifting of the shutdown would run to February 15. At that date, if no long-term agreement for funding the government and addressing border security wasn't reached, President Trump said he might shutter the government once again.

“The news of an agreement to fully reopen the federal government and put our 800,000 men and women back to work, and with pay, is a welcome one. This shutdown, the longest in U.S. history, has taken its toll in so many ways. Federal employees have gone unpaid, businesses have been hit hard and our national parks have suffered," said Theresa Pierno, president and CEO of the National Parks Conservation Association. "Fully reopening the federal government will mean so much to so many. Federal employees will finally get paid and be able to return to their jobs.

"For rangers, it will mean returning to our national parks, assessing the terrible damage done to them while they were open with such limited staff, and once again welcoming visitors to the places they all love," she added. "Now is when the real work begins. The damage done to our parks will be felt for weeks, months or even years."

During the partial shutdown, during which the National Park System was given a skeleton staff to greet visitors, vandalism and damage was reported. The most egregious report came from Joshua Tree National Park in California, where park staff reported at least two Joshua trees were toppled, locks on gates were cut off, and some off-road enthusiasts drove across the pristine Mojave desert.

At Big Bend National Park in Texas, motorists in SUVs drove around barriers into closed sections of the park, while Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks in California were closed because of sanitation and safety issues created, in part, by garbage overflowing trash cans and restrooms that couldn't handle the load of human waste. Off-roaders also made tracks illegally in Death Valley National Park, which also had reports of illegal camping.

At the Trust for Public Land, President and CEO Diane Regas said funding for the National Park Service should never lapse again.

“Our treasured national parks must be fully staffed and funded, not just for the next three weeks, but every week of the year. Reopening the government for the full year is the right next step that Congress and the president must take to protect our parks," she said. "We now need an immediate, comprehensive assessment of the damages our parks suffered during the shutdown and urge Congress to provide supplemental funding to the National Park Service to cover the costs of cleanup and repair at every affected unit.

"We are hopeful that Congress and the president will find a permanent solution, but if the government funding lapses again, we encourage leaders to either close the parks or fully fund the Department of Interior to avoid any continued damage to our parks and unsafe situations for visitors," added Regas.