Visitors to one of California’s national parks have reported brown, foul-smelling water from drinking spigots.

Outdoor education course director Andrew Snow told local media that one of the spigots near his campsite in Pinnacles National Park was producing "pretty gnarly" brown water. Snow, who was leading a week-long outdoor program for middle school students, approached a camp host about the issue.

The camp host reportedly explained that the maintenance worker who normally checks the water spigots every few days was unable to perform the task due to the ongoing government shutdown. Snow told reporters he was advised to leave the spigot open for about an hour to flush the system, which made a stark difference.

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The Pinnacles National Park campground is operated by a private company, Pinnacles Recreation Company, under contract with the National Park Service (NPS).

While the exact cause of the discoloration is unclear, experts suggest it could be the result of leaves, dirt and natural tannins.

Despite the reports, NPS told the media, “Water operators are running at full capacity and we have not received complaints from visitors about the water.”

Pinnacles National Park is California’s newest and smallest national park at just 26,606 acres.

An NPS spokesperson emphasized the challenges posed by the shutdown, telling local outlets: “It is important to note that this is one of the busiest times of year for this park. The rugged terrain and semi-arid setting mean that carrying sufficient water in the outdoors is essential. We’d also like to add that we are extremely proud of the dedicated employees and partners who continue to serve the public during this challenging time. Our team is working hard to keep Pinnacles National Park accessible and safe for visitors.”

The park remains open to the public, though services such as the visitor center and nature center are limited.