The Los Angeles Times today profiles Bodie as an example of the deep challenges facing the State Park system.

Los Angeles Times: California seeks sponsors for state parks

The busy days of midsummer are in full swing, we’re even seeing visitation numbers higher than previous years. So far it has been a great summer for thunderstorms!

WEATHER
Warm, with highs in the 80s and lows in the 50s. Nearby thunderstorms are keeping the sky very interesting. On Sunday afternoon it rained in Lee Vining for half an hour.!Thunderstorms remain in the forecast through (more…)

In this dry year Los Angeles has added extra emphasis to its water conservation campaign, including mandatory limitations on outdoor watering. The numbers now show that Los Angeles residents are making big conservation strides: water demand in June dropped 11% over last year, hitting a new 32-year low.

Full story in the Los Angeles Times: Water demand in Los Angeles reaches a 32-year low, DWP says

Governor Schwarzenegger made additional cuts to the state budget today before signing it. Preliminary information is that the State Park system took another $6 million in cuts on top of the already planned $8 million, bringing the total cut to $14 million. As a result 100 park units may shut down.

With a state budget vote scheduled for tonight, more details of the budget deal are coming out including the now-available Assembly Floor Report. Here’s the analysis of the budget’s effect on the State Park system (emphasis added):

Reduces the Department of Parks and Recreation’s operations budget by $8 million (General Fund). This reduction will be partnered with a combination of special fund loans and reversions of prior year unexpended funds that, together, will have a total General Fund savings of $70 million. This proposal will result in the closure of roughly 50 state parks. The Department will determine through a cost benefit analysis which parks will be closed and when.

Coming to Mono Lake for vacation? Bringing friends to Mono Lake for a visit? Looking for something fun to do while you’re here? Look no further: you can plan your whole Mono Lake visit right here.

Mono Lake Committee intern Claire Skinner explains Mono Lake's history to a group of visitors at South Tufa. Photo by Elin Ljung.

Together, the Mono Lake Committee, US Forest Service, and Mono Lake Tufa State Reserve provide 50 interpretive programs each week! That’s enough for all your friends and family to get out and about and experience the splendor of the Mono Basin many different ways.

For newcomers to the Mono Basin, start the visit with (more…)

California legislative leaders and the Governor struck a budget deal Monday night to close California’s $26.3 billion deficit. It appears the deal mostly, but not entirely, averts shutting down the State Park system as previously threatened. The deal requires legislative approval and is scheduled for a vote on Thursday.

Apparently the deal includes the full $70 million cut to the State Park system, as proposed by the Governor, but then backfills with other funds to produce a net $8 million cut. State Parks will also have to accommodate the planned three furlough days per month for state employees, which reduces work hours by 15%.

The result is that some parks are still expected to close, perhaps on the order of 30. Which ones are as yet unknown, though reports suggest decisions will be based on popularity, use, costs, and legal requirements.

Mono Lake and Bodie are both incredibly popular, serving over a half million visitors annually, so we are optimistic that both will remain open and staffed, though probably at reduced levels.

But it’s never over until it’s over. And the budget saga is far from done. (more…)

Mono Basin Bird Chautauqua participants asked to be able to see photos taken during the event, and voila, a special Flickr group just for you! We’ve posted a bunch of shots from this year, now it’s your turn to add to the flock. We’d love to see some birds, mammals, reptiles and such from you critter (more…)

Reports indicate a California budget deal should be assembled today, with a vote likely later this week. The fate of the State Park system in that deal has yet to be announced.

In the meantime, the threat to the State Park system has drawn national and international attention–and concern. Here are recent articles and editorials that underscore the value of parks:

New York Times: California’s Budget Crisis and the Parks

The Guardian (United Kingdom): California poised to shut gates on great outdoors as parks struggle with budgets

Artist Ane Carla Rovetta with one of her paintings in the Mono Lake Committee gallery. Photo by Arya Degenhardt.

Join us in the Mono Lake Committee gallery tomorrow, Saturday, July 18 from 3:00–5:00 pm for an artist reception for pastel painter Ane Carla Rovetta! Ane Carla’s show, “Impressions from the silent sage … Great Basin paintings,” is now on display in the Mono Lake Committee gallery, and has garnered rave reviews for several months.

Ane Carla Rovetta’s formal training was as a zoologist. Like the artisans of the European Renaissance, she is committed to the practice of art and science as kindred disciplines. Ane Carla has spent (more…)