Sunrise light on a grove of tufa towers emerging from the water of Mono Lake with soft green and dusty-red wild grasses in the foreground, Canada geese in the shallow water with reflections of the rocky towers, and desert hills in the distance.

Most state parks appear to get lifeline in California budget deal

State Park Closure Action Alert CenterCalifornia 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.

First, the Committee will be working hard to make sure that Mono Lake and Bodie are part of the final operating plan for 2009-2010. This will require continued advocacy for the parks and development of creative ideas on how to support the State Parks agencies continued operations in these special places.

Second, the long term future for parks is still in jeopardy and we may well end up back in the same dire situation by next year. This is because the state budget actually does strip all general fund money for the Department of Parks and Recreation, as originally proposed by the Governor. This week’s deal backfills that cut from other sources but it’s a one year arrangement, meaning there is currently no funding in the pipeline for parks 2010-2011

Public support for parks has made a difference

The huge outpouring of letters, petitions, and personal stories calling for the protection of state parks at Mono Lake, Bodie, and statewide played a tremendous role here. Thank you for standing up for state parks!

The Mono Lake Committee delivered over 2,600 individual letters to the “Big 5” budget negotiators and our two local elected representatives in Sacramento. On top of that we’ve also delivered 5,000 petition signatures gathered by park supporters throughout Mono County. Legislators received a very clear message that Mono Lake and Bodie are incredibly important and special places for all Californians-plus a clear reminder that closing parks would damage the local economy and diminish future state revenue.

Here at the Mono Lake Committee we’ve been impressed again and again by the depth and scope of people’s commitment to Mono Lake and Bodie. Thank you for speaking up!

Right now we’re finishing delivery of letters and petition signatures collected in the past few days. Once the budget deal is finalized we’ll identify the next steps to protect our parks, and we’ll be sure to let you know where public input can make a difference.