Clear Lake State Park is included on a list of 48 state parks proposed for closure. State Parks Department photo.

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN UPDATED WITH NEW INFORMATION ON THE LOCAL PARKS' ANNUAL VISITS AND REVENUE. 

LAKE COUNTY – Lake County's only two state parks face closure as part of the governor's stringent budget plan for the coming fiscal year.

Anderson Marsh State Park in Lower Lake and Clear Lake State Park in Kelseyville are among the 48 state parks slated for closure in Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's 2008-09 draft budget, which he sent to the state Legislature on Thursday.

Schwarzenegger had warned during his State of the State Address Tuesday that he planned a “difficult” budget to meet the state's $14.5 billion deficit.

The budget document he produced this week contains 10-percent, across-the-board reductions in state departments in order to begin closing the budget gap. Some of the cuts, according to budget documents, go into effect as early as the fourth quarter of the 2007-08 budget.

Schwarzenegger proposes to cut the state Department of Parks and Recreation's budget by $1 million in the last quarter of 2007-08 and another $13.3 million in the 2008-09 fiscal year, according to a budget summary.

In all, the parks system would lose 129.2 positions, close 48 of 278 state parks and reduce seasonal lifeguards by a minimum 50 percent at state beaches in Orange, San Diego and Santa Cruz counties, the budget summary reports.

Besides Anderson Marsh and Clear Lake State Park, other North Coast parks proposed for closure are Del Norte Redwoods in Del Norte County; Manchester State Beach in Mendocino County; Grizzly Creek Redwoods in Humboldt County; and Austin Creek State Recreation Area and Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve in Sonoma County.

The California State Parks Foundation reports that Clear Lake State Park has 100,166 visitors annually, with revenue of $332,782. Anderson Marsh is visited by 43,499 people each year, generating $2,060 in revenue.

All seven of the parks listed above are located within Assemblywoman Patty Berg's First Assembly District. In total, their closures would mean the loss of more than 1.3 million visits annually, with revenue losses totaling approximately $742,274.

All seven of the parks listed above are located within Assemblywoman Patty Berg's First Assembly District.

Maria Aliferis-Gjerde, a spokesperson for Berg's office, said Friday that only Assemblyman Sam Blakeslee's 33^rd Assembly District – which includes parts of San Luis Obispo and Santa Cruz counties – is facing so many closures.

Berg joined other state and local leaders in decrying the severity of the cuts.

“It is a sad and pessimistic view of the future that says we need to give up our parks,” Berg said in a statement issued to Lake County News Friday. “It’s short-sighted and wrong and people won’t go for it.”

Berg said Schwarzenegger's plans will damage everything from parks and schools to college and public safety. “Republicans always say ‘cut, cut, cut,’ and this is just one example of how that mindset damages our California lifestyle,” she said. “Closing parks is not a good solution to solving our long-term budget problems. Californians deserve better from their governor. We need creativity and vision to solve this budget.”

State Senator Pat Wiggins said Schwarzenegger's proposal would erode the state's quality of life.

“The governor said that he had an open mind when it came to fixing the budget, but shutting down beaches and parks, which draw millions of visitors and millions of tourists’ dollars each year, and cutting game wardens is both short-sighted and irresponsible,” Wiggins said in a Friday statement.

She added, “A commitment to reduced spending for schools, for kids, for our parks and for our natural resources is a commitment to mediocrity.”

Lake County News could not reach state or local Department of Parks and Recreation officials on Friday for comment on the fiscal impact of closing the local parks.

Supervisor Ed Robey said that many officials were in Sacramento on Friday to attend meetings to learn more about the fiscal crisis.

Among them was County Administrative Officer Kelly Cox. Robey said he expected Cox to return with a clearer sense of what impacts Lake County could expect, which extend well beyond the parks issue to include possible delays in gas tax payments and other much-needed state funding.

Robey said small rural counties like Lake stand to be hurt the most by cutbacks in services and funding. He challenged the notion that closing the small local state parks would save much money.

Local groups watch, wait for news

For the local organizations who support the county's two state parks, the news was shocking.

“Parks are for people,” said Clearlake Oaks resident Leona Butts, a director of the Clear Lake State Park Interpretive Association. “Where do they go for safe, outdoor experiences?”

Clear Lake State Park doesn't just offer great opportunities to enjoy the outdoors; Butts said it also has an economic impact locally, thanks in part to its 147 camp sites.

Madelene Lyon, Clear Lake State Park Interpretive Association president, said the group found out about the possible park closures at a Thursday board meeting.

Such severe measures have been threatened in the past, said Lyon, who added that she's afraid they might actually occur now. Lyon added, however, that the group doesn't know what might happen.

The interpretive association has been working hard on a plan to build a new education pavilion at the site, said Lyon. Regarding that plan, she said, “We are in sort of a limbo right at the moment.”

Similarly, members of the Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association also found out about the proposed cuts Thursday, and were just as worried.

Roberta Lyons, president of the Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association, said the threat of the park's closure comes at a time when Anderson Marsh is the focus of increased community interest and support.

“A lot of people are starting to get really excited about Anderson Marsh, and now they're saying they're going to close it,” said Lyons.

She added, “We can't live with closing the park.”

Robert Riggs, another Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association member, said the park is undergoing a revitalization with the help of businesses, schools and local cultural contributors. The progress has been manifested in the Old Time Bluegrass Festival which has been extremely popular and successful the last two years, he said.

The group has generated seed money from the festival to begin work on park improvements, said Riggs. Those plans include a discovery center, said Anna McAtee, the park association's treasurer.

“While we understand that the state is facing a severe budget shortage which has resulted in a proposal to close many parks, not just Anderson Marsh, the Anderson Marsh State Historical Park is an extremely cost effective facility that operates with low overhead,” said Riggs.

Riggs said the interpretive association's board considers the threatened closure a grave issue. At the group's Thursday meeting they resolved to work with the state parks department to find a way to keep the park open.

McAtee said Anderson Marsh already has struggled with reduced funding and resources over the last several years.

That includes a reduction down to part-time staff and no permanent ranger, which has resulted in the park only being open Tuesday through Saturday. Tours of the ranch itself also haven't taken place in some time due to staffing, McAtee added.

Tom Nixon had worked as a ranger at the park, said McAtee, as well as Clear Lake State Park, but Nixon and wife Val, also a park staffer, recently retired.

If the park closed, McAtee said, “The gates will be closed, the public won't be allowed to go into the park.”

She added, though, that the group is in a “wait and see” mode. “What happens, really and truly, is anyone's guess.”

What seems certain is that if the two parks closed, the events that they host each year would be lost as well, or at the very least forced to find new venues.

In the case of Clear Lake State Park, it hosts the annual Heron Festival and Wildflower Brunch, as well as regular bird and nature hikes, said Butts.

Anderson Marsh's Old Time Bluegrass Festival – now in its third year has supported a local history program for third graders in the Konocti Unified School District and a science camp for the Children's Museum of Arts and Science, which is a partner in the discovery center project, said McAtee.

She surmised that the bluegrass festival, the annual Christmas at Anderson Marsh, and trail hikes and birding could all be lost if the park closed.

Butts also pointed out that both parks offer environmental education opportunities for schools and school children, with summer Junior Ranger programs available to both visitors and residents.

Robey, who this year will mark 28 years in public service, said he's “never seen anything like this,” when it comes to proposed state budget cuts.

He suggested that state government got into its current situation for a variety of reasons. For one, when times were good and the economy was strong, the state expanded programs which continued to grow when tougher times arrived.

The state also has continued to use bonds and other methods of trying to deal with their debt issues, said Robey. “They've used up all of their other methods. That's what I think is going on. They're desperate.”

That, said Robey, leaves them with one solution – to cut back. But the bailout is likely to come at the expense of local governments, “where the rubber hits the road.”

One avenue of cutbacks Robey pointed to isn't being taken. He noted that there is no suggestion that legislators should cut their salaries after giving themselves a raise last year.

In May the actual budget should begin to solidify, said Robey. “Right now, it's all just talk. But it's going to have major impacts on us.”

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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yellowwing Registered | 01-12-2008 10:47:26 I believe this is just the first step to getting the people of California to agree to an increase in taxes. Between the parks, the poor and the early release of prisoners we are being set up. The budget process needs to change. Unless there is a guarantee of revenue the legislature should not budget to spend reviews they do not have. Obviously who ever is guesstimating isn't doing a good job. There should not be budget items with a guarantee of a revenue if the total revenue available does not appear. If California is going to release "low risk" offenders, why bother prosecuting?

Donna Christopher - How come a 10% Author | 01-12-2008 11:16:22 across the board cut in State parks equates to a 100% closure of State parks in Lake County? You're right yellowwing, we are being trussed up to accommodate a tax increase, but we've known for a long time its either increase taxes or reduce services. Ahnuld is not done playing politician so it will be interesting watching (in a morbid way)what else gets cut in lieu of tax hikes.

helenemw - Our only two State parks!!! Registered | 01-12-2008 13:37:23 Sounds pretty unfair to me that they propose closing our Counties only two State parks. Where is our representation?????? I imagine the State needs the money to feed, clothe, educate and put roofs over the heads of all the illegal aliens that keep coming here!!! Maybe they'll make camps for the homeless out of them!!! I repeat - where is our representation?

Rhyschenda - Wrong, wrong, wrong Registered | 01-12-2008 17:36:45 Doesn't this go against all those ads the gubinator starred in promoting California Tourism? "Come to California, there won't be anything to do but stay in 5 star hotels. Leave the kids at home." This will cost jobs not only at the parks, but for the support services outside the individual parks. Isn't Lake County's jobless rate high enough?

firecarp - Just out of curiosity Registered | 01-12-2008 18:08:39 I'd like to know, how much the raise our legislators voted for themselves amounts to in total? When was there last raise? A bunch of fat cats passing each others pet projects. Our parks being chosen must come down to the amount of revenue gained per year by keeping them open is lower than 230 other state parks. It's trickle down time, another casualty of Bush's war!

elarson - Raise info Super Administrator | 01-12-2008 18:41:36 According to a December article by Jim Sanders of the Sacramento Bee, legislators received a 2.75-percent raise at the start of December 2007, which amounted to $3,110 per year. Attorney General Jerry Brown and Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell each received 5-percent pay raises, amounting to close to $9,000 per year. Four Senate and nine Assembly members declined the raises, as did Gov. Schwarzenegger, Sanders reported. Those who declined them did not include our North Coast legislators, according to a list published by the Sac Bee. California legislators are the highest paid in the United States. Sanders said that between 1995 and 2005, California's legislators received no raises, but since 2005 have had their salaries rise by more than $17,000. "Besides their $116,208 salary, legislators are entitled to roughly $34,000 annually in tax-free per diem for living expenses while in Sacramento," Sanders wrote. There are 119 lawmakers and 12 constitutional officers in the state government. To see the full story visit www.sacbee.com/111/story/537646-p2.html.

taxismom - Just because he has to IP:12.218.146.xxx | 01-12-2008 21:14:51 Quote: by Randy Bayne http://bayneofblog.blogspot.com/ Governor Schwarzenegger release a budget today that everyone can hate. Of course, if you know anything about California politics, you know this isn't the real budget. It is the annual exercise that the state's Constitution demands; a proposal for a balanced budget from the Governor. Now the work begins. In the merry month of May the Governor will release a revision, the Legislature will tear it apart and in June will watch a deadline pass as they talk some more. By July a second deadline will pass and sometime in August or September (maybe) we'll have a budget that won't look anything like what Schwarzenegger proposed today. Then again, everything could go along on time and we'll have a budget on July 1. Yeah, right... Today's exercise of budget release and Democratic response was just that, an exercise. The Governor knows that what he is proposing will not be what comes out at the end, and Speaker Fabian Nuñez and Senate President Pro-Tem Don Perata know it too. That's why their response to the budget was so reserved. There will be a lot of shouting about suspension of Proposition 98 and cuts to Health and Human Services, but those cuts aren't likely to materialize. Not on the scale that Schwarzenegger wants. It would be devastating to California's poor and kids requiring teacher layoffs and the loss of vital services. Like I said, today's budget proposal was done because it has to be done, not because this proposal has any connection to reality. But it will get people excited. [i]Contact Patty Berg's field office in Ukiah at 463-5770 Senator Wiggins Ukiah office at 468-8914[/i]

James - Real economics 101 Registered | 01-13-2008 07:22:48 You can't spend more than you take in and borrow for the short fall, not save for that rainy day without problems. Its driven by politics, Thats just the way it is.

lcsage - I am so sick Registered | 01-13-2008 10:34:28 of this fiscal mess our state is into. I think if we get rid of those East Coast transplants that have infiltrated our political systems and stick to native sons and daughters, we might d/c some of the spendthrift ways of mexifornia even if it means we split the state and get rid of the ones that pander to illegals, etc. with our tax money. Yeah, let the casinos flourish if it means we will really get a big chunk of change for the treasury. Thanks for the good reporting, Liz.

socolake - More Info Registered | 01-13-2008 11:20:15 This is an excellent article. What I need to know is what these parks cost to maintain. I feel that both parks are able to support themselves without additional user fees. I also wonder why Napa was able to avoid park closures. Bothe and Robert Louis Stevenson parks in Napa operate similar to the Lake County parks. Maybe you could use a PIA request to find out which parks generate revenue that matches their operating budgets. I would be interested in knowing if the proposed park closures are related to their ability to balance their budgets or if there other reasons.

elarson - We'll get that info Super Administrator | 01-13-2008 17:28:17 Actually, I called the state parks office on Friday, and made a very specific request for just the info you're talking about, but they didn't get back to me. I also tried calling the local parks supervisor, and no call back from him, either. It looks like they may have been in Sac trying to do damage control. I'll call again on Monday and make another request, and will write a followup article as soon as I can with that information. My guess is that Anderson Marsh has very little overhead thanks to its volunteer staff, but CLSP certainly will have more. What's interesting is that CLSP brings in a lot more money than many North Coast parks -- including Armstrong Woods, which has about eight times the visitors as CLSP. The thing to keep is mind is, this probably is a worst-case scenario budget that the governor doesn't expect to go through. But rural counties like ours will likely take the brunt of the bad stuff if the citizens don't rally. And I'm already seeing efforts on behalf of citizens to do just that.

socolake - this sucks IP:69.85.176.xxx | 01-13-2008 11:36:15 change it!

ICU2 - we the people Registered | 01-14-2008 08:17:24 lead into ruins by the terminator. Think he's just acting? There are no retakes in real life.....hummmm, Don't think he played a governor role before. If you care about your state, get a voice and vote for those with a track record in governing.....He'll be back!....er um a please not another actor!

taxismom - thank you lake county voters Registered | 01-14-2008 11:11:33 A personal thanks must go out to every single mouth breathing knucklehead in california who first of all, in 2003, swallowed hook line and sinker the bait that was rigged so skillfully and twitched in front of their noses, that put a recall on the ballot and gave us this deluded, self serving corporatist of an executive leader in California. Here are the relevant october 2003 results for Lake County Recall question Yes -9,799 No - 8,149 Governor Bustamente - 5137 Schwarzenegger - 8,003 http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2003_special/contents.htm I would further like to acknowledge those knuckleheads and all the rest of the of the sheep who carried this disaster forward in November of 2006 and pulled the lever for, and are now personally responsible for this craptacular state of affairs we now find ourselves in. Here are the november 2006 voter turnout stats for lake county Angelides - 7,031 Schwarzenegger - 10,930 Noonan - 255 Camejo - 615 Olivier - 323 Jordan - 275 http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2006_general/contents.htm So it appears that cud chewing ovines, who dont have enough sense to be able to tell the difference between an action figure and a thinking human being, and sadly walk among us here in Lake County are in the majority.... Thanks again to spineless Democrats, who want to 'get along' and 'be polite'. Elections have consquences...and here they are in spades. If anybody thinks this has anything to do with raising taxes you havent been paying attention (color me amazed) Please pick up the clue phone......massive privatization is going to be proposed. An extra special hat tip to all the Grover Norquist enablers out there, we are now officially drowning. Getting all excised over the state park closure proposal is the first step, and a nice diversion for our anger but I would submit to you that services to our families, funds for our first responders, monies for infrastructure and resource delivery,the care of sick, our elderly and the education of our children from pre-school to post secondary will all be on the auction block in the upcoming months. Watch for calls for more 'charter schools', the privatization of Healthy Families, Medi-cal services, CalWorks, and on and on all as a sop to our corporate masters. We will be faced with no win choices - hand our services and infrastructure and public spaces over to profit making entities or do without - oh yeah I forgot, ownership society ---- we're on our own. For anyone attending any upcoming BOS meetings, bringing a gas mask is recommended. The quantities of noxious fumes that will be spewing from the lips of our three favorite triangulators,from Dist 1,2 and 4, and our 'get the government off my back' neanderthal who represents district 5, as they try to position themselves on the decisions that will have to be made this year, two of whom will be shoring up re-election bids, will measure off the charts. My personal thanks again to every one of those four, who worked hard to alienate our state legislators in 2005 by voting to send a 'no confidence' letter to Assemblywoman Berg and then State Senator Chesbro. If we expect advocacy in Sacramento, this does not appear to be the best course of action june 2005 http://tiny.cc/MBNLmc july 2005 http://tiny.cc/w59g5 Is there any wonder as to why we get no respect in Sacramento?

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