SACRAMENTO – Two bills authored by Sen. Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa) intended to bolster the California State Park system in the wake of pending park closures and budget cuts, were approved Tuesday by the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee.

The bills, SB 974 and SB 1078, address the 70 California State Parks slated for closure July 1, 2012—20 of those parks are in her Second Senatorial District along the North Coast of California.

“State Parks are an integral part of California’s environmental and historic legacy,” said Senator Evans. “These bills provide assurance that despite today's budget cuts, our parks will be made whole and economically sustainable.”

SB 974 (State Parks Closures) would require the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) to annually and formally review state park closures and revise the closure list if closures are unwarranted, unnecessary or counter to deed restrictions.

Economic impacts on local communities would have to be considered and there would be opportunity for public input.

Importantly, the bill requires DPR to develop a plan to reopen each park closed that takes into account the involvement of the local community and the potential for the reduction of environmental and economic costs.

The bill passed with a 7-2 vote and will next be heard in Senate Appropriations.

SB 1078 (Parks Revenue Generation) would sharpen the DPRs’ focus on expanding revenue opportunities.

The bill establishes within DPR a system-wide Innovation Team charged with evaluating and implementing new revenue generation programs for parks.

The team will examine many proposals including new marketing programs for park passes, which could include selling passes at retail outlets and cooperative agreements with FasTrak.

SB 1078 also localizes revenue generation with the creation of local Innovation Working Groups who, working with community advisory boards, would develop five-year business plans for individual parks or park districts.

The bill passed with a unanimous vote (8-0) and will next be heard in Senate Appropriations.

The Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee also approved two other Evans’ bills intended to improve the state’s response to oil spills and invasive species.

SB 1192 (Oiled Wildlife Care Network ) would give the state’s renowned volunteer-driven Oiled Wildlife Care Network (OWCN) more flexible funding by allowing the state’s existing Oil Spill and Administration Fund to cover volunteer training and preparedness.

This bill will help ensure that the OWCN would continue to be ready to respond quickly and effectively in the event of an oil spill.

The bill passed with a 6-2 vote and will next be heard in Senate Appropriations.

SB 1251 (Invasive Species) would convene a statewide Aquatic Invasive Species Task Working Group of Stakeholders to develop recommendations to the Legislature and the Department of Fish and Game to set invasive species control priorities, develop a reliable revenue stream, and  improve coordination among agencies.

The invasion of quagga mussels, the ludwigia plant  and many other exotic organisms clog the state’s drinking water delivery pipelines and threaten Lake Tahoe, Clear Lake the Russian River and other natural waterways.

The bill passed with a 7-2 vote and will next be heard in Senate Appropriations.

“Our natural resources in California are of critical importance to protect,” continued Evans. “Without plans in place that address our vulnerabilities, California could endure disasters in our ecosystems that would take many lifetimes to remedy.”

State Senator Noreen Evans represents the Second Senatorial District, including all or portions of the Counties of Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Solano and Sonoma. Evans chairs the Legislative Women’s Caucus and the Committee on Judiciary.