48 California Parks Threatened with Closure,
including Clear Lake State Park and Anderson Marsh

The Governor's proposal to squeeze some meager and probably illusory savings out of the state budget by closing 48 parks and beaches (map), has met the strongest opposition from the Sierra Club. Both Clear Lake State Park and Anderson Marsh State Historic Park are on the block, creating universal outrage in Lake County, accompanied by an unprecedented level of collaboration to prevent the closures from taking place.

The effects of this shortsighted (not to say stupid) action would be so negative as to verge on the catastrophic. The lakeshore habitat protected in both parks has become rare and precious, especially in the case of Anderson Marsh, which includes the largest remaining fragment of shoreline wetlands left to us; both contain archeological sites of great significance; both shelter many species of wildlife; both provide opportunities for low impact recreation of immense value to county residents and visitors alike. Each park hosts a vibrant outdoor festival (April's Heron Festival at CLSP and September's Bluegrass Festival at AM) and welcomes school groups for special functions throughout the year, and -- quite ironically at this juncture -- volunteer interpretative associations in each park are currently engaged in massive facilities expansion projects that would be of great value to the community.

Aside from being both a travesty and a tragedy, the meager savings from closing these parks wouldn't even result in a net gain to the state budget after deducting direct losses from diminished Transient Occupancy and sales tax revenues generated by park visitors. Potential costs to the people of California from deterioration of public property, increased legal liabilities, and diminished prosperity are incalculable. For a full account of the park closures with some history and comments from many Lake County leaders, see the articles in the January 12 Lake County News, the January 15 Record-Bee, and Terry Knight's column of the same date. CLSP was one of five featured parks described in a January 17 San Francisco Chronicle article on the closures.

Similar arguments probably apply to the other 46 parks and beaches that the Governor has put on the block (map), but as the budget jockeying process moves ahead during the next several months the protection of our own two parks will depend on their getting high priority status. Fortunately both Assemblymember Patty Berg and State Senator Patricia Wiggins are strongly supportive, and have promised to do all they can in our behalf -- but to be effective, they need the help of the community. We have to bombard the Governor with phone calls, letters, and (best of all) faxes, all with the same basic message: keep Lake County state parks OPEN!

Phone number: (916) 445-2841

Postal address: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814

Fax: 916-558-3160

As always, your own words will convey the strongest message, but there's a great deal of power in sheer numbers too, so don't hesitate to download a form letter if you don't have time to compose your own Be sure to include your full name and address, and please send copies to Senator Wiggins and Assemblymember Berg

The Lake Group is also working collaboratively with the Lakeport Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Clearlake Chamber of Commerce to make petitions available in many places of business throughout the county. Working together, we can stop this shortsighted and destructive assault on two of the brightest jewels in Lake County's crown.