California parks face environmental, funding threats, report says

By: Associated Press | Thursday, February 24, 2005 11:50 PM PST ∞

Budget cuts, lack of maintenance and encroaching suburban development are imperiling California's state parks, according to a recent report.

In its second annual "State of Our State Parks" analysis, the California State Parks Foundation notes six imminent threats to California's 278 state parks, which encompass about 1.5 million acres.

The threats include road building, a proposed high-speed rail system, maintenance backlogs, overuse and water pollution, according to the report, which was prepared from a survey of 780 people.

Elizabeth Goldstein, the foundation's president, said a high-speed rail system proposed to run up and down the state could cut off wildlife migration routes and damage natural resources in nearby state parks.

"We're not against the concept of a high-speed rail system," Goldstein said. "If properly planned and constructed, it could be an environmental gain. But as it stands now, there are 22 parks that would be affected by the rail system. And nine parks would be bisected by railways."

Visitors to state parks spend more than $2.6 billion a year in surrounding communities, and more than 100,000 jobs statewide depend on park visitors, according to the report, issued this week.

Goldstein said more needs to be done to promote sustainable development as the population grows and encroaches on park boundaries.

"The California dream is absolutely around having a home and a little bit of land to call your own, but it's also about being able to experience the incredible landscape. Californians want both of these," Goldstein said, adding that the state needs to grow in a "smart way."

Compared to the foundation's report last year, "We're not in terribly much better financial shape," Goldstein added.

Roy Stearns, a spokesman for the state Department of Parks and Recreation, said his agency is also concerned about resource degradation from road building and railways.

"Whenever habitat is bisected by roads or rails, it is fragmented and diminished," Stearns said.

He said his agency has advisers involved in the planning processes for the rail project and road building in and around parks.

The report also notes a nearly $900 million maintenance backlog for state parks, made worse, Stearns said, by the state's multibillion dollar budget deficit.

"We're trying to find better ... funding sources that keep the park system healthy," he said. "There's a saying around here: 'Parks are first in the people's hearts, and last in their wallets."'

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