Difference between revisions of "California Department of Parks and Recreation (State Parks)"

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''' Natural Resources '''
 
''' Natural Resources '''
  
Through the acquisition of land, State Park's goal is to connect essential habitat, gain sensitive watersheds, and provide a buffer for habitat.<ref name = “Natural Resource Acquisition Program"> Natural Resource Acquisition Program. Retrieved 2 April 2018. https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=22305</ref> To monitor resources, state parks has established the Inventory, Monitoring and Assessment Program (IMAP). Through IMAP data can be precisely collected and analyzed to assess park natural resources conditions and in time management can properly reflect any changes. <ref name = “Inventory, Monitoring and Assessment Program"> Inventory, Monitoring and Assessment Program. Retrieved 2 April 2018. https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=734</ref>
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Through the acquisition of land, State Park's goal is to connect essential habitat, gain sensitive watersheds, and provide a buffer for habitat.<ref name = “Natural Resource Acquisition Program"> Natural Resource Acquisition Program. Retrieved 2 April 2018. https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=22305</ref> To monitor resources, State Parks has established the Inventory, Monitoring and Assessment Program (IMAP). Through IMAP data can be precisely collected and analyzed to assess park natural resources conditions and in time management can properly reflect any changes. <ref name = “Inventory, Monitoring and Assessment Program"> Inventory, Monitoring and Assessment Program. Retrieved 2 April 2018. https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=734</ref>
  
 
''' Cultural Resources '''
 
''' Cultural Resources '''
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'''Recreational Resources'''
 
'''Recreational Resources'''
  
67 million people visit California’s state park system annually<ref> California Department of Parks and Recreation: About Us. Retrieved 7 April 2018. https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=91</ref>. In state parks, there are many recreational opportunities such as hiking, biking, horseback riding, surfing, swimming, driving off-road vehicles and operating boats. Some parks, like Los Angeles State Historic park, are pushing the boundaries of conventional recreation in state parks. The historic park offers yoga classes and healthy food workshops in an effort to promote healthy lifestyles in the surrounding neighborhoods and for park users<ref name = BayNature/>. This is in line with new recommendations from the Parks Forward Commission (see "Issues" below) to expand its focus from the “traditional” park user to include the state’s growing population of younger people of color<ref name = BayNature/>. In the Parks Forward report published in February 2015, it is stated that every urban dweller should be within a half-mile walk of a park unit that provides "relevant educational, interpretive, spiritual, cultural, familial, community, and recreational experience”<ref> Parks Forward Initiative Recommendations. Pub Feb 2015. Retrieved 10 April 2018. http://parksforward.com//site/uploads/PFI%20Recommendations_Final_012915%20(00278207xA1C15)%20(1).pdf</ref>.
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67 million people visit California’s State Park system annually<ref> California Department of Parks and Recreation: About Us. Retrieved 7 April 2018. https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=91</ref>. In State Parks, there are many recreational opportunities such as hiking, biking, horseback riding, surfing, swimming, driving off-road vehicles and operating boats. Some parks, like Los Angeles State Historic park, are pushing the boundaries of conventional recreation in State Parks. The historic park offers yoga classes and healthy food workshops in an effort to promote healthy lifestyles in the surrounding neighborhoods and for park users<ref name = BayNature/>. This is in line with new recommendations from the Parks Forward Commission (see "Issues" below) to expand its focus from the “traditional” park user to include the state’s growing population of younger people of color<ref name = BayNature/>. In the Parks Forward report published in February 2015, it is stated that every urban dweller should be within a half-mile walk of a park unit that provides "relevant educational, interpretive, spiritual, cultural, familial, community, and recreational experience”<ref> Parks Forward Initiative Recommendations. Pub Feb 2015. Retrieved 10 April 2018. http://parksforward.com//site/uploads/PFI%20Recommendations_Final_012915%20(00278207xA1C15)%20(1).pdf</ref>.
  
 
== Organization and Governance ==
 
== Organization and Governance ==

Revision as of 14:22, 10 April 2018

California Department of Parks and Recreation logo. Photo from [1][1]

A local agency outlined by the ENVS 560/L Watershed Systems class at CSUMB.

Background

The California Department of Parks and Recreation (CDPR) is a department under the California Natural Resources Agency. More commonly known as "State Parks", this department manages 280 parks in the state including recreational, historical, and natural areas.

In 1862, the creation of California’s first state park was pursued by Captain Israel Ward Raymond and California’s U.S. Senator John Conness to preserve natural land and provide public enjoyment. Abraham Lincoln later granted the state Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Big Tree Grove in 1864 [2]

Central Coast state parks

Mission

The mission of this organization is: “To provide for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state's extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation.” [3] They accomplish their mission in the following ways:

Natural Resources

Through the acquisition of land, State Park's goal is to connect essential habitat, gain sensitive watersheds, and provide a buffer for habitat.[4] To monitor resources, State Parks has established the Inventory, Monitoring and Assessment Program (IMAP). Through IMAP data can be precisely collected and analyzed to assess park natural resources conditions and in time management can properly reflect any changes. [5]

Cultural Resources

The Cultural Resouces Division's mission is to acquire, conserve, and manage California’s history along with educating the public on the diverse culture heritage. To achieve this they provide cultural heritage publications, create historic landmarks, manage over one-million museum items, and preserve archaeological resources and sites. [6]

Recreational Resources

67 million people visit California’s State Park system annually[7]. In State Parks, there are many recreational opportunities such as hiking, biking, horseback riding, surfing, swimming, driving off-road vehicles and operating boats. Some parks, like Los Angeles State Historic park, are pushing the boundaries of conventional recreation in State Parks. The historic park offers yoga classes and healthy food workshops in an effort to promote healthy lifestyles in the surrounding neighborhoods and for park users[8]. This is in line with new recommendations from the Parks Forward Commission (see "Issues" below) to expand its focus from the “traditional” park user to include the state’s growing population of younger people of color[8]. In the Parks Forward report published in February 2015, it is stated that every urban dweller should be within a half-mile walk of a park unit that provides "relevant educational, interpretive, spiritual, cultural, familial, community, and recreational experience”[9].

Organization and Governance

The Department of Parks and Recreation is one of the departments within the California Natural Resources Agency, which also includes CALFire, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and others. The Secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency is appointed by the governor. As of January 2011, the position has been held by Santa Cruz native John Laird[10]. The Director of the CDPR is also appointed by the governor. In April 2015, Lisa Magat was appointed to the position of director[11].

Under the state umbrella there are 22 districts, 70 sectors and 280 parks. Each park district is headed by a District Superintendent. The District Superintendent is the supervisor for their respective Sector Superintendents. State Parks employs park rangers, or peace officers, to protect resources and visitors along with lifeguards to provide safety on the coast. There are also maintenance staff, natural resources staff, historians, archeologists, and many other job titles. In total, the Parks system employs 2,500 permanent staff and 2,700 seasonal employees[12]. In January 2015, California State Parks announced the establishment of the Transformation Team, lead by a Special Advisor to the Secretary for the Natural Resources Agency, to execute structural and sustainable reforms to the Parks system.

Commissions

CDPR has four commissions[13]:

  1. California State Park and Recreation Commission
  2. California Boating and Waterways Commission
  3. California Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Commission
  4. California State Historical Resources Commission

California State Park and Recreation Commission

Nine commissioners have staggered four-year terms and are appointed by the governor then approved by the senate.

Responsibilities:

  • Approval of general plans
  • Classifying System units
  • Establishing general policies for the guidance of the Director of State Parks in the administration
  • Protection and development of the System
  • Recommending to the Director a comprehensive recreation policy for the state[14]


The Boating and Waterways Commission

Seven commissioners have four-year terms and are appointed by the governor then approved by the senate.

Mandated by the Harbors and Navigation Code (HNC)

Responsibilities:

  • Advise and comment on all California Department of Boating and Waterways (DBW) matters within its jurisdiction
  • Advise and comment on all boating facilities loans and grants proposed by the division.[15]


California Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission (OHMVR)

Nine members serve on the committee with five chosen by the governor and two are chosen each from the Senate Committee on Rules and the Speaker of the Assembly.

Responsibilities:

  • Approval of general plans
  • Receives public comments
  • Reviews plans for new and expanded recreation areas applying for grant funds[16]


State Historical Resources Commission

Nine members are chosen by the governor then approved by the Senate.

Responsibilities:

  • Approves general plans for units of the State Park System
  • Classifies units of the State Park System
  • Establishes general policies the administration, protection, and development of the state park system
  • Recommends to the Director a comprehensive recreation policy for the State of California[17]

Upcoming/Ongoing Central Coast Park Updates

Carmel Area parks included in General Plan

Monterey District

    • Fort Ord Dunes Campground: The new campsite will have 95 campsites with a dump station including accessible camping and hiking, RV camping, car camping, and hike & bike sites. If state and federal permitting all go through, construction should begin in 2019.[6]
  • Carmel Area State Parks General Plan: [6] A General Plan is currently (9 April 2018) being developed by California State Parks with input from the public and stakeholders to establish a long-range vision, set of goals, and guidelines for the management of four park properties around the Carmel area. The four state park units included in this plan are: 1) Carmel River State Beach, 2) Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, 3) Point Lobos Ranch (an unclassified park unit), and 4) Hatton Canyon (an unclassified park unit).
  • Many Big Sur area state parks are still partially closed on the east side of Hwy 1 due to damage from the 2016 Soberanes Fire[18].

Santa Cruz

  • Natural Bridges State Park is an over-wintering location for Monarch Butterflies. The blue gum eucalyptus trees that the monarchs like to live in are getting old and dying back, but being a non-native plant species, there has been debate about whether the park should plant more. Three eucalyptus trees were planted in mid-2017, but more active management of the grove is needed to protect it for the monarchs[19].
  • A new parking lot is being built for Castle Rock State Park to alleviate parking on the side of Highway 35 (Skyline Blvd). The land for the new parking lot was previously a Christmas tree farm and was purchased by the Sempervirens Fund, a non-profit State Park partner organization, to be the site of the new parking and visitors entrance. The Sempervirens Fund is also paying for the construction, although not all of the money has been raised yet[20].
  • Big Basin Redwoods State Park: Ongoing problems with predation of the endangered Marbled Murrelet by corvids (crows and jays) has prompted State Parks to consider removing campsites and picnic facilities from old growth forest areas and potentially relocating a future cabins project. Campers and their associated food and trash increase the local corvid population, which in turn is a threat to the Marbled Murrelets[21].

San Luis Obispo

  • Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area: This SVRA has had two big problems arise in 2017. The Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) is suing the CDPR for violating the Endangered Species Act (ESA) by allowing vehicles to drive on beaches where Western Snowy Plovers and California Least Terns (both endangered species) live and nest. The South-Central California Steelhead is also listed as being harmed by the parks activities, due to degradation of the Arryo Grande Creek that lies within the SVRA[22]. Additionally, the county Air Pollution Control District is citing the CDPR as violating dust mitigation regulations at the Ocean Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area, where ATVs and other vehicles drive on the beaches[23].

Issues

CDPR regularly struggles with the issue of funding for parks. The portion of parks funding that came from the general fund declined from 91 percent in 1980 to 28 percent in 2014[8]. In January 2011, the department's budget was reduced by another $22 million from an already 30% reduced budget from 2000 to 2011[8]. This caused a staffing crisis that compelled Governor Jerry Brown to call for the closure of 70 parks. Around this same time, it was brought to public awareness that millions of excess dollars were being “hidden” in the park’s revenue [6]. The California State Parks Foundation, other partner organizations, and public outcry led to new legislation that allowed nonprofit organizations that historically helped with the parks to take a more active (and financially supportive) role. A Parks Forward Commission was created to help the department reform financially and remake itself in a time of crisis[8]. The Parks Forward Commission published recommendations in 2015 and a subsequent CDPR Transformation Team was created to put the Commission's suggestions into practice[24].

California Proposition 68, the Parks, Environment, and Water Bond will appear on the California ballot June 5, 2018. This proposed bond contains $2.83 billion for parks that would be disbursed over four years, including $218 million for existing state parks and significant funding for so-called “park-poor” neighborhoods[8].

References

  1. CA.gov
  2. CDPR. “A State Park System is Born”. Retrieved 2 April 2018. https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=940
  3. CASP. Main Page. Retrieved 2 April 2018. https://www.parks.ca.gov
  4. Natural Resource Acquisition Program. Retrieved 2 April 2018. https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=22305
  5. Inventory, Monitoring and Assessment Program. Retrieved 2 April 2018. https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=734
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Cultural Resources Division. Retrieved 3 April 2018. Available from: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=22491
  7. California Department of Parks and Recreation: About Us. Retrieved 7 April 2018. https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=91
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 Alissa Greenberg. “The new California State Parks”. Retrieved 9 April 2018.https://baynature.org/article/new-california-state-parks/
  9. Parks Forward Initiative Recommendations. Pub Feb 2015. Retrieved 10 April 2018. http://parksforward.com//site/uploads/PFI%20Recommendations_Final_012915%20(00278207xA1C15)%20(1).pdf
  10. John Laird, California Secretary for Natural Resources. Retrieved 7 April 2018. http://resources.ca.gov/secretarys_page/
  11. Governor Brown Announces Appointments. Retrieved 7 April 2018. https://www.gov.ca.gov/2015/04/30/news18941/
  12. CDPR Employees. Retrieved 7 April 2018. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Department_of_Parks_and_Recreation
  13. “California State Park and Recreation Commission” [2 April 2018]. Available from: https://www.parks.ca.gov/commission
  14. CDPR. “California State Park and Recreation Commission” [2 April 2018]. Available from: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=29247
  15. CDPR. “California Boating and Waterways Commission” [2 April 2018]. Available from: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=28835
  16. CDPR. “OHMVR” [2 April 2018]. Available from: http://ohv.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=21853
  17. CDPR. “State Historical Resources Commission” [2 April 2018]. Available from: http://ohp.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=1067
  18. CDPR. Garrapata State Park Updates.Retrieved 10 April 2018. https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=579
  19. Hugh McCormick. "As Eucalyptus Monarch Grove Ages, Butterflies Face Risk". Retrieved 10 April 2018. http://goodtimes.sc/santa-cruz-news/eucalyptus-grove-monarch-butterflies/
  20. Paul Rogers. "Castle Rock State Park to get grand new entrance". Retrieved 10 April 2018. http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/article/NE/20170918/NEWS/170919634
  21. General Plan and Final Environmental Impact Report for Big Basin Redwoods State Park. Retrieved 10 April 2018. http://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/843/file/staff%20report%20-%20big%20basin%20redwoods.pdf
  22. CBD. Notice of Intent to Sue for Violations of Section 9 of the Federal Endangered Species Act for Taking Western Snowy Plover, Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area. Retrieved 10 April 2018. https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/species/birds/western_snowy_plover/pdfs/NOI_to_Cal_State_Parks_Oceano_7_19_2017.pdf
  23. Chris McGuinness. County APCD, state parks headed to hearing over dust control violations. Retrieved 10 April 2018. https://www.newtimesslo.com/sanluisobispo/county-apcd-state-parks-headed-to-hearing-over-dust-control-violations/Content?oid=3648605
  24. CDPR Transforming California State Parks. Retrieved 9 April 2018. http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=28074

Links

https://www.parks.ca.gov/

Disclaimer

This page may contain student work completed as part of assigned coursework. It may not be accurate. It does not necessary reflect the opinion or policy of CSUMB, its staff, or students.