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A ballot measure requiring the labeling of genetically modified foods has taken a big step forward, while funding priorities for the California State University system are also expected to be affected by the November election.
What do the Sierra snowpack and the state’s economy have in common? There is less to both than Californians would like.
The latest hazard to women’s health may be right at their fingertips.
The clarity of Lake Tahoe's water improved in 2011, but overall has remained nearly stable since 2000, according to UC Davis scientists who study the lake.
The latest data released by the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center and the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency reported the average annual clarity level for 2011 at 68.9 feet, a 4.5-foot improvement over 2010, when average clarity levels were the second-worst on record.
Winter clarity last year continued a decade-long pattern of improvement, while summer clarity continued to decline at the same rate that it has since the late 1960s, when monitoring began.
Average annual clarity in the past decade has been better than in recent decades.Yet this year’s value is still more than two dozen feet away from the clarity restoration target of 97.4 feet set by federal and state regulators.
Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods, a Sonoma County non-profit that has long provided interpretation, restoration and other services, has applied to the California State Parks Department to assume responsibility for operating Austin Creek State Recreation Area (currently on the closure list) and Sonoma Coast State Park. Working with the Parks Alliance for Sonoma County, Stewards’ proposal would expand its work to include campground operations and fee collection.
State budget cuts over recent years have caused the seasonal closure of Austin Creek’s Bull Frog Pond Campground, many coastal State Park access points and numerous coastal campsites. The full closure of Austin Creek SRA is proposed as part of a 70-park closure plan for July 1.
Stewards’ proposal, if accepted, would keep these areas open and use locally-raised funds for local costs including campground operations, State Park rangers and seasonal staff, trash service, trail maintenance, septic system pumping and restroom maintenance. With staffing at an all time low, funds could keep seasonal staff employed, who might otherwise lose their jobs. Ironically, visitation to state parks has increased during the economic downturn and funding for state parks has decreased.
Stewards believes their proposal creates a win/win for local State Parks with Stewards generating new revenue on the coast via new collection stations at day-use parking lots where services, such as restrooms and trailheads, are provided. Executive Director Michele Luna contends that “these are different and unprecedented times when closing parks is very real, as evidenced by the service reductions we have seen on Sonoma Coast since 2009. It’s time for our local communities to take responsibility for our parks and help keep them open with volunteer and local fundraising efforts. Stewards has raised funds through local contributions in the town of Jenner to keep the Visitor Center and restroom open since 2009.”
Read more: Stewards Proposes Operating Agreement for Austin Creek and Sonoma Coast
