We’ve been meaning to post this since last week, but nothing has changed since the initial proposal. Governor Brown’s proposed budget will result in more closures in state parks, says the California State Parks Foundation:

Today, Gov. Jerry Brown released his first budget proposal for the 2011-12 fiscal year, which contains an $11 million General Fund cut for the Department of Parks and Recreation, the state agency responsible for managing the state park system.  This will undoubtedly lead to increased park closures and service reductions. Language in the budget documents indicate that will grow to $22 million in ongoing cuts. ...

While no specific list of park closures has yet been made available, the budget proposal indicates cuts will be made in the current fiscal year with a combination of partial closures and full closures.  Budget language also assumes ongoing cuts of $22 million General Fund support for the state park system.  Broad criteria are listed that may be used for closures.  However, without a specific list, the decisions about which parks will close, duration of closures, opportunities to avoid closures, and the impacts of those proposed closures are hard for the public to assess.

Just three years ago, a proposed cut of $13 million translated into closing 48 state parks across California. Since then, budget reductions have left the parks system operating with 150 partial closures and service reductions.  The cumulative impacts of budget cuts and staffing reductions over the last two years have diminished the system so that an $11 million cut today will have even more impact than it would have had two years ago.

 

Walkaways from Camp Glenwood stole a vehicle and cell phone from a La Honda home, theft from an unlocked vehicle in Princeton, a restraining order violation in Princeton, and this:

Deputies attempted to stop a vehicle on Devils Slide. The driver was contacted and asked why he did not pull over when the Deputes put their lights on. He replied “I didn’t want to hit Santa Claus and his reindeer.” The driver appeared to be under the influence of a narcotic stimulant. He was found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested and transported to the county jail

On January 14, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) released its draft “Dog Management Plan/EIS.”, [home page]  Much to the dismay of local residents who have been walking their dogs for years in the open space between Montara and El Granada, the plan’s preferred alternative, Alternative D, calls for “No dog walking allowed unless opened by GGNRA Compendium.”

The huge report, 2400 pages and 14.7 lbs, is available on line at About 99.9% of the report, however, has nothing to do with Rancho, which was not a part of GGNRA at the time the report was being prepared (and the transfer of Rancho from POST to GGNRA has still not been completed). Most of the report deals with conditions in Marin County, San Francisco County, and northern San Mateo County (Pacifica).

In the report, Rancho falls under the generic category of “new lands” and the dog walking regulations to be promulgated by the report will apply to Rancho, even though the area has not been studied, and local residents have had no opportunity for input until now.

The public has 90 days to review and comment on the report.  Montara Dog Group,

is holding a public meeting on Saturday, January 22, to further explain details of the report, provide information on how to comment, and to answer questions.  The meeting will be at 10 am at the LeConte St. entrance to the open space, behind Farallone View school.  Dogs are welcome!

In addition, GGNRA will be holding an open house on Wednesday, March 9, at Cabrillo School, 601 Crespi Drive, Pacifica, from 4pm until 8 pm.

The California Department of Parks and Recreation has agreed to accept the 535-acre Little Basin property to add to adjacent Big Basin Redwoods State Park. A priority State Parks acquisition, Little Basin was appraised for $7.7 million in 2010 and will now be sold to State Parks for $6.5 million, as of close of transfer expected by the end of this month.

In transferring Little Basin to State Parks, Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) and Sempervirens Fund have set aside $1.3 million from the sale proceeds in a land stewardship fund to ensure that Little Basin is well maintained and cared for into the future. The two nonprofit land trusts have jointly owned and managed Little Basin since 2007, when they acquired the property in the heart of the Santa Cruz Mountains for $4 million from the Hewlett-Packard Company (HP).

Little Basin includes open meadows and redwood forests, hiking trails, and a variety of group camping sites. It also has a commercial kitchen, play room, restrooms and showers, baseball field, and a basketball court. HP had owned and managed the land as a private outdoor recreation and corporate retreat site for its employees since 1963. When the time came for HP to sell Little Basin, they sought out POST and Sempervirens in the hope that the property’s scenic beauty and impressive recreation infrastructure could one day be permanently protected and opened to the public.

Please join me January 22, and bring your friends, neighbors, gloves and sun screen for a day of trash cleanup and non-native plant removal near Pilarcitos Creek. We’ll talk about our local flora and fauna and how we can continue to ensure the protection of open space in Half Moon Bay. We’ll trade restoration stories and share the fun of keeping the sensitive habitat areas of our town clean. Volunteers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Meet at 9:45 am in the parking lot of the Stone Pine office park, 120 Stone Pine Rd, Half Moon Bay, and finish up by noon.

We’ll provide gloves and trash bags. Wear layers and sturdy shoes.

Upcoming Events: Raptor Workshop & Tour with Alvaro Jaramillo, Feb 26, workshop 1 to 2:30, Wavecrest tour 3 to 5.

Jo Chamberlain
Executive Director
650.726.5056
www.coastsidelandtrust.org

The Cultural Heritage Choir, a Grammy nominated, percussion driven, vocal ensemble whose mission is to help preserve and share the rich musical traditions of music rooted in the deep south and strongly connected to West African and Caribbean origins. Through stick, song, dance and story, the Choir creates dynamic rhythms and sparkling energy on stage. Their vocals are lush and vibrant, their performances are poignant and uplifting, transporting the audience to a place in time when the roots of American popular music, were just being sewn by the "involuntary immigrants" from Africa's western regions. January 23, 4:30, $30 Douglas Beach House on Miramar Beach 307 Mirada Road, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019 650 726-4143, www.bachddsoc.org

Graffiti on trailer in Princeton, burglary via an unlocked window in a fenced backyard on Le Conte in Montara, a similar attempted burglar on Loma Vista in Moss Beach, and a barking dog is creating serious friction among neighbors in El Granada:

Deputies responded to a barking dog complaint. They have responded to the address on more than ten occasions.  The homeowner told Deputies that she is trying to keep the dogs quiet and the two parties involved have a court date in February.