California Beaches Blog

All across California from the state beaches to its wooded forestst, the ax has fallen and the parks have taken the biggest hit of any tourism assets in the crunch and lack of funds to operate.

How could this happen in a state that is compared to many countries with its massive population and huge economy? Today’s reports of the U.S. economy show that spending is flat and jobs continue to be lost. The “Cash for Clunkers” program apparently artificially propped up the spending numbers but once it was over, spending and revenue to cities and states in U.S. began showing a clearer picture of where we’re at. And California is one state hit the hardest in job losses.

Each state park region is assessing the damage of loss of revenue and spreading the word to the public about cuts in services such as operating hours, and less cleaning of bathrooms and trash. Local state parks are remaining open but have started plans to reduce services that officially are set to happen on Sunday, Nov. 1.

In Santa Barbara County:

• Gaviota State Park will be closed to all camping until at least March 31, though it is normally closed in the winter through February, anyway.
• Carpinteria State Beach will be closed to camping from Sunday evenings through Friday afternoons, with camping available on the weekends. Anacapa Loop will be unavailable to campers until after Easter unless there are enough campers to warrant opening the loop.
• Refugio State Beach, El Capitan State Beach, La Purisma Mission State Historic Park and Carpinteria State Beach are experiencing seasonal staff reductions.

Daily hours of operation are not changing at state parks, though clean up services are. The public is asked to do their part with a pack it in-take it out policy, much like required on the Channel Islands National Park offshore. The Channel Island conservation is not that hard to adhere to, and neither should be the state parks. Don’t leave trash there. Bag it up and take it home with you.