FALL 2024
ello again, park supporters! As we near the end of 2024, we’re feeling especially grateful to you for making our work throughout California possible. Your partnership is the greatest gift to our state parks, from the towering redwoods of the North Coast to the Southern California palms. This year has been full of successes, thanks to you. We welcomed Dos Rios, the newest addition to California’s state park system; released a groundbreaking report on climate change; empowered hundreds of volunteers to improve parks;
Estero Bluffs State Park
saved the California State Library Parks Pass from elimination; and accomplished so much more. In the following pages, you’ll read about recent achievements, including monarch grove funding at Pismo State Beach and wildfire resilience efforts at Marshall Gold State Discovery State Historic Park.
There is still work ahead — and the year isn’t over yet — but we want to take this moment to thank you for your continued friendship and support! Our parks are fortunate to have you by their side.
Dear friends,
A LETTER FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
I hope you all had the chance to embark on many summer adventures in California’s beautiful state parks. Personally, I took several trips to Lake Tahoe and the Central Coast, enjoying time outdoors with friends and family. However, the best trip of the summer was arguably one I took for work.
In August, a group of California State Parks Foundation staff and I embarked on a three-day trip to the North Coast Redwoods District (NCRD), which spans nearly 200 miles from the Oregon border to Sinkyone Wilderness State Park in Mendocino County. While visiting parks has always been a priority for our staff, we’ve recently begun systematically touring each of the state park system’s 22 park districts to gain a deeper understanding of the needs and issues on the ground.
NCRD District Superintendent Victor Bjelajac and Deputy Superintendent Shelana deSilva were incredibly welcoming and generous with their time. We gained valuable insights into how California’s current budget challenges are affecting parks firsthand — the 2024-2025 state budget included an across-theboard 8 percent cut. We also explored recently completed projects along the Eel River and at Trinidad State Beach and visited the state’s first interpretive center fully operated by Indigenous people.
Although much of my job involves sitting behind a desk and working at a computer, I strongly believe in the importance of experiencing the places we work so hard to support. Spending time with park leaders in the landscapes they manage is a privilege, and these visits are helping us become even more effective advocates for California’s state parks.
Until next time,
Rachel Norton, Executive Director
GET TO KNOW TWO STATE SYMBOLS
alifornia has many official symbols representing our state, such as the state animal (California grizzly bear), state flower (California poppy), and even the state fabric (denim!). Set by state law, California's state symbols provide awareness and significant natural, cultural, and historical meaning. Get to know these two species that have recently joined the ranks:
CALIFORNIA GOLDEN CHANTERELLE MUSHROOM
The California golden chanterelle was selected due to its popularity and integral role in California’s ecosystems. Recognition of a state mushroom helps increase awareness of the species' pivotal role in nourishing our forests and grasslands, which is done through extensive belowground networks and symbiotic connections with plant roots. The commonly collected edible mushroom — with a slightly fruity apricot scent and a nutty flavor when cooked with butter — has long been loved by Californians. It is typically found in hardwood forests, especially under oak trees. It was recently recognized as endemic to the state, meaning it grows here and nowhere else, making it the perfect recipient to symbolize California's rich and unique biodiversity! Reminder: Please do not disturb, forage, poach, or consume wild mushrooms. Disturbing any mushroom species
in a California state park is illegal and should only be conducted by an approved professional.
PALLID BAT
Pallid bats are as diverse as Californians. Some live in deserts, others in the redwoods or high in the pine forests of the Sierra Nevada mountains. As highly social creatures, they live in colonies and have a rich language of calls to communicate with one another. Bats are an important part of California's ecosystem and are tremendously beneficial because of their voracious appetites for pests like mosquitoes and bark beetles. However, because of low birth rates, bats are vulnerable to habitat disruption from climate change and development. They can live up to 40 years but typically raise just one pup yearly. Naming this species as the official state bat promotes the protection of bats in California, and as bat populations decline, recognizing their role in the ecosystem becomes increasingly critical for their survival.
California State Parks Foundation supported the bills that made these two symbols official: Senate Bill 732 and Assembly Bill 261. This type of recognition honors the unique flora and fauna of California and is a major win for the biodiversity in our state parks!
EMPOWERING INDIGENOUS YOUTH AND
t Cuyamaca Rancho State Park in 2021, a pilot program began: the Native American Conservation Corps (NACC). Developed to address regional wildfire resilience, it provides workforce development opportunities to local tribal youth. This includes paid on-the-job training to prepare participants for forestry and fire professions, to share traditional ecological knowledge, and to help increase cultural burning across the region.
“We need to be aware of the past and find a shared way forward,” said Danny McCamish, Resource Program Supervisor and Senior Environmental Scientist for California State Parks' Colorado Desert District.
California State Parks wants access to a skilled workforce that can help preserve these lands, and Native governments want their youth to receive training and develop skillsets that give them access to valuable career paths. Working for California State Parks would allow Native people who live on reservations or in communities bordering these parks to find good jobs and careers locally instead of leaving these communities or commuting over an hour each way to find work.
PROGRAM SUCCESSES: PILOT YEAR AND BEYOND
Over the past three years, more than 21 team members have graduated from the NACC program, including Dominick Chapparosa. Chapparosa,
29, lives on the reservation of the Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla & Cupeño Indians and is a tribal member. He was drawn to the program because it offered a good career path with opportunities to grow and learn.
He participated in the program for two years. “The physical work was easy to get accustomed to, but it took a minute to get used to tenhour days and waking up early,” he reported. His favorite part of the program was making connections and meeting new people from different tribes and the state parks. Chapparosa’s story highlights the impact that the program will continue to have on building a workforce for these parks and providing career opportunities for Indigenous communities. He was able to receive certifications through the program that helped him build a resume and ultimately apply for and receive a full-time permanent forestry position with California State Parks.
McCamish echoed this sentiment: “To watch a team move from novice to proficiency, to watch individuals
PROTECTING PARKS FROM WILDFIRE
grow... that’s my highlight. Many of the young adults who join us are shy outside of their friend group. To watch them blossom as they spend six to eight months learning these trades and skills, they all come out of it having grown as people.”
PROGRAM LEGACY: VISIBLE CHANGES AND BEHINDTHE-SCENES IMPACT
When visiting Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, Palomar Mountain State Park, or Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, you can observe the impact NACC team members have had on implementing climate resilience into these lands. “If you’re hiking in any of our state parks and you notice the trail change from heavy underbrush to almost none, that is a treated area. You can thank the people who have been working hard to do fuel reduction work, including the NACC crews,” said McCamish. Visitors to Cuyamaca Rancho State Park will also be able to observe re-created
traditional willow and reed houses, called an e'waa in Kumeyaay, and a ramada that show what a small portion of a Kumeyaay village would have looked like. There are hopes to continue to integrate Indigenous stories, perspectives, and demonstrations into interpretive programming and services at these parks.
The program has helped foster new relationships and ways of working to truly achieve climate resilience goals. “Fire knows no jurisdictional boundaries,” McCamish shared. “If we live next door to you, we share the same needs and goals. When (not if, but when) the next big fire happens here, we hope the interagency coordination that we’ve fostered shows through.”
Read this full article and learn more about the program at calparks.org/NACC.
OPPOSITE PAGE: NACC team members cross training with State Park Trails and Maintenance Teams, learning how to brush trails in Culp Valley in AnzaBorrego Desert State Park.
LEFT: An NACC cohort in action.
THE DISABLED HIKER’S GUIDE TO NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
he Disabled Hiker’s Guide to Northern California: Outdoor Adventures
Accessible by Car, Wheelchair, and on Foot is a new guidebook that provides detailed trail information written by a disabled person, for disabled people.
Written by Syren Nagakyrie, founder of the nonprofit Disabled Hikers, the book expands on their mission to build disability community and justice in the outdoors, toward a vision of an outdoor culture transformed. They celebrate disabled people's experiences in the outdoors, facilitate those experiences through free events and resources, and advocate for access and inclusion.
The book features over 40 scenic drives and viewpoints, verified wheelchair accessible trails, and foot trails for disabled hikers. There are step-by-step or roll-by-roll descriptions of what you will encounter on the trail, including obstacles like roots and rocks, steep sections, and places to rest. Public transit and driving directions, detailed maps, and hundreds of photos are also featured. It covers
the northern region of California, from Monterey to the Oregon state line, and offers options that meet a variety of accessibility needs to ensure there is something for everyone. There is a mix of trails located in cities, developed recreations areas, and backcountry or wilderness areas.
Disabled Hikers is one of only a few disabled-led outdoor organizations. They center disabled people as the experts in their own lives and provide an access-centered model that empowers their community as leaders. The disability community is incredibly diverse and dynamic, and the organization represents the spectrum of disabilities and identities that make up the community.
This fall, Disabled Hikers hosted group hikes at state parks to celebrate the launch of the guidebook! These events were possible due to support from California State Parks Foundation’s partnership equity grant. Visit disabledhikers.com to get your own copy of The Disabled Hiker's Guide to Northern California or purchase it from anywhere books are sold.
PROTECTING A HISTORIC NORTHERN CALIFORNIA PARK
alifornia’s state park system plays a crucial role in preserving history and culture. Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park is one of those parks that holds a multitude of stories that need to be protected and told.
Tucked in the Sierra foothills along the South Fork of the American River, this land is where the Nisenan and Miwok tribes have lived for thousands of years. It is also the site where James W. Marshall found gold in 1848, which led to the unimaginable growth of the West and one of the largest human migrations in history. This area, known as Cullumah by Indigenous peoples and now called Coloma, still holds much to discover.
A dire need for fuel reduction and fire prevention has arisen at the park, due to rising temperatures and the threat of wildfires in California. Our volunteer program is helping complete projects that are part of
the park’s wildfire prevention plan. This includes building defensible space, which essentially creates buffer zones between buildings (homes, businesses, or any humanmade structures) and the surrounding area to slow or completely stop the spread of wildfire. To create defensible space, volunteers must remove fuels, combustible materials, and vegetation from around structures.
With leadership from our Volunteer Core Leaders, James Andersen and John Mlakar, and California State Parks’ Deputy District Superintendent Steve Hilton, volunteers have worked hard to create these buffer zones. This process protects the buildings from embers and direct flame contact with their foundations should a fire break out in the park. Volunteers have also assisted in removing 28,800 square feet of invasive plants and removed logs that were the remains of fallen trees. These plants and logs, if left untouched, could allow a fire to swiftly move throughout the park.
This work is still in progress, and the efforts will help the park’s buildings and sites remain safe, so visitors can continue to step back in time and take part in activities such as gold panning and hiking along the scenic trails. Read more about this project and Marshall Gold Discovery State Park at calparks.org/ marshallgold.
Volunteers creating buffer zones around the park buildings to protect against wildfire.
SUGARLOAF RIDGE STATE PARK
Nestled in the hills, this park is home to the Robert Ferguson Observatory (named after a Sonoma County amateur astronomer) — the largest observatory in the western United States dedicated solely to public programming. The park is located in the Mayacamas Mountains, which block light pollution from the nearby San Francisco Bay Area.
MOUNT DIABLO STATE PARK
The view from atop Mount Diablo is unparalleled. From the summit, one can see parts of 40 of California’s 58 counties. After dark, visitors have an unobstructed view of the night sky. Mount Diablo Observatory Association runs an astronomical observatory and regularly holds events with its sister organization, Mount Diablo Astronomical Society.
Share your adventures with us!
TOP CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS FOR STARGAZING
n California’s state parks, it’s not only the early birds who get the worm. Night owls can enjoy the beauty of nature too! Although much of California’s iconic natural beauty isn’t visible (or safe to explore) during the night, state parks offer ample opportunities to enjoy views of the stars, moon, and planets that may not be as visible at home. Here are a few stellar state park experiences that you should add to your upcoming travel plans.
HOST YOUR OWN SELF-GUIDED STARGAZING OR JOIN A RANGER-LED PROGRAM
An excursion to any of these state parks is sure to provide moments of wonder. However, if you’re planning to camp in another state park, you can likely also enjoy a stargazing experience to remember. All one needs to marvel at the night sky is a clear, dark night. On your next camping trip, if the conditions are right, simply turn off your flashlights and lanterns, find a comfortable chair or blanket, and look up!
FREMONT PEAK STATE PARK
The observatory here sits at an elevation higher than the coastal marine layer of clouds, reducing light pollution from the surrounding urban area. Programming at the observatory is run by the Fremont Peak Observatory Association (FPOA). FPOA offers both evening and daytime programs (using a special sun telescope to view features on the sun's surface safely).
ANZA-BORREGO DESERT STATE PARK
Two-thirds of this park is designated as wilderness, meaning there’s very little visible human impact to that part of the park. Although it’s only three hours away from the gigantic Los Angeles metropolitan area, this park was certified as an International Dark Sky Park by the International Dark-Sky Association!
SAVING THE WESTERN MONARCH
BUTTERFLY: THE PARTNERSHIP THAT’S MAKING A DIFFERENCE
his fall, we’re supporting one of our most beloved species — the western monarch butterfly. Western monarchs used to number in the millions, but the population has plummeted since the 1990s due to development, pesticide use, and habitat deterioration — particularly at overwintering sites.
Every year, monarchs return from their northward migration to specific locations along the California coast that contain the optimal conditions for them to pass the winter. This includes protection from the cold
and wind, available water, dappled sunlight, and access to nectar sources. Throughout the winter months, monarchs spend their time in diapause — a state of suspended development — sunning themselves and feeding on nectar before starting their migration anew at the end of the season.
Because overwintering habitat is unique, monarchs largely return to the same sites every year, many of which are in California state parks. In fact, California State Parks is the largest single land manager of monarch overwintering sites in the state.
IMPROVING THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE AT PISMO STATE BEACH
Through our 2024 Monarch Conservation Grant, California State Parks Foundation is partnering with the Central Coast State Parks Association (CCSPA) on a major overwintering grove restoration project at Pismo State Beach. Over 100,000 visitors travel to Pismo State Beach every year to see roosting monarchs, and last year the site hosted the second-highest number of monarchs out of all overwintering sites in California. By providing $25,000 in grant funding to CCSPA, we’re protecting critical monarch habitat and ensuring that visitors can continue to safely witness the splendor of the western monarch butterfly.
With the grant funds provided, CCSPA will replace fencing along walkways in the Pismo Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove. Proper fencing not only protects sensitive habitat, but it also provides stability along the pathway for visitors with mobility impairments. Unfortunately, the aged fencing at Pismo State Beach requires extensive repair to perform this function. Therefore, CCSPA will use the $25,000 to replace damaged fencing around high-priority areas of the overwintering grove. The new fencing will also support five interpretive panels to teach visitors about the western monarch butterfly, including its unique multigenerational migration, anatomy, life cycle, and more. CCSPA’s work at Pismo State Beach
highlights the importance of multibenefit projects and the breadth of goals they can accomplish. Maintaining state parks means not only protecting our natural resources, but also ensuring all Californians can access and learn about nature. With this one project, CCSPA and California State Parks Foundation will protect an important ecosystem while teaching visitors about one of California’s famous species, perhaps contributing to the next generation of conservationists. Read more about this partnership at calparks.org/pismo
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 2024 LEGISLATIVE YEAR FOR PARKS
n the 2024 legislative session, we monitored 26 bills, identifying six as priority proposals. Bills aligning most closely with our goals and values were included in our legislative agenda, and we closely monitored their progress throughout the year. In total, 11 of the bills we monitored were enacted into law, while 12 stalled at different stages of the legislative process.
Check out some of the wins you made possible this year! Visit calparks.org/legislative-agenda to read updates on all the legislation.
ASSEMBLY BILL 2440 (Eloise Gómez Reyes): 30x30 goal: partnering state agencies: Department of Parks and Recreation. Incorporates the Department of Parks and Recreation into the state’s goals to conserve 30% of lands and coastal waters by 2030. It ensures equitable access to the outdoors for all and specifies reporting requirements around the 30x30 goal. Our position: Support
SENATE BILL 867 (Ben Allen): Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024. Puts a statewide general obligation bond on the November ballot (Proposition 4) to support natural resources and parks projects increasing climate resilience. Our position: Support
ASSEMBLY BILL 1850 (Gail Pellerin): State slug. Establishes the banana slug (Ariolimax) as the official state slug of California. Our position: Support
ASSEMBLY BILL 1284 (James Ramos): Tribal ancestral lands and waters: co-governance and co-management agreements. Authorizes the California Natural Resources Agency to enter into co-governance and management agreements with federally recognized Indian tribes. Our position: Support
ASSEMBLY BILL 2103 (Gail Pellerin): Department of Parks and Recreation: Land acquisition. Would have exempted land acquired for Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Año Nuevo State Park, and Butano State Park from the requirement that all state park acquisitions be first acquired by the State Public Works Board. Our position: Support
ASSEMBLY BILL 3238 (Eduardo Garcia): CEQA: Electrical infrastructure projects. Would have simplified the process required under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for electrical infrastructure projects and expanded existing utility rights of way. There are hundreds of miles of utility rights of way in California state parks; advocates feared major disruption to sensitive landscapes and habitats without environmental review. Our position: Oppose PASSED! Signed by Governor PASSED! Signed by Governor PASSED! Signed by Governor PASSED! Signed by Governor Vetoed by Governor VICTORY! Held in Appropriations
A YEAR OF VOLUNTEER IMPACT
We’re reflecting on the incredible collective impact our volunteers have made during our 2024 fiscal year (July 2023-June 2024). We’re thrilled to share that with over 100 volunteer workdays, we mobilized 3,144 volunteers who contributed 10,792 hours of service to improving our beloved state parks. Heartfelt gratitude to our dedicated volunteers and park partners who made all this work possible!
1,593,813 square feet of invasive species removed
5,464 native plants and trees planted
6,124 fire buffer zones created
4.42 miles of trails restored
52 recycling bags collected 121 trash bags collected
5,040 feet of fencing repaired
Want to join us in the parks? Start your volunteer journey by signing up for a workday event near you at calparks.org/volunteer.
PARK MINUTE
Have you watched our new Park Minute video series? Every month, we take you on brief journeys through park landscapes and the recreational opportunities that make them special among locals and visitors. Get a glimpse into parks like Garrapata State Park, Samuel P. Taylor State Park, and Los Angeles State Historic Park!
Follow along with the California State Parks Foundation YouTube channel at youtube.com/@calparks. Make sure to subscribe so you’re the first to know when a new Park Minute installment releases!
As a valued member of our community, your generosity has fueled countless conservation projects, educational programs, and vital maintenance efforts in California's state parks! Your contributions have led to tangible improvements, preserving the beauty and accessibility of our parks for everyone. For this, we are immensely grateful.
As we near the end of 2024, we invite you to explore additional avenues for giving that can magnify your impact while offering you potential tax benefits. By considering options like Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs), donating stocks or other appreciated assets, making Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs), workplace giving, or planned giving, you can continue to support our mission in powerful and tax-efficient ways. Learn more at calparks.org/taxsmartgiving.
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San Francisco, CA 94105 members@calparks.org
California State Parks Foundation is an independent, membersupported nonprofit dedicated to protecting and preserving the California state park system, for the benefit of all.
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photo: Malibu Creek State Park