The redwood parks of the North Coast are run under a unique agreement that allows the National Park Service and California State Parks to operate cooperatively, essentially sharing resources.
With Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger proposing to close all the state parks on the North Coast due to the state government's budget crisis, the NPS is in a position to help due to the unique nature of the two park services’ cooperative management agreement.
Schwarzenegger’s proposal shines a spotlight on a portion of the redwoods operating agreement between the National Park Service and California State Parks. In essence, the agreement states that, “to the extent practicable,” both agencies “commit their respective resources” for the common protection of the RNSP “without regard to ownership.”
“These parks are like Yosemite or Yellowstone for the National Park System,” said NPS superintendent Steve Chaney. “They are crown jewels. We are trying to find every possible way to keep these parks open.”
While such strong support is encouraging, both Chaney and state park superintendent Jeff Bomke hastened to add the decision would ultimately be made at higher levels in both services.
“We would make recommendations to upper levels of park management,” Chaney said. “We would go as far as we could, but this is a very political and emotionally charged issue.”
Bomke stressed that “this is unchartered territory. It isn’t defined in black and white.”
“What’s important is the overall mission of protecting the resource.” Bomke said. “Ultimately we will look for help from wherever we can get it, but when it comes to keeping things protected, the NPS is best suited.”
The superintendents agreed that the language in the cooperative management agreement does indicate a level of mutual support that opens the door for possible help from NPS. But they also both felt that if the state was to stop all funding, a new agreement would be required.
“There are limits in the existing agreement on how far we can go expending federal funds on state operations,” Chaney said.
As the superintendents mulled the uncertain future of the state parks Monday, park business continued as normal.
Bomke was in the process of hiring another ranger.
“It’s odd with possible closure looming over our heads,” Bomke said. “But we have to continue, we have to treat it like business as usual.”
