The Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association (AMIA) is taking the lead locally in efforts to save one of Lake County”s most precious amenities. Anderson Marsh State Historic Park is among 220 state parks Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger proposes for closure.
“This is too big a resource for our community here to just say ?Oh well, I guess it will have to close.” We are going to do everything we can because this is our park here and we love the fact that we can share it with others,” Gae Henry, AMIA board secretary said. “For me this is a pennywise pound-foolish solution. It”s so little money and I feel that they are using us and our children as pawns.”
Budget deliberations are expected to begin next week with the deadline for final vote slated for midnight June 15. AMIA and other local and regional agencies are engaging in a time-pressed campaign calling for quick action from all California residents.
AMIA is initiating a petition campaign and encouraging correspondence to legislators opposing the governor”s proposal. Legislators can be contacted by visiting www.calparks.org/stopclosures. This online action alert will forward faxes into Capitol offices of legislators and the governor. The site allows for personalization of messages to address specific state park(s).
Closure of the 220 state parks is expected to shave $143 million from state”s General Fund. However, according to the State Parks Foundation, the return on every dollar received from the state is much greater and closures will result in a loss of state revenues.
“A fact pointed out by the State Parks Foundation is that for every dollar that funds the parks, $2.35 is returned to the state”s General Fund through economic activities in the communities surrounding the parks,” Henry said. “So, eliminating all funding for state parks could actually result in the state losing over $350 million in revenue.”
Henry said that a primary goal in the campaign for action is to educate residents of the uniqueness of Anderson Marsh State Historic Park and illustrate its contributions to enhancing county”s quality of life. “First of all state parks are treasures in California and at our particular park we protect several different habitats including freshwater marsh, oak woodland, grassland and riparian woodland. It contains hundreds of acres of valuable wildlife habitat and tule marsh including one of the largest Great Blue Heron rookeries on Clear Lake” she said.
The educational value of Anderson Marsh, Henry said, is incalculable as well. “One of the largest groups of people in prehistoric California, the Southeastern Pomo, knew this land as home. Anderson Marsh”s archaeological sites hold clues to the live of the Pomo. Some sites are over 10,000 years old, making them among the oldest in California,” she said.
“The old Ranch House at Anderson Marsh is an example of early California living, with parts of the house being constructed in the 1850s, 1880s and 1920s, providing an opportunity for students and the general public to gain a bird”s eye view of how some of those who pioneered Lake County lived.” Henry continued, “The park is extensively used as part of a program to help school children experientially understand the history of this area and the connection between Native Americans and the history of European immigrants.”
AMIA supports Anderson State Historic Park financially in various ways including conservatory work, construction, interpretive displays, rehabilitation of facilities and historical objects, acquisition of furnishings, trail work and by providing literature and other interpretive information. AMIA also financially supports fieldtrips to the park and the curriculum that provides students with the opportunity to experience “living history.”
With AMIA sponsorship, the Lake County Children”s Museum of Art & History (CMAS), in cooperation with the Redbud Audubon Society, holds science and art day camps at the park to further this educational goal. Closing the Anderson Marsh State Historical Park, Henry said, will hold several consequences including the potential for vandalism and loss of valuable Lake County history.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
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