California Boating and Waterways Commission Tours the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and Sacramento River
Story and photos from: Kevin Murphy, Communications and Marketing Division
 Law enforcement officers from various agencies hosted California Boating and Waterways commissioners, State Parks staff, and members of the public during a tour of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and the Sacramento River. Sergeant Mike Ha, from the Yolo County Sheriff’s Department, with Johanna Naughton, boating safety enforcement and equipment grant program manager, from the Division of Boating and Waterways.
On a bright sunny day with a building wind, commissioners from the California Boating and Waterways Commission (Commission) and members of the public gathered in Stockton for the first of two on-the-water experiences highlighting the Division of Boating and Waterways’ (DBW's) efforts in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and along the Sacramento River.
On May 8, beginning at DBW’s Aquatic Invasive Species Facility in Stockton, commissioners learned from DBW staff about the environmental and economic impact of various invasive species along California waterways and how several DBW programs are being used to arrest the growth of these species. Commissioners and the public then met representatives from the San Joaquin and Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office and boarded several vessels to view areas of invasive species and learn about law enforcement efforts to use DBW grant programs for boating safety and law enforcement, including the removal of abandoned vessels.
Later at the Sacramento Marina, the tour met representatives from the City of Sacramento to view the current condition of Miller Regional Park’s public boat launch and tour the Sacramento River with several law enforcement agencies with jurisdictions along the waterways in Sacramento and Yolo counties, including the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, Yolo County Sheriff's Office, Sacramento Police Department, and the Sacramento County Department of Regional Parks. During the tour, participants learned more about abandoned vessels and safety programs helping to save lives along the region’s waterways.
During the Commission’s meeting on May 9, commissioners approved a grant for improvements to the Miller Regional Park boat launch facility, heard program updates from DBW staff, and learned about Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and its efforts to reduce boating under the influence incidents on waterways during a presentation from Rhonda Campbell, the organization’s California state victim services manager.
The Commission’s next tour and meeting are tentatively scheduled for August 7 and 8, in Colusa County. For more information about future meetings of the Commission, please visit the Commission webpage. For more information about DBW, visit the Division of Boating and Waterways.
 Clockwise, from top left: Tony Delgado, aquatic pest control assistant program manager, explains the custom application equipment used to treat aquatic invasive species to new Commission member Maggie Hallahan. An abandoned houseboat collapses into the water of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, just one example of vessels creating hazardous impacts to navigation and the environment. Law enforcement officers from multiple agencies hosted commissioners and participants during on-the-water portions of tours of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and the Sacramento River. State Parks Director Armando Quintero poses with Rhonda Campbell from MADD, who spoke to the Commission on the issue of boating under the influence.
California Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission Meets in San Luis Obispo County, Tours Pismo State Beach and Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area
Story and photos from: Kevin Murphy, Communications and Marketing Division
 Commissioners from the California Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission pause for a photo during a recent tour of Pismo SB and Oceano Dunes SVRA in San Luis Obispo County. Pictured from left to right: Edward Petrovsky, Tom Lemmon, Tommy Randall, Roger Salazar, Kat Anderson, Shaun Flanigan, and Nicholas Mueller.
Commissioners from the California Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation (OHMVR) Commission, State Parks staff, and members of the public stepped onto the sand from a caravan of off-highway vehicles (OHVs) during an overcast morning on May 15. When the clouds finally cleared nearly eight hours later, participants on the tour of Pismo State Beach (SB) and Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA) had explored much of both parks, from the shoreline of the Pacific Ocean to the tops of massive sand dunes.
At several locations, participants heard presentations by State Parks' staff that sparked discussions with scientific advisors, air pollution regulators, and partners about subjects as varied as erosion, wildlife protection, and sources of emissions. It was also an opportunity for commissioners to personally interact with stakeholders and area residents and to discuss recent developments that meet goals and targets as they relate to the Stipulated Order of Abatement. The following day, commissioners met in nearby Arroyo Grande for formal presentations about Oceano Dunes SVRA, along with briefings by OHMVR Division staff.
 Clockwise, from top left: OHMVR Division Deputy Director Sarah Miggins and OHMVR Commission Chair Roger Salazar welcome participants to Pismo SB and Oceano Dunes SVRA. OHV recreational users cruise across the sand at Oceano Dunes SVRA. Senior Environmental Specialist Stephanie Little explains the Oceano Dunes District Wildlife Habitat Protection Plan with assistance from Acting District Superintendent Kevin Pearce. Oceano Lagoon, adjacent to the Oceano Dunes SVRA Visitors Center, provides a unique opportunity to view five coastal habitats during a walk along the 1.3-mile Guiton Trail: dunes, riparian, costal scrub, woodlands, and chaparral.
Arthur B. Ripley Desert Woodland State Park Awarded Climate Resilient Grant
Story from: Luis De Vera, Great Basin District
 Great Basin District is proud to announce that Arthur B. Ripley Desert Woodland State Park (SP) has been awarded with the Climate Resilient Grant from California State Parks Foundation for its efforts in protecting and preserving the natural, historical, and cultural resources against climate change and wildfire.
Since the Lake Fire of 2020, which impacted more than 32,000 acres of land including 55 acres of state park land that engulfed wildlife, vegetation, Joshua trees and California juniper trees, we have learned that although the fire was deemed detrimental, it also provided us an opportunity to improve ourselves in protecting our parks.
The recovery of the ecosystem at the park has slowly emerged and rehabilitated to its natural landscape. Significantly, basal sprouts of the western Joshua trees have begun to re-sprout from the burnt surface, thus creating a new beginning and miraculous life to the park.
With the support from and sponsorship from California State Parks Foundation, the Great Basin District can continue its mission in protecting and rehabilitating Arthur B. Ripley Desert Woodland SP.
We are grateful for this gracious opportunity with California State Parks Foundation and are excited to begin operations.
Delving Into the World of Cave Management at Providence Mountains State Recreation Area
Story from: Ken Kietzer and Andrew Fitzpatrick, Inland Empire District
 Left: State Parks staff collecting cave inventory data in the caverns. Photo from Ken Kietzer, Inland Empire District. Top right: Group photo at the mouth of Mitchell Caverns. Photo from Miguel Aldana, Inland Empire District. Bottom right: State Parks staff collecting cave inventory data in the caverns. Photo from Ken Kietzer.
Mitchell Caverns is a particularly unique resource in a system full of special treasures. As the only publicly accessible limestone solution cave found within a California state park (and one of only a handful in southern California) it tends to be a bit of an outlier.
To better understand this ancient subterranean world, on May 8-10, Carol Vesley and James Rice of the Southern California Grotto (SoCal Grotto), a chapter of the National Speleological Society (NSS), volunteered their time to provide State Parks staff at Providence Mountains State Recreation Area, the home of Mitchell Caverns, with an introductory training to cave surveying and inventorying.
During the three-day stint at this remote park in the heart of the eastern Mojave Desert, staff learned basic cave mapping techniques, cave formation identification, cave-specific biology, as well as some of the impacts on caves from human visitation. This knowledge and experience will function as a tool kit to help staff assess and identify management needs. We also trust it will lead to further partnership with the SoCal Grotto in the form of volunteer service projects.
The SoCal Grotto has been visiting Mitchell Caverns since the days when Jack Mitchell himself was giving tours, a track record of 75 years of collaboration and support. To have an organization with such a long and meaningful connection to the caverns is a priceless asset.
The Inland Empire District looks forward to continuing this unique engagement and collaboration to protect one of our most unique attractions.
Division of Boating and Waterways Educates Hundreds of Boaters at the Pacific Sail and Power Boat Show
Story and photos from: Melissa Miranda and Vivian Matuk, Interpretation and Education Division
 Left: State Parks staff from left to right: Vivian Matuk, Melissa Miranda, Samm Teixeira, and David Klosinski. Right: Coast Guard auxiliary volunteers showcasing the 2024 Clean and Green Boater Kit.
The Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) made a significant splash at the Pacific Sail and Power Boat Show, held at the picturesque Westpoint Harbor in Redwood City, May 16-19. State Parks staff worked alongside Coast Guard auxiliary members to provide a great opportunity for outreach; connecting with boaters; and promoting clean, safe, and responsible boating practices.
One of the highlights was the distribution of the California Boater Kit, a comprehensive package designed to enhance the boating experience while ensuring safe and responsible recreation on the water. The kit includes essential items such as an oil absorbent pillow, tide books, and safe boating publications. By providing these kits, DBW aims to equip boaters with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate California's waterways safely and responsibly.
In conjunction with the show, DBW kicked off National Safe Boating Week with a series of engaging activities. A fun photo opportunity and life jacket giveaway brought boaters into the booth, providing both entertainment and education. Visitors were able to snap a memorable photo while learning about the importance of wearing life jackets. DBW staff were on hand to demonstrate proper fit and use, emphasizing that a correctly worn life jacket can be a lifesaver.
The outreach efforts at the show and the kickoff of National Safe Boating Week are part of DBW’s ongoing mission to promote boating safety across California. By educating boaters on safety and environmentally responsible boating practices and providing necessary resources, the division helps to ensure that every trip on the water is both enjoyable and secure. The life jacket giveaway, in particular, highlighted the critical role that proper safety gear plays in preventing accidents and saving lives.
Kites, Murals, and so Much More: Growing Together Day at Candlestick Point State Recreation Area
Story from: Nicholas Fowlks, Bay Area District
 Parkgoers helping paint the monarch butterfly mural at the Windharp Hill Picnic area. Photo from Francesca Kocks, Bay Area District.
Candlestick Point State Recreation Area (SRA) held its third annual Growing Together Day on Saturday, May 18. Since its start in 2022, Growing Together Day has celebrated parks, nature, and art. The centerpiece of the event this year was the creation of a large mural featuring vibrant monarch butterflies and stenciled by local San Francisco artist Joe Colmenares, with the public invited to help paint it.
In addition to the mural, attendees could participate in a variety of activities led by the park’s partners. The fun included visiting the San Francisco Public Library’s Bookmobile, designing and flying kites with Parks California, enjoying a sensory walk led by Nature in the City, learning about wind power with the California Academy of Sciences, and fishing workshops with Literacy for Environmental Justice at the park's main fishing pier.
Growing Together Day exemplifies how art, parks, and community engagement can transform living spaces. Candlestick Point SRA, the state’s first urban state park, was created as a green oasis for the residents of San Francisco’s Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhood, an area that has historically lacked access to green and recreational spaces. Saturday showcased that 46 years after its establishment, the residents of Bayview-Hunters Point continue to enhance and cherish this hidden gem of a park.
 Top: The San Francisco Public Library Bookmobile checking out books and getting folks library cards. Bottom left: Kids learning how to fish and what sorts of fish can be caught in San Francisco Bay. Bottom right: A newly designed kite taking its first flight above Candlestick. Photos from Francesca Kocks, Bay Area District.
Training Section’s District Maintenance Skills Group Heads to Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area
Story and photos from: Ricky Roldan, Training Section
 The District Maintenance Skills Group in front of the maintenance staff dorm at Hungry Valley SVRA.
The District Maintenance Skills Training Group headed to Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA) recently. Training began with a small preselected group, chosen from Great Basin District staff learning intermediate carpentry skills. Lead Instructor Joe Lechuga led the project to perform leaking roof repairs and replacing the maintenance staff dorm roof.
The first week began with setting up the scaffolding around the building. The class started on the teardown and demo of the dorm building. The process consisted of removing old composite shingles and felt. The team worked together implementing the needed replacement and repairs of all the wood rot boards and plywood that needed to be replaced.
In the second week, participants began with a class and instructor introduction, followed with a safety and tailgate meeting on the project site. Topics discussed included: PPE check-off, roofing, ladder, and scaffold safety as well as the use of proper tools to work with on-site. The students learned how to replace the old, rotted wood boards with new boards and add in new plywood where it is needed. The class began to lay down felt and set new composite shingles to the building. The class also learned how to replace the old siding on the garage storage with new sidings and added insulation to the building.
The Training Section would like to extend a big thank you to Park Maintenance Chief Jason Fox and Park Maintenance Worker I Michael Ruiz for their hard work hosting and working with the Mott Training Center staff in preparing and making the maintenance staff dorm roof project possible.
Please check your FOCUS calendar for the Fall of 2024 and the Spring of 2025 upcoming maintenance classes and updates. Classes fill quickly. If you have any questions, please email me at: ricky.roldan@parks.ca.gov
 Clockwise from top left: The District Maintenance Skills Group installing sliding for the maintenance garage storage building. District Maintenance Skills Group adding new composite roof shingles. The group installing new garage door. Completed seasonal lifeguard dorm.
Monterey District Volunteer Program Celebrates National Bike Month
Story from: Sam Winter, Monterey District
 Top: Volunteers learn about plants and wildlife on the dunes before taking off on the tour. Bottom: Volunteers pose in front of an old US Army bunker with their bikes after removing invasive grasses from the nearby restoration plot. Pictured (left to right): Ralph Lauer, Bryan Vargas, Sam Winter, Nick Evans, Melissa Potts, Erick Lozano, RJ McPeek, Armon Haken, Shantha Ramagopal, Doreen Hart, Rishi Haken, Rebecca Bruemmer, Chris Ogie, Jamie Halloek, Mandy Salm. Photos from Melissa Potts, California State Parks Foundation.
To celebrate national bike month, the Monterey District's Natural Resources Volunteer Program, in tandem with the California State Parks Foundation, hosted a Volunteer Bike Tour at Fort Ord Dunes State Park (SP) on Saturday, May 18.
Volunteers biked, scooted, and skated a 5-mile route, stopping along the way to pull patches of invasive weeds and learn about dune ecology and restoration. In addition, volunteers got a sneak peek of the upcoming Fort Ord Dunes SP Campground Project site and helped remove invasive annual grasses from the associated restoration plot.
A special thanks to bike mechanic Bryan Vargas for supporting the group with his repair expertise.
 PARTNER NEWS
Parks California Visits Salton Sea State Recreation Area
Story from: Enrique Arroyo, Ocotillo Wells District
 Back row: Andy Ahlberg, Alfonso Orozco, Eric Kung, Geoff Kish, Taylour Unzicker, Alfredo Jacobo. Middle Row: Becky Rittenburg, Durresha Davis, Enrique Arroyo. Front row: Myrian Solis Coronel, Emily Henry, Sarah Scheideman, and Sara Lockett. Photo from Becky Rittenburg, Parks California.
The Parks California team visited Salton Sea State Recreation Area on Thursday, May 16, as part of an annual summit in the Palm Springs area. The visit was coordinated in advance with Ocotillo Wells District staff who presented daily operations, as well as current projects and opportunities.
The tour took the team to the visitor center, a walk to Varner Harbor, a visit to Mecca Beach Campground, a drive through New Campground, Corvina Campground and Salt Creek Campground, and finally a visit to Bombay Beach. It was at this last stop that the group had a picnic lunch and Ocotillo Wells District staff shared the wonders of the West Bombay Restoration Project, a project led by the California Department of Water Resources in conjunction with the California Natural Resources Agency.
Fourth Annual Community & Unity People’s Kite Festival at Los Angeles State Historic Park
Story from: Clockshop
 The site of the Community and Unity People's Kite Festival in Los Angeles SHP. Photo from Monica Orozco, photographer.
Los Angeles State Historic Park (SHP) was the site of the fourth annual Community and Unity People's Kite Festival on Saturday, May 11. Hosted by cooperating association and State Parks partner Clockshop, the event attracted over 5,000 attendees for a celebration of multicultural kite traditions.
The all-ages, family-friendly cultural festival brought together diverse communities in Los Angeles through the art of kites and a day of joyful connection in an important public green space. The free-to-all event included kite demonstrations, arts workshops, live music, and meet-and-greets with local community organizations. The festival honored the communities surrounding Los Angeles SHP that fought for and stewarded this public parkland, recognizing their resilience, cultural histories, and aspirations.
The festival was first held in 2021, just as people were beginning to emerge from pandemic lockdown and looking for safe opportunities to be together in public spaces. The craft and skill of kite-making and kite-flying have deep cultural resonances throughout Central and South American, East Asian, and Middle Eastern communities surrounding Los Angeles SHP.
The inaugural event attracted 700 people and has since grown into a major civic occasion and a way to connect generations of Angelenos to their public parks and green spaces so they can become stewards and advocates for both public lands and public skies.
 Additional images of the public enjoying a day out at the kite festival. Photo from Monica Orozco, photographer.
  Email photos to the WeeklyDigest@parks.ca.gov.
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