California Indian Heritage Center Ribbon Cutting Event to be Held Nov. 6
Story from Jennifer Cabrera, Northern Service Center
 A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held on Nov. 6 to celebrate the completion of Phase I of the California Indian Heritage Center (CIHC), a long-awaited cultural center designed to facilitate cultural preservation, learning and exchange, land stewardship based on Native American values, as well as a place to engage all visitors in celebrating the living cultures of California Native communities.
Learn more about the project and its evolution here. We will also reflect on the progress we have made in partnership with California tribal nations over the last eight years and hear from some of our key partners on the future of the CIHC, tribal-state relations, and more.
Special Enforcement Team Concludes Successful Season of Protecting Parks from Illegal Cannabis Growing Operations
Story from: Derek Donaldson, Law Enforcement and Emergency Services Division
 Clockwise from top left: Special Enforcement Team (SET) officers attend a briefing before conducting a law enforcement operation in Butte County; a SET Officer operates the State Parks plane’s camera system; SET officers assist Bureau of Land Management rangers in eradicating cannabis plants on federal land in Mendocino County; Cannabis plants adjacent to Lake Oroville State Recreation Area. Photos from California State Parks.
California State Parks' Cannabis Watershed Protection Program (CWPP) Special Enforcement Team (SET) recently wrapped up its 2026 operational season. This year saw considerable personnel changes on the team, with three promotions and three new officers added to the crew. SET navigated these changes while leading eight law enforcement operations throughout the year in Mendocino, San Mateo and Butte counties. The team’s search warrants resulted in 11,464 cannabis plants eradicated, 96 pounds of processed cannabis destroyed, 24 suspects detained, 10 suspects arrested, five firearms seized and the recovery of numerous banned and hazardous pesticides.
SET officers also continued their mission of ensuring no illicit cannabis cultivation occurs on State Park lands by conducting 13 aerial reconnaissance flights in parks across Sierra, Santa Cruz, Colorado Desert, Central Valley, Northern Buttes, Sonoma-Mendocino Coast, North Coast Redwoods, Inland Empire, Great Basin and Bay Area districts.
SET has continued to coordinate enforcement activities with statewide law enforcement task forces, including the California Department of Justice’s Eradication and Prevention of Illicit Cannabis (EPIC) program and the Governor’s Unified Cannabis Enforcement Task Force (UCETF). This year, SET participated in more than 200 EPIC operations and 23 UCETF operations.
Additionally, CWPP’s aviation unit conducted nine missions to support SET operations with aerial reconnaissance or overwatch as well as 18 missions in support of its partner agencies. Utilizing a newly installed camera and computer system drastically improved the program’s capability to support illicit cannabis enforcement efforts across the state. SET officers have trained as Tactical Flight Officers (TFOs) to operate the camera.
The work doesn’t stop now. SET officers will now join other CWPP program areas in cleaning up historic cannabis cultivation sites located within park units. Cleanups are planned at Castle Rock and Mount Tamalpais state parks this fall, and SET is also locating and mapping additional grow sites for future cleanup. SET officers are also writing warrants to conduct forensic downloads of cellphones and other electronic devices and completing other follow-up investigations to pursue prosecution against those individuals responsible. Meanwhile, SET continues supporting partner agencies through task force operations around the state.
SET is proud to work with State Parks districts and the district officers who assist the team during operations, and it is eager to continue working to keep state parks safe and accessible for visitors and staff alike.
 SET Officers catch a ride back to their step off point after a predawn hike into a remote cannabis grow on federal land for an enforcement operation lead by the Bureau of Land Management in Mendocino County. Photo from California State Parks.
A Successful Open House to Shape the Future of Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park
Story from Jared Zucker, Northern Buttes District
 Clockwise from top left: An open house attendee views the damaged Bidwell Mansion; Northern Buttes District Superintendent Matthew Allen welcomes participants; attendees line up in front of the Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park visitor center; a participant indicates her preference for the future of the park. Photos from Brian Baer, Communications and Marketing Division.
California State Parks hosted an open house on Oct. 25 for the Reimagine Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park (SHP) recovery planning project. The event highlighted outcomes from a yearlong public engagement effort, provided an additional opportunity for the community to share its perspectives and priorities for the park’s future, and provided information about next steps in the recovery planning process. The open house marked the culmination of public engagement efforts to help determine the future of historic Bidwell Mansion, which was severely damaged by arson on Dec. 11, 2024.
The open house was hosted in the park’s visitor center and featured multiple information stations placed throughout the exhibit hall, including perspectives from the Bidwell Mansion Association, a long-standing park partner, as well as the Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria. The stations also included proposed recovery planning guidelines shaped through the public engagement process, activities to inform future uses and programs in the park, proposed planning alternatives, and more.
Event attendance exceeded more than 260 over approximately three hours. Attendees were eager to share their concerns and ideas related to the park’s recovery and the future of the mansion, which had been an icon in the community for more than 150 years. The final vision plan to guide the park’s future is expected early next year. For more information, visit the Reimagine Bidwell Mansion SHP project website.
Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division Joins Partners During Great American Expedition Tour
Story and photo from: Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division
 Participants gather for a group photo during the recent Great American Expedition tour of Chappie-Shasta Off-Highway Vehicle Area near Redding.
State Parks' Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation (OHMVR) Division joined federal land managers, local recreation organizations and community partners on Oct. 21 at Chappie-Shasta Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Area near Redding. Participants gathered for a Great American Expedition tour of the OHV area managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The Great American Expedition celebrates the communities, the partners and Department of the Interior professionals who steward the natural resources of the United States.
OHMVR Deputy Director Sarah Miggins participated in the 50-plus-mile, side-by-side off-OHV tour. OHMVR's presence highlighted the important role California's OHV grant program has played in supporting recreation management, trail stewardship and public access at this nationally recognized destination.
Over the past five decades, the OHMVR Division's grant program has provided nearly $9 million in funding for important OHV management activities at Chappie-Shasta, helping support the work necessary to maintain high-quality recreation opportunities while promoting responsible use and resource stewardship. This long-term investment reflects California's commitment to working with public land managers, local governments and nonprofit recreation organizations to sustain OHV opportunities for current and future generations.
The event brought together BLM leaders from the Redding district and field office, Shasta County representatives, OHV volunteer organizations, and recreation partners to celebrate Chappie-Shasta's legacy and recognize the collaborative efforts that help make the area a premier destination for motorized recreation.
“Chappie-Shasta is an excellent example of what can be accomplished when public agencies, local communities and recreation partners work together over the long term,” said Miggins. “California's OHV grant program has helped support the management and stewardship work that keeps these recreation opportunities available to the public.”
The OHMVR Division's participation also underscored the importance of sustained funding and interagency cooperation in managing recreation areas that serve residents, visitors, and local economies. Through grants, partnerships and on-the-ground projects, the program helps public land managers and local organizations address the ongoing needs of OHV recreation, from trail and facility maintenance to stewardship and recovery efforts.
Northern Buttes District Receives 2026 Champion Employer Award
Story and photo from: Jared Zucker, Northern Buttes District
 A Mains’l representative presents park and Northern Buttes District staff with a Champion Employer award at William B. Ide Adobe State Historic Park.
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and the Northern Buttes District was pleasantly surprised to receive the 2026 Champion Employer award from its Proud Partner, Mains’l, an organization that promotes inclusive employment opportunities in Northern California.
In 2023, Mains’l approached State Park Interpreter Jennifer Pooley to partner in developing an internship program for the organization’s clients. Following the development of a partnership agreement, Michael Oliver became the first intern able to pursue his passion for history through hands-on experiences at William B. Ide Adobe State Historic Park. Michael was so successful in this new role that the internship was extended for a second year, and he ultimately secured a seasonal position supporting parks in the district's Cascade Sector.
State Parks is committed to inclusive employment opportunities which may be achieved through untraditional means, starting with a unique idea and a collaborative process. Through this partnership, the district can onboard individuals like Michael with talents and abilities that enhance service delivery at our parks. Northern Buttes District recently renewed its partnership with Mains’l and looks forward to providing additional opportunities for new interns in the years ahead.
 2026 Champion Employer award recognizing California State Parks’ efforts to promote inclusive employment.
Will Rogers State Historic Park Hosts Spooky Sunset
Story from: Kat Nuñez Williams, Angeles District
 Clockwise from top left: State Park Interpreter I Bill Hamm guides kids through the Creepy Creatures walk; staff and volunteers gather at the start of the event, from left to right: Senior Park Aide Kat Nuñez Williams, docents Mary Alwright, Chris Alwright, Barry Alwright and Doug Gochman, and Hamm; Hamm stops with the group to meet Brad L. with his horse, Sheila; Brenda Yancor, community engagement supervisor of Los Angeles State Historic Park, and Hamm welcome the community; executive director and head puppeteer Alex Evans from the Bob Baker Marionette Theater enchants audiences with puppets. Photos from Angeles District.
As part of ongoing programming amid fire recovery efforts at Will Rogers State Historic Park (SHP), more than 100 community members gathered for a fun-filled afternoon at the park's Spooky Sunset event. State Park Interpreter I Bill Hamm kicked things off with a Creepy Creature walk, showing kids and parents the various creatures around the landscape. Participants even got to meet one of the horse riders along with their mighty steed, Sheila.
Next, Natalie Godinez, artist-in-residence for the Pacific Palisades branch of the Los Angeles Public Library, led a cyanotype workshop with eager parkgoers using spooky animal cutouts and plant trimmings to create customized prints with sun exposure. The Bob Baker Marionette Theater closed out the evening with its Spooktacular Roadshow, where visitors laid out their picnic blankets and watched monster marionettes come to life.
Thanks to our partners who made the event possible and to the community members who participated and expressed interest in the renewed programming at the park. Also, a big thank you to our docent experts and volunteers who facilitated set up and breakdown, as well as answered questions from the public on the life and legacy of Will Rogers.
Almost one year ago today, on Nov 8, 2025, State Parks celebrated the reopening of Will Rogers SHP with great community turnout and feedback. We hope to continue building upon outreach efforts and collecting feedback from the community through open planning meetings.
“Our recovery work is focused on restoring access safely, protecting sensitive resources and fostering long-term resilience,” said Angeles District Superintendent Richard Fink II. “We are committed to a transparent planning process that includes community input at every stage.”
If you or someone you know would be interested in learning more or sharing feedback on recovery efforts, join us for an in-person meeting on Nov. 17 in Santa Monica or online on Nov. 18. To sign up please follow the link here.
A Bridge to the Future: Former Interns Share Their Paths to Careers with State Parks
Story and photos from: Los Angeles State Historic Park Maintenance Team
 Angeles District Skilled Laborer Manuel Ramirez guides a Los Angeles Conservation Corps member through a "day in the life" experience at Los Angeles State Historic Park.
California State Parks was well represented at a recent career fair hosted by the Los Angeles Conservation Corps (LACC) in Compton, where two outstanding representatives took center stage, demonstrating how an internship can lead to a rewarding career.
Angeles District Senior Maintenance Aide Jonathan Medina Lopez and Skilled Laborer Manuel Ramirez, both former Los Angeles Community College interns at Los Angeles State Historic Park (SHP), shared their experiences and represented State Parks during the event. Jonathan and Manuel spoke with students and job seekers about their career journeys with State Parks, offering firsthand insight into career pathways and opportunities available throughout the department. Their stories demonstrated how internships provide valuable hands-on experience, build professional skills and open doors to meaningful employment.
The partnership between State Parks and LACC extends beyond the career fair. LACC alumni have also welcomed current members to Los Angeles SHP for in-person interviews and the opportunity to experience “a day in the life” of working for State Parks. These efforts help connect aspiring park professionals with real-world career opportunities and provide a better understanding of the work we do.
We are proud to see former interns like Jonathan and Manuel continue to grow their careers with State Parks — and even prouder that they are now helping inspire the next generation of park professionals.
 Clockwise from left: Medina Lopez (left) and Ramirez at a recent career fair; Los Angeles Conservation Corps members experience a "day in the life" at Los Angeles SHP.
Celebrating Watershed, Coastal and Climate Interpretation Interns
Story from: Saira Ahmed, Interpretation and Education Division
 State Parks' watershed, coastal and climate interpretation teams have helped interns learn more about career pathways and furthered their passions in science illustration, podcast storytelling and audio engineering. Photo from Interpretation and Education Division.
From podcasts to panels, interns have been instrumental in completing State Parks projects and adding valuable perspectives to our watershed, coastal and climate interpretation programs. State Parks Interpreter II Daniel Williford oversees science illustration interns, helping students learn the intersection of design, interpretation and science communication.
“Illustrations are really good at showing what’s beneath the surface way more effectively than a photo can, because it can take in everything, so it’s powerful that way,” Williford said. “We are visual creatures. We want visitors to learn some information, but we also want them to know they play a role in the park.”
Students have had the opportunity to illustrate statewide panels for the Park Panel Program, which include topics such as California biodiversity and poison oak. These artists already come to the internship with the skill sets, but the program helps refine them and build experience — and confidence — in a potential career path, Williford said.
California Boating and Waterways Commission to Meet Nov. 3 During Marine Recreation Association Education Conference and Trade Show
Story from: Kevin Murphy, Communications and Marketing Division
 California Boating and Waterways Commission will host its final meeting of 2026 on Tuesday, Nov. 3, at 1:30 p.m., during the annual Marine Recreation Association (MRA) Education Conference and Trade Show in Newport Beach at the Balboa Bay Resort and Club. The meeting will be held in conjunction with the MRA’s annual conference. The association represents marinas, boatyards and allied businesses throughout the Western United States.
The meeting agenda will include discussion about boat launch facility grants, shoreline erosion control and public restoration programs, and the California Boating Clean and Green and Dockwalker programs. Commissioners will also be provided with staff updates from the Division of Boating and Waterways.
The full agenda and additional information are available here. Registration links to join the Commission meeting virtually are also available. For more information about the California Boating and Waterways Commission, visit the Commission webpage. California State Parks supports equal access. Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who need assistance should contact 916-324-4442.
California State Railroad Museum to Celebrate Biddy Mason’s Legacy on Nov. 7
Story from: California State Railroad Museum
 A photo of Biddy Mason, an early African American pioneer and Los Angeles landowner, Los Angeles, 1860-1870. Photo from Miriam Matthews Photograph Collection, UCLA Library.
The California State Railroad Museum is partnering with the Sojourner Truth African American Museum to present “Biddy Mason: A Community Celebration of Her Legacy” on Saturday, Nov. 7, from 1 to 4 p.m. The event honors Mason, who won her freedom from slavery in 1856 and became a successful healer, philanthropist, entrepreneur and influential community builder in Los Angeles.
Born into slavery, Biddy walked roughly 3,000 miles from Georgia to California, where she won her freedom in a landmark 1856 case. As a free woman, Biddy went on to become a healer, philanthropist, church builder and real estate entrepreneur. The Sojourner Truth African Heritage Museum welcomes historian Dr. Kevin Waite for the launch of his new book, “The Boundless Biddy Mason,” the first full-length biography of her life. The afternoon at the California State Railroad Museum includes a talk and Q&A with Dr. Waite on Biddy's life and importance to California history and a conversation between Dr. Waite and "Chef Monica" Monica Graves exploring Biddy's financial legacy, community building and entrepreneurship today.
The event is free with paid museum admission.
    Submit your photos via this Weekly Digest Submission Form or send them to WeeklyDigest@parks.ca.gov with the subject line "Fall in Frame Photo Contest.”
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