BC Parks Newsletter February 2002 Volume 13, Number 1 This will be the seventy-third – and last – edition of VISIONS. During the past twelve years we have shared many stories about BC Parks, our staff and our accomplishments. In the future, our priorities will be environmental stewardship and protection. In order to communicate with staff and friends in the future, we will be focusing on our website. Thank you to all of those who have contributed to VISIONS over the years. The park system is important to so many and your support and understanding will always be important. Keep in touch! parks including interpretation and conservation activities. Some of the States that used to operate concessions in their parks now run those businesses with staff in order to maximize profits. I Many state park systems raise up to two-thirds of their operating costs from fees and business profits. Vermont and New Hampshire recover 100% of their operating National Association for State Park Directors Forum on State Park Operations. costs from park users. One way to make money is to ask people what they are bringing to parks that you Down in Daniel Boone Country (park agency) can provide at a reasonable cost and then sell it to by Wayne Stetski, Kootenay District them on site. In November of 2001, I was privileged particularly in seasonal positions. A I Most states have Friends Groups to be selected by BC Parks and the number of park managers stated “if who provide support, labour, and Federal Provincial Parks Council of you are in my office and breathing funding. Pennsylvania, Arkansas, Canada to represent Canada at the when I’m hiring seasonal staff Montana, Minnesota, West National Association for State Park you’ve got a job!” At least one state Virginia and Michigan have Park Directors Forum on State Park pays a $500 retention bonus to Foundations. Many Philanthropic Operations for State Park Managers seasonals who stay to the end of Grants can be accessed via the web. L held in Lake Barkley State Resort Park, their term. There are also regular (continued on page 2) Kentucky. The participants included positions that go unfilled in some representatives from over 30 states and states due to lack of interest. In a number of US National Parks. Idaho’s Fish and Game Department We share similar challenges: any regular who recruits another securing funding, replacing aging regular gets a $250 bonus! Inside Reconstruction of the Paul Lake Dam…………3 infrastructure, developing new parks I The trend is for park agencies to and facilities and building support 2002 Wooden Broom Curling Bonspiel ………4 run and staff almost all businesses The Olympics – Dreams Do Come True ………5 for the important work that we do, in parks. This includes resort hotels, but some things are quite different BC Parks’ Streamlining Initiative marinas, golf courses, restaurants, Saves $43,000 ………………………………5 across the border: ski hills, etc. Many states use the Coho Fry Rescue at Gordon Bay ………………6 I There is a real shortage of people to profits from these businesses to Denis O’Gorman’s Retirement Do ……………7 work in parks in the United States, help fund general operations of All the Best, Bill!………………………………8 (“…Daniel Boone…” continued from page 1) VISIONS newsletters are posted on BC Parks’ web site: http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/ publications/vision_news.htm Thank you to all who have contributed to VISIONS. Editor Wayne Stetski checks the signage in a Kentucky State Park. Nancy Chave I Dogs are an issue with most park to encourage pet owners to pick Contributors agencies. Florida bans dogs from a up after their pets. A list of suppli- Colin Campbell number of its campgrounds. ers of these dispensers can be Nancy Chave Wisconsin has one park with an found on the Internet. Elaine Gustafson off leash area. Indianapolis City I Reservation systems – Virginia Parks have fenced dog parks that Michael MacIntyre Parks run their own system and require a paid pass to use. Wayne Stetski realize a $400,000 annual profit. Pennsylvania had banned dogs Some states do not have any reser- from all parks but experimented Minister vation fees. Wisconsin has a $9.50 in 2001 with allowing dogs in 10 reservation fee through a private Joyce Murray parks on a trail basis. Houston, call centre with $1.00 per reserva- Texas has a listing of “dog parks” Deputy Minster tion coming back to parks. Some on its website. Mammoth Caves Derek Thompson states charge more for weekend provide fee for service dog ken- reservations. Washington State A/Assistant Deputy Minister nels for trail users. Some park sys- parks charge a reservation fee plus Bob Dalziel tems charge an extra fee for pets L and provide plastic bag dispensers (continued on page 3) ??????????????? Who is this man and why is he so happy? See page 7 for the answer. ??????????????? Jerry the Moose conscripts new American recruits. 2 VISIONS February 2002 (“…Daniel Boone…” continued from page 2) I Minnesota has a system based on two days camping fees as a non- a three-legged stool with equal pri- Reconstruction refundable deposit to ensure they ority: Conservation, Interpretation, recover revenue for “No Shows.” Recreation. of the Paul I Delaware has a legislated Park There are also a number of inter- Endowment Trust Fund to provide Lake Dam esting initiatives from individual a permanent funding source for park agencies: by Elaine Gustafson, Thompson River minor capital improvements, to District I Ohio has signed a $5.5 million, protect open spaces and enhance five-year deal with Pepsi to support recreational opportunities. The The original Paul Lake Dam was parks. In some parks you can rent, Division of Parks and Recreation built in 1908 and was showing signs on-site, a camp (includes tent, cots, is required to secure matching of age. Kamloops Indian Band, own- cooler, cookstove, light), a cabin, a funds for the Endowment at the ers of the old dam, agreed to share recreational vehicle, a teepee, a ratio of one (non-state) to three the replacement costs with Indian yurt, or a cedar-sided travel trailer (state) dollars. Delaware also has and Northern Affairs Canada and the They utilize special events like developed a Memorial Tree Ministry of Highways. In order to Christmas and Halloween in July, Program that allows the public replace the dam, the water needed an Indian campout and square who are interested in a memorial to be drawn down. This caused dancing to bring people to parks. for a loved one to donate money concerns about exposing water lines They maximize profit on the things to the Division to plant a tree of nearby residents, eroding the they sell in parks (including novelty within a park. The donation is lakeshore and bringing the lake back candy that tastes sour, turns your recognized by way of acknowl- to pre-drawn levels. A temporary tongue blue, costs $0.25 and is sold edging the deceased for one year cofferdam (compiled of 150 truck- for $1.25). They can email interested on a wall hanging or plaque loads of gravel) was built east of the parties an excel spreadsheet where displayed at the park office where Paul Lake dam, permitting additional you plug in the numbers and it the tree is planted. water depth to be retained in the lake calculates your profit. Papers presented included: during and following construction. I New Jersey has a program where Successes in Park Operations – A The area to the west of the temporary various groups adopt self-guiding Canadian Perspective (my paper); dam was completely drained for the interpretive trails. They work with Writing Business Plans for State Parks duration of construction. Following grocery chain Shop Rite who (Indiana State University); The construction the cofferdam was provide paper garbage bags (more Delaware Parks Endowment Fund; removed and the drained area refilled. environmentally friendly than Memorial Trees in Delaware State Parks; A Park Use Permit was required plastic) with Carry In/Carry Out Generating Additional Income from to access the area where the tempo- messaging. Grants, Special Funds and Other rary dam was to be built. The project I South Carolina gives out garbage Funding Sources in Delaware State started August 25 and construction bags via dispensers in camp- Parks. ended November 30, 2001 in the grounds and request all campers I also have a list of participants middle of a snowstorm. Some work Carry In/Carry Out (they have which allows follow up with any remains to be done in the spring removed all garbage cans). of the 105 people who attended the including the rehabilitation of the Corporations allow their staff conference. Feel free to contact me if lakeshore trail with replanting using to come and volunteer in parks you would like additional informa- natural trees and shrubs and re- during work hours. tion on the Forum or wish to follow seeding with native seed. Several habitat issues had to be I Arkansas has banned smoking on up personally with any of the park agencies on their initiatives. addressed to complete the project. all beaches primarily due to the The cofferdam site had to be com- litter it creates. In several states And, by the way, Daniel Boone was a real Kentucky pioneer, but was pletely isolated with silt fencing the public are now requesting prior to dumping earth. Fish salvage non-smoking beaches. not in attendance at the conference! A buffalo, however, did attend… I had to be done from the area I Mammoth Caves National Park, between the filter fences prior to Kentucky, uses volunteers who earth placement and also between are paid a stipend of $8 per day the cofferdam and the old dam.