I know I have had some unusual requests and quirky ideas before, but this time I have had a real brainstorm. Without going into great detail there was a meeting with Tim Gallagher Director of Parks and Recreation, and a few folks to discuss the future of Lake Castaic. Bottom line is this, the County cannot run the lake for the State without the State stepping to the plate and forking over close to 2 million dollars. I know we have gone over and over this placing blame here and there. Now the burden lies with the State Legislatures. Each one is responsible for different state agencies that have funds (even with the budget as it is). Gallagher explained his reasoning for forcing the States hand to give the County monies to keep the lake in the hands of the County. The cost to the County to run the lake is roughly 2million dollars. The cost to the State to secure the lake initially would be an estimated 3.7 million dollars. That is immediate cash outlay. The State would have to secure the lake from vandals, the Dam from terrorist, and CHP patrolling the lake trying to keep people from breaking in to fish, etc. His recommendation was to call certain Legislatures and let them know of your concerns.
Here is where the Brainstorm/fart comes in. There had already been some discussion among some anglers, skiers and other boaters to get a rally of boats and drive to the Hahn Building downtown to get the Board of Supervisors attention. Well there is nothing further that they can do without the State giving the County the money to keep it open.
Sooooooo here is the quirky idea, we want to get as many boats as possible to drive to Sacramento to the Capital building for a rally getting the attention of the legislators to see that it would cost less for them to fund the lake than just to secure it. The tentative date for the boat parade and rally at the Capital is Tuesday morning, August 12th. The reason for that day is that is when ALL the legislatures are in Sacramento. If you are interested in going please email me @ Castaicdave@sbcglobal.net and I will give you more details. Please, please, please tell everyone you know who has a boat to join us (with their boats) at the Capital building!!!!

Thank you very much for reading this extremely long post, Please help keep this great fishery open!

David Jarrell

Now that the state budget has been passed, what is in the budget regarding money to the county for castaic?

Its unknown at this time. I should know in a few days.

July 31, 2003 Contact: Sheila Ortega
Public Information Officer
For Immediate Release (213) 738-2961


Efforts by County to Retain Operation of Castaic Lake Proving Unsuccessful


The Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation has announced that it is likely that the Castaic Lake State Recreation Area will revert to state operation on September 1, 2003 -- Labor Day.
After every effort by the County to secure funding for continued operation of the facility has been unsuccessful, it appears ever more certain that the transfer from County to state operation will proceed. The County Department of Parks and Recreation has operated Castaic Lake for over 30 years at no cost to the state, however, a budgetary shortfall of $4 million to the Department this fiscal year is forcing the return of lake operation to California State Parks and Recreation.
Director of County Parks and Recreation Tim Gallagher has met with various state officials in an attempt to identify funding to keep the facility operational. Not only is Castaic Lake an important recreational site, but it is also a critical element of the state’s water system.
Director Gallagher said, “I regret that the funding issue of over $2 million annually may result in our not being able to operate the lake beyond the end of August, however, I also have great concerns as to security arrangements for this important water resource that the County has previously provided.”
As the last day of County operation falls on Sunday, August 31, this leaves it unclear as to whether or not the lake will be open for public use on Labor Day, September 1.
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Castaic Lake Transfer
Page 2


County Parks and Recreation has emphasized that it would be glad to provide continued operation, including security, if the state is able to identify funding to assist the County, which for these many years has operated and maintained the facility at no cost to the state.
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This is a copy of a letter from Tere Tucker (doctored up by me a little) <sorry Tere>

Attached are notices that are being released to the press and passed out at the Castaic Lake gates this weekend. Not only are we doing this but there is a proposal to take a contingency of Boats to the Capital steps. If we do the "Boats to The Capital", it would be on August 19th. We would drive up on Aug 18th and rally on the steps of the Capital to get them to see it would be less expensive to fund the lake than just to secure it for a day. If interested in this rally reply to all. If you cant make the rally at least make the phone calls below. Have your friends call from other areas of the County and State to deliver the impact that Castaic has on the entire State not just locally! Take action, Get Busy, its our time to Fight! ... Lets Roll!



From the meeting the other night with Mr. Gallagher, the bottom line was that we were waiting to hear if the state was going to give the county the money. As you can read in the press release they are not, as of yet. What we need to do is to call, not write or email but call and follow up with faxes if possible the list of people below. We need people all over southern California to call not just residents of Castaic. The people to call are as follows:

Mary Nicoles Secretary of Resources (Dept under her are California Boating,

Parks and Recreation, and Water Resources) 916 653-5656 Fax - 916 653-8102

Ruth Coleman Director of Parks and Recreation 916 653-8380 Fax – 916 657-3903

Herb Wesson Speaker of the Assembly (may run for Supervisor seat in future) 916 319-2047 Fax – 916 319-2147

Jenny Oropeza Budget Chair for Assembly 916 319-2055 Fax – 916 319-2255

Keith Richmond Assemblyman (Local number 818 368-3838) 916 319-2038 Fax – 916 319-2138

Tony Strickland Assemblyman 916 319-2037 Fax – 916 319-2137

‘Pete” Knight Senator (Local Palmdale number 661 274-0188) 916 445-6637 Fax – 916 445-4662

Tom McClintock 916 445-8873 Fax – 916 324-7544



What to Say: Tell them you are concerned about the closure of Castaic Lake and the impact on the community. You understand that it is going to cost the State $3million to secure (per state representative saying) versus giving the County $1.8million to continue operations.