Division of Boating and Waterways Offers Boating Infrastructure Grants for Marina Operators

California State Parks’ Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) is now accepting applications from public and private marina owners for federal Boating Infrastructure Grants (BIG). For 2025, a total of $18 million is available for BIG projects nationally. These grants can fund up to 75% of total project costs, with a maximum available grant award of $1.5 million. Applications will be accepted through Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024.

Division of Boating and Waterways Encourages Boaters to Boat Sober this Fourth of July Holiday Weekend

Operation Dry Water Will Be in Effect Nationwide July 4-6, 2024

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – California State Parks’ Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) is urging all boaters to boat sober this coming Fourth of July holiday weekend. DBW and local law enforcement agencies will be participating in Operation Dry Water from July 4-6, 2024, a nationwide initiative to reduce boating under the influence (BUI) and to promote safe boating 

Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians of the Big Valley Rancheria and California State Parks Sign Memorandum of Understanding for Clear Lake State Park

CLEAR LAKE, Calif.— California State Parks and the Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians of the Big Valley Rancheria (Big Valley) celebrated the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for Clear Lake State Park (SP), a state park within the Tribe’s traditional territory, on Friday, June 21, 2024.

State Parks Closes Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area Due to Damage from Post Fire

GORMAN, Calif.— California State Parks today announced the temporary full closure of the Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA) in Southern California due to extensive damage caused by the Post Fire. The closure has been in effect as of June 17, 2024. The wildfire, which started on June 15, has burned through large swathes of the park in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, impacting the SVRA’s infrastructure and resources in the park and leading to hazardous conditions. State Parks strongly advises the public not to enter the park, which will remain closed until further notice.

California State Parks Encourages Visitors to Recreate Safely and Responsibly During Fourth of July Weekend

SACRAMENTO, Calif.– This Fourth of July weekend California State Parks invites all Californians and visitors from around the world to celebrate the holiday in its parks and to recreate responsibly. California’s diverse landscape provides recreational activities for everyone, from swimming in lakes, rivers, and oceans to hiking among giant redwood or sequoia trees to off-highway vehicle riding in deserts and mountains to camping along the coastline. Following simple safety precautions, such as wearing a properly fitted life jacket or proper riding gear, avoiding alcohol, and knowing one’s limits while engaged in recreational activities, can help save lives.

Two California State Parks Seasonal Lifeguards Receive the Governor’s State Employee Medal of Valor Award

SACRAMENTO, Calif.—California State Parks is proud to announce that two seasonal non-peace officer lifeguards received the Governor’s State Employee Medal of Valor Awards for acts of heroism on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in Sacramento. Maxwell Hunter and Riley Rhodes received the Medal of Valor Award, which is the highest honor the state can bestow upon its employees, given on behalf of Governor Newsom.

Division of Boating and Waterways Now Accepting Grant Applications to Help Keep California’s Waterways Clean

California State Parks’ Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) is now accepting grant applications for the Clean Vessel Act (CVA) Education and Outreach Grant Program. A maximum of $280,031 of federal funding per targeted region is available to organizations for educating coastal and San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary recreational boaters about proper vessel sewage disposal and the use of pumpout facilities, and monitoring pumpout and dump stations.

California’s Newest State Park, Dos Rios, Now Officially Open to the Public

California’s newest state park, Dos Rios, officially opened to the publictoday, June 12. With the handing off of a giant key from non-profits River Partners and Tuolumne River Trust to California State Parks, more than 200 people including state and local leaders, key partners, and nearby community members attended the opening celebration.

Folsom Juneteenth Festival at Black Miners Bar

FOLSOM, Calif.— California State Parks and Friends of Lakes Folsom and Natoma (FOLFAN) invite the public to the Folsom Juneteenth Festival on Saturday, June 22 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the picturesque lakeside beach of historic Black Miners Bar.

More Open Space Transferred to California State Parks’ Jack London State Historic Park

ELDRIDGE, Calif.— California State Parks and the California Department of General Services (DGS) today announced the transfer of Camp Via in Sonoma County to State Parks. Located on the former campus of the Sonoma Developmental Center (SDC), the approximately 11.4-acre Camp Via is the final piece of the former SDC that will be incorporated with Jack London State Historic Park. With the previous transfer of approximately 650 acres from the SDC, the total number of approximate acres added to the park is 661 acres.