Lifeguards will be stretched thin

Jenny Marder

Lifeguards at Huntington and Bolsa Chica state beaches will be sparse

this spring and stretched thin this summer, patrolling more beach for

longer hours than in the past.

The California State Parks Department has felt the harsh blow of

the state budget shortfall for the past three years. The state

agency, which has already cut nearly $20 million since 2001, must

reduce its operating budget by an additional $15 million this year,

spokesman Roy Stearns said.

“The agency had to make a choice between raising fees

substantially or closing state parks,” Lt. Mike Brousard said. “Our

budget has been cut by 10% this year, and spring for lifeguards is

going to be real tight at state beaches.”

Three or four years ago, more towers were open longer hours.

Lifeguards worked through the spring and fall, and relief guards were

always on hand to give lifeguards breaks.

A drastic increase in user fees, announced by California State

Parks last week, will allow state beaches to maintain the same summer

service as last year, said Joe Milligan, park superintendent for

Huntington and Bolsa Chica state beaches.

“The public will see increased fees, but should not see dramatic

reductions in the services they provide,” Milligan said. “People

still will receive lifeguard service and restrooms still will be

clean.”

The daily cost, which jumped from $3 to $5 last year at Huntington

and Bolsa Chica State beaches, will go up to $12 on July 1.

Camping fees will also go up at Bolsa Chica State Beach, which

Stearns said is one of the most popular in the state, from between

$19 and $26 up to between $25 and $39.

Annual passes, popular with surfers and many other Surf City

residents, went up to $67 last year and will now range from $75 to

$125 in the Orange County area.

Surfers are up in arms over the increase.

“It’s ridiculous, considering most surfers are pretty poor around

here,” said Jessie Marley, a surfer and Huntington Beach resident.

“Most of my friends don’t have too much money to pay for parking at a

place they’re born and raised in.”

For most professional surfers, the annual pass is more affordable

than the daily fees, Marley said.

“We’re as surprised as anyone else,” Brousard said. “We’re curious

to see how people are going to react. Most people we’re talking to

seem to understand that these are tough times and if we’re going to

survive, we’ll have to make some tough decisions.”

Some fear the fee hike will deter people from going to the state

beaches this summer, pushing them to other, more affordable leisure

options.

“People might look for other means of recreation,” Bolsa Chica

State Beach lifeguard supervisor Rich Haydon said. “They might not

come to our beaches and our parks. They might go to other parks, such

as county parks, instead.”

Brousard, the lifeguard supervisor for Huntington State Beach,

added that people might opt to go to the city beaches instead, which

charge $7 to $9 a day.

Rise or no rise, Milligan said that a day at the beach is still

one of the most affordable recreation activities.

“I don’t think we’re going to see a lot of people deterred,”

Milligan said. “It costs about $10 for someone to go to movies.

Things are getting more and more expensive all the time. I believe

that going to the beach is still one of the most affordable ways to

recreate.”