by Lee Juillerat
Originally published in the Klamath Falls Herald and News
Groups hoping they’ll need a new sign at the Lava Beds National Monument Visitor Center took a step forward in ongoing efforts to rally Congressional support for having Lava Beds redesignated as a national park.
“Gather around the Lava Beds sign, but block out the ‘national monument’ part,” joked Patrick Taylor, Lava Beds’ Chief of Visitor Services, when the 23 people touring the park on April 11th gathered for a group photo.
Included in the group were Shane Starr, district representative for California Rep. Doug LaMalfa, whose Congressional district includes Lava Beds, and Tom Paulino, field representative for California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, it was a first-ever visit to Lava Beds. They were joined by tourism officials and business leaders from Siskiyou, Modoc, Klamath, and Lassen Counties. A growing coalition of groups are increasing efforts to designate Lava Beds as a national park, a change that requires Congressional approval.
Regional visitation
During discussions at the Tulelake-Butte Valley Fairgrounds before the bus tour, Jim Chadderdon, the Discover Klamath Visitor and Convention Bureau’s executive director, said economic studies indicate the status change would increase regional visitation. He said projected annual revenues could increase between $23 million and $32.6 million in new direct spending to surrounding communities and increase between $117.5 million and $163 million in “recirculated/secondary” spending.
“For these rural areas this is pretty big money. It’s going to be a welcome addition to see those dollars flowing into our communities,” Chadderdon said. The increases, he explained, is attributed to higher visitor spending on overnight lodging, food and beverages, gasoline sales and other expenses.
Others, including Tulelake Mayor Hank Ebinger, also cited the economic benefits. “Tulelake is working hard to reinvent itself,” Ebinger said. “We’re a typical little farm town in decline …. The park designation is really important for us.”
Elizabeth Norton, president of the Volcanic Legacy Community Partnership, emphasized her belief that Lava Beds “meets all the natural, cultural and historic criteria for designation as our nation’s 60th national park.”
Norton said she and other regional tourism and business representatives met with Congressional representatives last June to discuss steps necessary to have Lava Beds redesignated. At their urging, groups supporting the change have been sending in letters of support and other requested information. “It’s been really positive,” she said of support from regional communities.
History and geology
Following the tour, which included a brief stop at the Petroglyphs, with its concentration of easily viewed rock carvings, and bus views of the Peninsula, Captain Jack’s Stronghold, the Canby Cross, the Devil’s Homestead lava flow and the Thomas-Wright Battlefield/Black Crater trailhead, the group stopped at the visitor center. Most visited nearby Mushpot Cave, the park’s only lighted lava tube cave. Lava Beds has nearly 800 caves, some with trails created by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s and ‘40s, but most remain undeveloped.
Both Starr and Paulino, who had never previously visited Lava Beds, said they were surprised by the natural landscape and rugged beauty, following the short tour.
“My impression of today is this is absolutely stunning,” Paulino said. “This has been an incredible day.”
“Today has been a fabulous day,” echoed Starr. “It has been a great opportunity to see the area.”
Both said they will report back to “their bosses,” Feinstein and LaMalfa, but made no promises. Both cautioned that even if LaMalfa and Feinstein support the redesignation, Congress typically moves slowly and deliberately.
“We’ll definitely keep in touch on the next steps,” Paulino pledged.
“We have a lot of work to do,” Starr agreed.
Norton said a second meeting is planned for 10 a.m., May 10th, again beginning at the Tulelake-Butte Valley Fairgrounds office in Tulelake, with a longer tour of Lava Beds, possibly including another cave visit.
She said a larger delegation of supporters is expected at the May gathering, possibly including people who attended Tuesday’s gathering and others from the Oklahoma Modoc and Klamath Tribes, Oregon state Sen. Dennis Linthicum and state Rep. E. Werner Reschke, staff representatives for Oregon senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and Oregon Rep. Greg Walden, along with Modoc and Siskiyou county supervisors. Norton said it’s hoped staff for California Sen. Kamala Harris, who took office in January, will also attend the May tour.
