In 2010, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area adopted a smoke free policy for its four designated swimming beaches. This was met with high public approval and has been successfully implemented.
On April 28, 2015, the National Park Service is hosting a Public Scoping Meeting at Redding City Hall (777 Cypress Avenue, Redding CA.) at 6 p.m. to explore the expansion of the Park’s existing smoke free beach policy to make all of Whiskeytown NRA smoke free.
Whiskeytown’s number one litter issue still remains cigarette butts. Last summer, the historic 1852 blacksmith shop at State Highway 299 and Trinity Mountain Road was completely destroyed by a fire. While the exact cause of this fire was not determined, a careless cigarette butt is a likely source, as was the case in the historic and devastating 2004 French Gulch Fire.
The new proposed policy would ban smoking on all beaches and trails. Smoking would be allowed in personal vehicles in the park’s parking lots and on boats. A designated smoking area would be established at Park Headquarters (Maintenance Yard Loading Dock) for park employees.
This policy change proposal is consistent with neighboring jurisdictions such as the City of Redding, which designated the city’s parks and trails smoke free. Also, in 2014, the State of Oregon implemented a policy making all state parks smoke free. Visitors to Oregon State Parks are now only allowed to smoke in their personal vehicles.
Whiskeytown, in response to overwhelming public outcry, prohibited the use of personal water craft (jet skis) in 2002. As a result, the park shifted its recreation program to encourage more “human powered” recreation such as swimming, kayaking, trail hiking and trail running, and sailing. In 2005 Whiskeytown became a partner in the Healthy Shasta Collaborative that promotes healthy eating and increased physical activity to address childhood obesity. The park has developed its signature Free Ranger Guided Kayak Program during the summer season and “Waterfall Week” celebration around Earth Day in mid-April. While motor boating, water skiing, wake boarding and trolling for fish are integral parts of Whiskeytown’s recreation program, the park tries to encourage healthy living and healthy lifestyles with an emphasis on exercise and outdoor activities that promote enjoying nature and appreciating park values.
The public is invited to attend the Public Scoping Meeting on April 28, 2015 at 6 p.m. at Redding City Hall to hear the National Park Service manager’s presentation on this proposed policy change.
Comments from the public are encouraged and may be submitted online at: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/smokefreeparkproposal
Written comments can be mailed to:
Park Superintendent
Attn: Smoke Free Park Proposal
P.O. Box 188
Whiskeytown CA 96095
Citizens are also encouraged to call the park superintendent directly at 530-242-3460 to obtain more information regarding Whisketyown National Recreation Area’s proposed smoke free park policy.
-from press release
