CHINOOK, Wash. – Fort Columbia State Park will be “mothballed,” under terms of a plan developed by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission in case the Legislature cuts the agency’s funding by $22.9 million.

Washington faces an estimated $9 billion budget gap over the next two-year funding cycle. Lawmakers are working this week on “all-cuts” spending plans in the Senate and House, which will be combined into one before the current legislative session ends April 26.

The Legislature ordered State Parks staff to come up with a savings list. The agency suggested closing Fort Columbia, along with the mothballing or transfer to local governments of 39 other parks scattered around the state.

Being mothballed means the gate would be closed, and utilities would be turned off. Restrooms would be locked. State Parks would provide minimal stewardship oversight. Rangers would not cite citizens who enter on foot.

Fort Columbia State Park is a 593-acre day-use historical park with 6,400 feet of freshwater shoreline on the Columbia River. The park celebrates a military site that constituted the harbor defense of the Columbia River from 1896 to 1947. The fort was fully manned and operational through three wars. The area was also home for the Chinook Indians and their famed Chief Comcomly. Though popular with locals, Fort Columbia is among the least-visited state park facilities in the county.

No other parks in Pacific County are on the closure and transfer list at this time. Just to the north along the coast, Twin Harbors State Park south of Westport is targeted for mothballing.

The parks commission said that closing facilities is a last resort but that with 75 percent of its budget going directly to park operations, it has few other options. About $9.3 million of the $22.9 million in cuts would come out of headquarters and regional offices, equipment purchases and non-core subsidies.

It was reported this week by the Olympian newspaper that State Parks is running into stiff legislative resistance to a proposal that would have made a $5 donation to the parks system something that residents would have to actively opt-out of making when they renew vehicle license tabs. Parks estimated that this would entirely fill the possible $23 million hole in its budget. Currently, there is an option to opt-in by checking a box.

Republican leaders recently singled out the idea of switching the fee from opt-in to opt-out as an example of what majority Democrats should not do to deal with a recession-racked budget, the Olympian said.

Here are some additional details about plans to mothball parks if ordered by the state:

When will a decision be made? The Legislature will adopt a final state budget for the governor to sign in late April or early May. Then the Commission will adopt a final implantation plan at a regular or special meeting to be posted.

When would closures begin if parks are mothballed? The Commission plans to honor any reservations made through Sept. 15, 2009, at camping parks on the current reservation system. Other parks may close sooner.

What about public input? The public can share concerns with the Commission via e-mail to pao@parks.wa.gov, or by letter to the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, P.O. Box 42650, Olympia, WA 98504-2650.

Public meetings: The public can speak directly to the Commission at its next regular Commission meeting April 23, 2009, at State Parks Headquarters, 1111 Israel Road, Tumwater. Once the final budget is signed by the governor, the Commission will adopt the State Parks budget and an implementation plan during a regular or special meeting. For meeting details, log on to www.parks.wa.gov/commtg.asp/. If it becomes necessary to mothball parks, public meetings will be announced to help the agency develop stewardship and mothball plans for affected parks.