Saturday, August 25, 2012

California Forever on PBS--Our State Parks

California Forever is a 2-part documentary about our state parks that does not involve Ken Burns, as far as I can tell. The series producers (David Vassar and Sally Kaplan) were inspired in this project by the recent battle over the OC Toll Road, which would have paved over a part of San Onofre State Beach.

Budget cuts and temporary closures are one thing, Vassar says, but "the scenic lands and historic sites that state parks protect must never be forgotten."

The first show starts with the discovery of the giant sequoias in 1852, which led to our first state park, Yosemite.

Did you know that Abraham Lincoln signed the Yosemite Grant? I didn't.

While the first show focuses on history, the second takes up the problems parks face today, like, balancing the recreational uses with protection of sites and species. One example of that will be Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, and off-roading at Ocotillo Wells Recreation Area. This second episode will also feature the Los Angeles River and the way its being changed. (The picture at left is from The River Project website.)

KOCE plans to run these shows back to back on September 4th, then one at a time on the 9th and 16th. PBS OC will show them on September 8th.  KLCS will run both on 9/11, then repeat them much later in the month. Meanwhile, here is a minute-and-a-half trailer:


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