Deluge devastates state park system

[TexasTowelie]

More than a dozen Texas state parks, including some of the most visited sites in the 95-unit system, are closed to the public as a result of damage caused by a month of heavy rains capped by torrential downpours over the Memorial Day weekend.

Portions of a dozen or so other state parks are closed to visitors, with most of the closures tied to flooding from rivers and reservoirs swelled with runoff from rains that have soaked much of the state over the past weeks.

More than half of Texas' state parks have suffered weather-related damage during the past month or so. A handful of those parks, including Blanco State Park, which was devastated by a record-setting surge of the Blanco River, could be wholly or partially closed for weeks as damage is repaired or, in the case of several parks on the shores of swollen reservoirs, flood water continues covering campgrounds and other facilities.

Many of the closures will be temporary, with parks reopening when floods recede, damage is addressed and park visitors' safety can be assured, said Steve Lightfoot, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department spokesman. But other closures could be imposed if additional rains cause more flooding.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/sports/outdoors/article/Deluge-devastates-state-park-system-6290711.php

[shenmue]

1. Yipes

[tsites]

2. Very bad news for parks in Texas

Bush and his cronies while he was Governor managed to eliminate virtually all funding from general tax revenue of the state park system in order to cut taxes for the wealthy. Parks are now funded almost entirely by entrance and usage fees supplemented by a portion of hunting/fishing license fees and a sales tax on sporting goods. The fees charged by each park are not shared with other parks, so now only the most popular parks have adequate funding. Luckily, a bill requiring all of the sporting goods tax to go to parks and historic sites has just passed the state legislature, but this will still not be adequate in the long term or get the parks over the damages caused by the recent flooding. We still haven't come close to restoring parks from the fires that ravaged several parks a few summer's ago.

[kentauros]

3. Here's more info from the TP&W News Roundup page:

Flooding — Spring 2015

Status of Parks
YouTube Videos
View from Bastrop State Park after the Dam Failure - On May 25, 2015 the earthen dam impounding the lake at Bastrop State Park failed after hours of heavy rain.
View from Blanco State Park after the Flood - On May 23, 2015 over 12 inches of rain led the Blanco River to crest at 40 feet (breaking the gauge) causing significant flooding and damage to the park.
View from Palmetto State Park after the Flood - On Memorial Day weekend 2015 Palmetto State park near Luling was flooded after heavy rainfall swelled the San Marcos River.
High-resolution Video - http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/files/video/
TPWD News Photos
TPWD News Releases and Advisories
May 27, 2015 — State Parks Recovering from Recent Storms
May 15, 2015 — Severe Weather Affects Texas State Parks

(additional links at this page)

And by the looks of the radar, it looks like a third repeat for this week's events...

http://www.wunderground.com/wundermap/?lat=29.65114021&lon=-95.48165131&zoom=8&pin=Houston%2c%20TX&rad=1&wxsn=0&svr=0&cams=0&sat=0&riv=0&mm=0&hur=0