ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST : No More Cutbacks Expected This Year

This fiscal year’s $3.4-million recreation budget for the Angeles National Forest is 9% less than last year’s, a drop that prompted officials in October to scale back camping, fishing and picnicking activities.

No other cutbacks, however, are expected this year.

Last year, forest officials had announced major cutbacks, including the closing of Crystal Lake recreation area on weekends to all but foot traffic. The forest service also shut down Crystal Lake’s two campgrounds. In the Mt. Baldy Ranger District, other closures included Manker Flats Campground and Glacier Picnic Area.

The recreation budget includes $2.7 million for operations and maintenance, about the same as the previous year, said Raina Fulton, the forest’s recreation officer. But the amount isn’t enough to keep pace with inflation or the backlog of maintenance projects, she said.

This fiscal year’s forest budget also includes $10,000 for trail construction, compared with $75,000 in fiscal 1993. But last year’s budget included money to complete the remaining seven miles of the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mexican border to Canada.