Cheaha and Lake Guntersville state parks in jeopardy of closing

A letter to employees of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources shares the state's budget plans for the system if lawmakers pass the proposed state budget. The plan withdraws $11.4 million from the departments budget, $10.4 million of which comes from the state parks' budget.

Its director, Gregeory Lein, says at least 15 parks would be closed by the end of 2016's budget year, which starts October 1, 2015. Those closures include job loss.

Next month, the department would have to start closing parks and cut park operations. In June, there will be staffing reductions and more parks closing. And after the 2016 budget year starts, more cuts will be initiated, though the entirety of the reductions will be staggered throughout the budget year.

The cuts will affect parks across Alabama, but Oak Mountain State Park in Pelham and Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores are considered safe.

Cheaha, Lake Lurleen, DeSoto, and Lake Guntersville are in jeopardy.