The facility hosts several festivals and special events throughout the year. The refuge has a full-time paid staff of five. But what's most impressive is a corps of 80 local volunteers, who do everything from restoring habitat to serving as docents and trail guides. Two bird-watching hikes up Crater Hill are provided for visitors every day by volunteers. The proceeds are used for refuge programs.
Observers say what it comes down to is a lack of money.
And lack of a master plan. We're too busy always playing catch-up without enough funding. Almost all the DLNR's revenue comes from the state's general fund. But laws already are in place allowing the agency to keep money it collects for various fees and permits. Last month, the agency's Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation unveiled a plan to double many of its fees in stages over the next few years.