In San Luis Obispo County’s latest drought relief measure, California state parks has opted to close the public restrooms at the Hearst Castle Visitor Center and replace them with portable toilets. [KSBY]
State parks will close the restrooms on July 7. Hearst Castle visitors will then have choices of 38 port-a-potties flanked by at least six hand sanitizer stations.
Officials say the closure of the restrooms will reduce water use by 40 to 50 percent. State parks has also closed the restrooms at the Santa Rosa Creek, Leffingwell Landing and Washburn day use areas.
Additionally, showers are no longer available for use at the San Simeon campground.
Hearst Castle is also eliminating annual plantings of new plants, and workers are doing most irrigation by hand.
