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JUNEAU -- Faced with proposed cuts of more than a half million dollars, state parks, cabins and historic sites could possibly close or be placed on reduced maintenance, according to the director of state parks.

Director Gary Morrison said the Parks Division still is trying to figure out how to deal with perhaps $519,000 in cuts.

"We'll manage the parks as best we can, but people are going to have to understand that there will be effects," Morrison said.

He said cabins under a passive maintenance program would not be cleaned or provided with maintenance for water units, outhouses or commissioned park rangers.

The House Finance Committee is advancing a budget bill that would cut $519,000 for state parks from last year's funding levels.

Rep. Mike Chenault, R-Nikiski, chairman of the Department of Natural Resources finance subcommittee, cut parks funding by 10 percent beyond Gov. Frank Murkowski's proposed cut of $169,000.

The Senate version of the budget leaves Murkowski's cuts in place but does not include additional reductions said to force the closures.

The additional cut of $350,00 from the House Finance Committee likely would mean paying a private company to operate about 33 park units throughout the state.

Morrison said the state would lose about $289,000 from park fees if the 33 units are given to private management. With the additional loss of revenue, the total reduction to the Parks Division would be about $800,000, Morrison said.

Southeast Area Park Superintendent Mike Eberhardt said adding 33 park units would put the total of privately managed parks up to 58, almost half of Alaska's 121 state parks.

In the Juneau area, the cuts could bring the closure of the popular Cowee Meadow and Blue Mussel cabins at Point Bridget State Park north of Juneau next year.