lake guntersville state park

View of Lake Guntersville from the Mabrey Overlook at the Lodge and Convention Center Lake Guntersville Resort State Park. (File)

Fifteen Alabama state parks are on a list of parks to close if Alabama can't resolve its budget crisis. Monte Sano State Park in Huntsville would stay open.

The list of potential closures includes Guntersville and Joe Wheeler, two of the jewels of the system in north Alabama; Cheaha, home to the state's tallest mountain; and Lake Lurleen near Tuscaloosa.

Alabama State Parks Director Greg Lein issued a statement earlier saying state lawmakers intend to transfer $11.4 million from the 2016 budget appropriation for the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Most of that money - $10.4 million - would come from state parks, because most of conservation money is committed to match federal dollars.

According to WHNT News 19, here is the full list of parks to be closed:

Map of Alabama's state parks. (www.alapark.com)

Bladon Springs

Chickasaw

Buck's Pocket

Paul Grist

Florala

Blue Springs

Roland Cooper

Rickwood Caverns

Cheaha

Lake Lurleen

DeSoto

Lakepoint

Guntersville

Joe Wheeler

Frank Jackson

Parks to be kept open are:

Meaher

Wind Creek

Chewacla

Monte Sano

Cathedral Caverns

Oak Mountain

Gulf State Park

"Those 15 parks [slated to close] have not consistently made a profit over the last three years," Lein told WHNT. "The remaining 7 parks have. This is a very dynamic financial situation."

Here's is Lein's full statement.

"Recently we were notified of the legislatures' intent to transfer $11.4 million of funds from the 2016 Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) budget. The majority of these funds are to be transferred from ADCNR ($10.4 million) would come from the State Parks system. In anticipation of this loss in revenue, on May 1, 2015, we will implement an Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) that closes several of our parks and park operations across the state. On June 1, 2015 we will implement a second EOP that will reduce the staffing and operational hours of several other parks. These dramatic changes will no doubt have a direct impact to their local communities and ultimately hurt our state's economy.

The governor has been working to address this chronic funding crisis of state government through a proposal to raise necessary funds. We encourage each of you to think about the two options being considered; the cuts and transfers proposed by the legislature that would close more than half our parks, or the plan proposed by the Governor. Please discuss this among your peers, family and local elected officials."