Los Padres Prohibits Camping Along Nacimiento-Fergusson Road
GOLETA, Calif., August 11, 2017– Los Padres National Forest officials today announced that dispersed camping along the Nacimiento-Fergusson Road (Forest Road No. 22S01) on the Monterey Ranger District is prohibited under a new Forest Order. This prohibition is effective immediately, and will be strictly enforced due to public health and safety concerns.
This Forest Order will remain in effect through August 10, 2018, and violations of the Order are punishable by a fine of $5,000 and/or six months in jail.
The recent closures on State Highway 1 due to storm-related slides, along with the failure of the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge, have led to concentrated public camping use along Nacimiento-Fergusson Road. The volume of dispersed, roadside camping along the Nacimiento-Fergusson Road has significantly increased to the point where the public are placing tents and recreational vehicles in pull-outs designed for vehicles to allow oncoming traffic to safely pass. Visitors will often use their vehicles to protect their sites at night, which partially obstructs the roadway, causing traffic and camping conflicts and related public safety concerns.
The Forest Order extends along the right-of-way of Nacimiento-Fergusson Road from State Highway 1 west to mile post 10.3. Dispersed camping is prohibited within a 300-foot buffer that extends from the road’s center line.
Visitors are reminded that Los Padres is currently in Level III fire restrictions, under which recreational target shooting and dispersed campfires outside of established campgrounds are not permitted.
For more information, please contact the Monterey District Office at (831) 385-5434.
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