News Release

For Immediate ReleaseJuly 31, 2023Media Contact: Andrew Madsen
(805) 895-0841
andrew.madsen@usda.govhttp://www.facebook.com/lpnfTwitter: @LosPadresNF Los Padres National Forest raises fire restrictions

SOLVANG, Calif.— In response to the increasing potential for a wildland fire start, Los Padres National Forest officials announced that fire restrictions will be implemented throughout the Forest effective August 1. These restrictions will affect the use of campfires, stoves, smoking materials, and internal combustion engines, and will remain in effect until January 31, 2024.  Effective August 1, the following restrictions will be in effect: 

• No open fires, campfires or charcoal fires will be permitted outside of developed recreation sites or designated Campfire Use Sites(list attached), even with a valid California Campfire Permit. Lanterns and portable stoves using gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel will be permitted, but only with a valid California Campfire Permit, which can be obtained free-of-charge at any Forest Service office or by visiting the Ready For Wildfire website. Forest visitors must clear all flammable material for five feet in all directions from their camp stove, have a shovel available, and ensure that a responsible person always attends the stove during use.
• Smoking is prohibited, except within an enclosed vehicle, building, or a designated Campfire Use Site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material.
• Internal combustion engines may be operated only on roads or designated trails. This restriction is in effect year-round. Please make sure your engine is tuned, operating properly, and has an approved spark arrester.
• Fireworks – even the “safe and sane” variety – are not permitted at any time or in any location within the Forest.
• Recreational target shooting is prohibited within Los Padres National Forest except for the Winchester Canyon Gun Club and Ojai Valley Gun Club that operate under special use permits.

 For a list of Developed Recreation Sites and Campfire Use Sites in Los Padres National Forest, or further information regarding Fire-Safe Camping, visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/lpnf/home or contact the U.S. Forest Service district office nearest you.

One might notice the lack of equipment in these photos. I have been informed that work has ceased for the time being, as there has been major movement.

Below is Dani Creek:

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

The USFS VUM Story Map website is temporarily unavailable. We apologize for this inconvenience but understand it will be back online soon.

In the meantime, to better prepare everyone for the upcoming VUM meetings – August 3rd, 8th and 10th – here is a Summary Overview of Potential Management Strategies and Actions that came from community input these last two years.

Please attend one of the VUM meetings to help design what the future management of our Public Lands will look like for generations to come. We look forward to your participation!Summary Overview of Potential Management Strategies and Actions
Coastal Zone Visitor Use Management Planning
Management strategies for visitor use management generally involve modifying type of use, visitor behavior, visitor attitudes and expectations, timing of use, location of use, or spatial distribution of use; increasing the ability of sites to handle use or reducing use or increasing the supply.

The three fundamental categories of management actions include: (1) site management/engineering, (2) information and education, and (3) regulation/enforcement.

• Policies and procedures for emergency closures
• Seasonal or year-round fire restrictions for high-risk areas and seasonal post-fire recovery closures
• Accessible facilities
• Increased law enforcement and field staff presence/increased collaboration with other agency law enforcement
• Increased fines for illegal campfires
• Call-in line for locals for reporting
• Information, interpretation, and sign plan for area
• Guided tour opportunities
• Informational videos, ambassadors, and targeted education on camping, challenges, other trails available and less busy times to visit.
• Shuttle bus system or other parking options.
• Overnight permit system.
• Vehicle barriers and boundary signs
• Designated campsites on Pine Ridge trail with campsite capacities
• Master plan for Brazil Ranch that could include future recreational opportunities.
• Information and education for Sycamore Canyon Road including signs when parking is limited and road conditions.
• Increased cultural heritage interpretation.
  Increase staffing at the Multi Agency Facility (MAF)
• Shuttle or reservation system at Pfeiffer Beach
• Safety protocols for closures at developed sites
• Improved or increased facility capacity (bathrooms, bear proof cans)
• Increase availability of pre-planning trip information and training
• Increase on-site information through kiosks and other methods.
• Provide focused education on reducing impacts from large events and road use.
• Improve coordination with other providers for real-time camping availability.
• Consider options to increase campsite availability near developed campgrounds or other developed areas and identify overflow opportunities with other providers.
• Designate sustainable dispersed campsites.
• Install facilities and barriers where needed.
• Identify road capacity and maintenance needs.
• Seasonal or yearlong fire restrictions, day or night limitations on use, and increased enforcement
• Update and increase visitor information on site and in specific locations.
• Create a Salmon Creek master plan for best use of the site.
• Seasonal or other restrictions for San Carpoforo Beach to address impacts.
• Look for opportunities to increase facilities, camping,

— The Reyes Peak (aka Pine Mountain) Forest Health Project on Los Padres National Forest’s Ojai and Mt. Pinos Ranger Districts was cleared to proceed after U.S. District Court Judge John Walter ruled against lawsuits brought by Los Padres Forestwatch and other parties. The court affirmed that the proposed thinning and fuels reduction work is consistent with law and Forest Service regulation and issued a decision in favor of the Forest.    

The Reyes Peak Forest Health Project will protect an area that is at risk due to overstocking and the devastating impacts of disease and insect infestation. The project lays within a federally designated Insect and Disease Treatment Area where declining forest health conditions have put the area at risk for substantial tree mortality over the next 15 years. The primary goal of the project is to reduce tree densities and promote forest resilience to insect and disease, persistent drought, and wildfire. To address these threats, professional Forest managers will selectively thin specific areas across 755 acres that extend along Pine Mountain between state Highway 33 and Reyes Peak in Ventura County. 

The project will reduce hazardous surface, ladder, and crown fuels, and include prescribed fire, piling and burning. Treating these areas will reduce competition, improve the health of the remaining trees, and increase the overall average stand diameter. Trees between the 24-inch and 64-inch diameter would be retained unless they pose a safety risk. 

This project aligns with the U.S. Forest Service’s Wildfire Crisis Strategy, which combines a historic investment of congressional funding with years of scientific research and planning to dramatically increase the scale and pace of forest health treatments over the next decade. As part of this strategy, the agency will work with states, counties, Tribes and other partners to address wildfire risks to critical infrastructure, protect communities, and make forests more resilient. “We are in a wildfire crisis and must take immediate action to protect our forests in Southern California,” said Los Padres Forest Supervisor Chris Stubbs. “Let me be clear – this is not a commercial logging project. We are trying to save the remaining trees on Reyes Peak from the devastating effects of a stand-replacing wildfire.” For more information about Los Padres National Forest, please visit our public website at www.fs.usda.gov/lpnf.  

Date:	Friday, July 21, 2023
District:	05 – Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties
Contact:	Jim Shivers or Alexa Bertola
Phone:	(805) 549-3237

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE BIG SUR RIVER SLOPE REPAIR ALONG HIGHWAY 1 TO RESULT IN24/7 TRAFFIC CONTROL STARTING MONDAY JULY 24 MONTEREY COUNTY – A Big Sur River slope reconstruction project along Highway 1 will begin Monday July 24 and result in 24/7 signalized traffic control. This emergency project will make repairs to the slope and prevent future scouring of the embankment supporting Highway 1 at Post Mile 47.3, just north of the main entrance to Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park and just south of the Fernwood Campground. Starting Monday July 24, travelers will encounter signalized one-way reversing traffic control at this location 24/7. Construction activities will take place seven days a week, from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm. Travelers can expect delays of 10 minutes. The project will stabilize the slope which is being eroded by high flows along the Big Sur River. Slope repairs of this nature require that work take place at the present time to take advantage of lower water flows during summer months. This repair project is expected to be completed September 30, 2023. Road information and updates can also be found on Caltrans District 5 Social Media platforms: Twitter at: @CaltransD5, Facebook at: Caltrans Central Coast (District 5) and Instagram at: Caltrans_D5. Our crews deserve to get home safely too.Drive slowly and carefully in work zones. CHP Traffic Incident Information Page: http://cad.chp.ca.govTraveler information at: https://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/

Date:	Friday, July 21, 2023
District:	05 – Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties
Contact:	Jim Shivers or Alexa Bertola
Phone:	(805) 549-3237 or (805) 549-3237

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE UPDATE #46

NO ESTIMATE FOR REOPENING OF HIGHWAY 1 AT PAUL’S SLIDE PENDING FURTHER GEOTECH INVESTIGATIONS MONTEREY/SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTIES – Due to recent continued slide activity at the repair site at Paul’s Slide, an estimate for a possible reopening date for Highway 1 will not be attempted until further Geotech investigations are completed. Geotech teams continue to study drone imagery and other measurements of recent slide activity. The fact that the mountain continues to move makes a possible reopening date a moving target as well. Crews have been working all daylight hours, seven days a week at Paul’s Slide since April of this year. The safety of our crews remains the first priority. At this time, it is not known when a refreshed estimate for reopening the highway will be made. Further information on progress at Paul’s Slide and Dani Creek will be made as updates become available. Two miles of Highway 1 between Lucia and Limekiln State Park remain closed due to the repair at Paul’s Slide. However, the entire segment of Highway 1 on the Big Sur coast from Cambria to Limekiln, and from Monterey to Lucia, remains open. In addition, repairs to a major slip out at Dani Creek at PM 22.6 continue. Crews are focusing on the tunneling operation to install a culvert through the fill below the roadway with drilling work to begin next week. Repairs at Dani Creek are expected to continue through mid-September.                                                      

Road information and updates can also be found on Caltrans District 5 Social Media platforms: Twitter at: @CaltransD5, Facebook at: Caltrans Central Coast (District 5) and Instagram at: Caltrans_D5.  

Photo by Brendon Shave