News Release

Los Padres officials to hold public workshop

on coastal zone visitor use management strategy

SOLVANG, Calif.— Los Padres National Forest officials announced that the Monterey Ranger District will host a public workshop as part of its development of a visitor use management strategy to address recreation trends and visitor use of coastal areas managed by the Forest Service along the Big Sur coast and California State Highway One.

The public is invited to attend the open house workshop from 10 am to 3 pm on June 8 at the Big Sur Lodge located at 47225 Highway One. The workshop will be open to all members of the public who are interested in sharing ideas, concerns, and potential management actions.

The visitor use management project is focused on National Forest System lands that are accessed from Highway One from Andrew Molera State Park in the north to San Carpoforo beach in the south and stretching inland to approximately the Nacimiento Summit. This includes portions of the Ventana and Silver Peak Wilderness areas and the Big Sur Wild and Scenic River that are accessed from the coast.

Big Sur is a national and international travel destination that is experiencing unprecedented visitation resulting in traffic congestion, expanded levels of dispersed/concentrated camping on previously undisturbed areas, and an increased potential for an accidental wildfire ignition.

Following the Visitor Use Management Framework, a process outlined by the Interagency Visitor Use Management Council, the goal of this project is to provide sustainable recreation opportunities and access by identifying desired conditions, adaptive management strategies, and management tools.

Those who are interested in the planning process are invited to attend the public workshop for all or part of the scheduled time. If you are unable to attend the workshop, you are invited to review the project information and provide input via the online Coastal Zone Visitor Use Management StoryMap (see “Get Involved” tab for collaborative map options) or by e-mail to  SM.FS.BigSurVisUse@usda.gov.

Questions may be directed to Monterey Ranger District Resource Officer Fin Eifert by e-mail to john.eifert@usda.gov or by calling (831) 385-5434.

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lende

If you live in the back country and/or are an inholder in the LPNF, you might want to print up a dozen of these notices and carry them with you.

News Release

For Immediate Release

May 26, 2022

Media Contact: Andrew Madsen
(805) 895-0841
andrew.madsen@usda.gov

http://www.facebook.com/lpnf

Twitter: @LosPadresNF

Fire restrictions take effect

on Los Padres National Forest

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 May 27. These restrictions will affect the use of campfires, stoves, smoking materials, and internal combustion engines, and will remain in effect until January 31, 2023. 

Effective May 27, 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, 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 theReady 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/lpnf or contact the U.S. Forest Service district office nearest you.

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This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email immediately.

FHL FD, CALFIRE, Los Padres National Forest and Central Fire from Santa Cruz will be conducting Prescribed Burns THU 26 MAY and FRI 27 MAY from 0900-1700.

THU: TA 20 (Gabilan Road and Alice Road); Behind the MPRC Backdrop
FRI: : TA 16 (Hay Camp, Nacimiento-Fergusson and San Miguelito Loop Roads); Hay Camp Light Demo Range Area

It is in the Salinas Riverbed behind KFC on Broadway in King City. It started in a homeless camp. It is currently 100 acres and 15% contained. It started just after 2 pm this afternoon. It is headed in a southerly direction, but remaining inside the Salinas River bed. This is a King City responsibility area, not Cal Fire. There have been evacuations, but most are voluntary. Broadway has been closed on and off most of the afternoon.

As many of you are aware, last week a new television series on CBS called “Fire Country” began garnering attention on the internet and social media. The drama series relates to inmate firefighters working for a fire agency called CAL FIRE. I want to be clear that CAL FIRE, CDCR, nor CAL FIRE Local 2881, had any involvement with this television series. This television series is a misrepresentation of the professional all-hazards fire department and resource protection agency that CAL FIRE is. The dramatization of inmate firefighters fighting members of CAL FIRE is a poor reflection of the value of our Camps Program and the incredible work and leadership of our Fire Captains who supervise our handcrews. While we cannot prevent this television series from airing, I believe it is important for each of you to hear from me directly that the Department was not involved in its creation or support. Should you receive any media inquiries or requests for comment, please forward requests to our Sacramento Communications Program. Please know that I am incredibly proud of the work that each of you do every day and look forward to the progress we make together serving the people of California. Respectfully, Joe Tyler Director/Fire Chief CAL FIRE

Thanks to Alan and Nancy for a wonderful day at my favorite place to eat in Big Sur: Big Sur River Inn. It was a perfect day. Thanks to Rock Knocker for taking me.

Ivan Geronimo Gomez was found guilty of 16 felonies including arson, marijuana cultivation, injury to a firefighter and animal cruelty in April. The court sentenced him today to 24 years in prison, per KSBW.

The Dolan Fire eventually destroyed 128,050 acres and 14 structures and may have killed 11 endangered condors. More than a dozen firefighters were injured, one critically, when they had to deploy their emergency fire shelters.

FHL, CALFIRE and Los Padres National Forest firefighters are conducting a prescribed burn from 1000-1900hrs at TA 13W (Mission Road and Jolon Road); KD Range Area.

Just received from David Smiley:

”I have just learned that there will be no polling place in Big Sur. That is a bummer!! Everyone needs to be informed about this ASAP.
My concern about it is that as a poll worker in the recent past I, and others, noticed that there are many incorrect addresses for the folks who live here in the official Voter Roster. The vote by mail ballots have been sent out already. I think a serious heads up needs to go out to all of Big Sur urging our community to update their address if they did not receive a ballot for this election. They can call the Monterey County Elections Office at 831-796-1499 or they can get online help at https://montereycountyelections.us/ to be sure they can vote.
Can you both get this word out to people? Please!!!”