Los Padres issues closure order following storm damage
SOLVANG, Calif.— Los Padres National Forest officials today issued a 60-day closure order for four ranger districts in response to the extreme winter storm that delivered punishing rain and wind across the Forest this week. This closure order takes effect immediately.
The closure order will be superseded or terminated when conditions and recreational access improves. Forest employees will be assessing the extent of the damage over the coming weeks and months and will scale back the closure based on improving conditions.
Over the last month, Los Padres received more than 100 percent of its annual rainfall along with extremely damaging wind events. The “atmospheric river” delivered record rainfall amounts January 8-10 ranging from 17 inches at San Marcos Pass on the Santa Barbara RD to 18 inches in the Ojai RD backcountry. These weather events have caused flooding, debris flows, slope failures, bridge, road and trail failures, and serious impacts to administrative and recreation facilities.
Public access to Los Padres recreation sites is limited or not currently possible due to compromised roadways. Weather forecasts predict additional precipitation at variable intensities and amounts over the next week on top of already saturated conditions. Future storm events are expected to compound existing damage.
The full extent of damage to the Forest will be known once a full assessment is completed, which will likely take many weeks. Forest personnel are continuing to work with city, county and state partners on post-storm damage assessments and repairs when conditions are safe for work and travel.
Forest Service law enforcement officers will strictly enforce the closure order, which carries a penalty of $5,000 and/or six months in jail.
For more information, please visit Los Padres National Forest’s website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/lpnf.
FOREST ORDER NO. 05-07-00-23-02 SPECIAL CLOSURE – PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST
Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(a), and to provide for public health and safety, the following act is prohibited within the Los Padres National Forest. This Order is effective from January 13, 2023, at 12:00 PM through March 14, 2023 at 12:00 PM.
Going into or being upon any area of the following National Forest System administrative units:
a. Monterey Ranger District
b. Santa Lucia Ranger District c. Santa Barbara Ranger District d. Ojai Ranger District
36 C.F.R. § 261.53(e).
Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order:
(1) Persons with a Forest Service Permit No. FS-7700-48 (Permit for Use of Roads, Trails, or Areas Restricted by Regulation or Order), specifically exempting them from this Order.
(2) Owners or lessees of land in the area, to the extent necessary to access their land;
(3) Residents who live within the National Forest Boundary, to the extent necessary to access their residences;
(4) Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or fire-fighting force in the performance of an official duty.
This prohibition is in addition to the general prohibitions in 36 C.F.R. Part 261, Subpart A.
A violation of this prohibition is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than six months, or both.
16 U.S.C. § 551 and 18 U.S.C. §§ 3559, 3571, and 3581.
Done at Solvang, California this 13th day of January, 2023.
