NEWS CLIPS

 The opinions and views expressed in the news stories of interest do not always reflect those of the California Department of Parks and Recreation.

News Stories of Interest 
California Department of Parks and Recreation 
Week of March 9, 2026

It's Not Too Late to Catch a Superbloom. Here Are 5 Must-See Spots.: For the first time in a decade, a superbloom is spreading wildly across Death Valley National Park in California and in bordering Nevada.
Emilee Coblentz, Outside, March 13, 2026

Alarming warning issued for nine LA beaches as heat wave slams California: officials: Sweltering Californians hoping to cool off in the ocean as a heat wave slams the state will need a new plan.
Ross O’Keefe, New York Post, March 13, 2026

Mendocino National Forest seeks public input on off-road vehicle grant proposal: Mendocino National Forest officials are seeking public input as they prepare an application for state funding to support off-highway vehicle recreation and trail maintenance.
Sarah Stierch, The Mendocino Voice, March 12, 2026

These San Diego County landmarks make ballot for ‘Best of California's State Parks': Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and Carlsbad State Beach are the two San Diego County parks nominated in the second annual California State Parks Foundation's poll, with voting now underway.
NBC San Diego, March 12, 2026

AV Poppy State Natural Reserve Nominated for Favorite California State Park: The California State Parks Foundation announced that voting is now open for the 2026 “Best of California’s State Parks” poll.
SCVNews.com, March 12, 2026

California State Parks asks public to help plan future of Bidwell Mansion: California State Parks is asking people to help decide what should happen next at Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park after a fire damaged the historic building in December 2024.
Adam Robinson, KRCR-TV (ABC-Redding), March 12, 2026 

Division of Boating and Waterways Opens Grant Program to Prevent Quagga and Zebra Mussel Spread: California State Parks’ Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) has announced the availability of new grant funding aimed at preventing the spread of quagga and zebra mussels, invasive species that pose a serious threat to California’s waterways, recreational boating, fishing, and aquatic ecosystems.
The Log, March 12, 2026

Second annual Women’s History Crawl draws 225 to Sonoma State Historic Park (subscription only): On Saturday, March 7  scores of people went to the Sonoma State Historic Park to learn about some of these women in celebration of Women’s History Month. According to the organizers at California State Parks, 225 people attended the three-hour event.
Ruchi Shahagadkar, The Sonoma Index-Tribune, March 12, 2026

Voting opens for California’s best state parks of 2026: It’s officially time to cast your vote for California’s best state parks of 2026. From iconic coastlines and towering redwoods to rugged desert landscapes, California is home to more than 280 state parks, according to the California State Parks Foundation.
Tony Kurzweil, KTLA, March 12, 2026

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park lands triple nomination in ‘Best of California’s state parks’ poll: California’s sprawling desert crown jewel is officially up for the title of the state’s best. The California State Parks Foundation announced Wednesday that voting is now open for the 2026 “Best of California’s State Parks” poll, with Anza-Borrego Desert State Park securing high-profile nominations across three major categories.
Imperial Valley Press, March 12, 2026

California State Parks hosting spring volunteer training: Volunteer at Western Nevada County’s State Parks! Beginning April 24, California State Parks is hosting a two-day training for volunteering at Empire Mine State Historic Park, South Yuba River State Park, and/or Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park.
The Union, March 12, 2026

Redwood parks flag tribal history books amid Trump order to remove 'disparaging' material: Books about local tribal histories have been flagged at Redwood National and State Parks as park staff works to comply with an executive order from the Trump administration directing federal parks, monuments and statues to remove material that “disparages Americans past or living” or emphasizes anything other than the nation’s “beauty, abundance or grandeur.”
Veonna King, KRCR-TV (ABC-Redding), March 11, 2026

Trestles Surf Mecca Smacked With Sudden Water-Quality Alert: County health officials have posted a water-quality advisory for the San Mateo Creek outlet at Trestles, part of San Onofre State Beach.
Kamal Jenkins, Hoodline, March 11, 2026

Could Oil Derricks Come To Mount Diablo?: Mount Diablo would look a lot different surrounded by oil derricks. So too would Pinnacles National Park, Henry W. Coe State Park, Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve, multiple parks in the Santa Cruz Mountains, and huge swaths of the southern Diablo Range.
Jesse Greenwood, Bay Nature, March 11, 2026

Voting opens for 2026 ‘Best of California’s State Parks’ poll: Californians now have the chance to vote for their favorite parks across the state as part of the 2026 “Best of California’s State Parks” poll.
Kailee Bryant, ABC-10 News, March 11, 2026

OC Park In The Running To Be Listed Among The Best In CA: Do you think Orange County has some of the best parks in the state? Californians can vote for their favorite state parks for hiking, beaches and other outdoor activities in the 2026 "Best of California's State Parks" poll, organizers said Wednesday.
Miranda Ceja, Patch, March 11, 2026

County agrees to reopen and operate Turlock Lake State Recreation Area: Stanislaus County, Turlock Irrigation District, and California State Parks announced last week the approval of an agreement to operate Turlock Lake State Recreation Area (SRA).
Ceres Courier, March 11, 2026

Sonoma lecture to focus on writings of 19th century Latina activist (subscription only): April Farnham got busy when she learned that Maria Amparo Ruiz de Burton, a cousin of Gen. Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, wrote a social protest novel based partly on his struggles as a landowner in California.
Daniel Johnson, Sonoma Index-Tribune, March 11, 2026

California State Parks Hosting Spring Volunteer Training: Volunteer at Western Nevada County’s State Parks! Beginning April 24, California State Parks is hosting a two-day training for volunteering at Empire Mine State Historic Park, South Yuba River State Park, and/or Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park.
Yubanet.com, March 11, 2026

Sonoma Valley Park Reopens After $4 Million Redo: After nearly a year of construction, a shuttered park has reopened with new sports courts, fields and upgraded facilities aimed at expanding recreation space for residents in the Springs in time for the weekend weather on the way.
Angela Woodall, Patch, March 11, 2026

 
Trump order prompts Redwood National and State Parks to flag 9 books for banning: Staff at Redwood National and State Parks have flagged nine books for potential removal in an effort to adhere to the Trump administration’s directive to report any information displayed at national parks that is critical of American history, the Lost Coast Outpost reported.
Sam Mauhay-Moore, SFGATE, March 10, 2026

No superbloom, but you can catch a spectacular show of California’s desert wildflowers: California’s deserts are bursting with color as strong wildflower displays sprout across the fields of Southern California.
Cierra Morgan, Los Angeles Times, March 10, 2026

California wildflower map: See real-time locations of the best blooms right now: Wildflowers are popping up across California this year, with stunning spectacles in places like Death Valley National Park and Carrizo Plain National Monument in early March.
Jack Lee and Emma Stiefel, San Francisco Chronicle, March 10, 2026

Pismo Beach monarch butterfly numbers near record low this season: The Pismo State Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove counted 471 butterflies this migration season. It is the second-lowest Western monarch population count in this location’s history, according to the Central Coast State Parks Association.
Mikayla Richardson, KSBY, March 10, 2026

Jack London State Park receives grant to broaden access to Latino community (subscription only): Jack London Park Partners, the nonprofit organization that funds and operates Glen Ellen’s Jack London State Historic Park, was recently awarded a $30,000 grant to support the “Rutas Y Aventuras” program, which broadens access to the park to the Sonoma Valley’s Latino population.
Ruchi Shahagadkar, Sonoma News, March 10, 2026 

Castle Crags State Park's Charming Gateway Is A California Canyon Community With Cozy Stays And Iconic Trails: Castle Crags State Park's majestic mountain views are so stop-you-in-your-tracks good, they can leave a lasting impression long after you've gone.
Audrey Simons, Islands, March 10, 2026

Between Santa Rosa And Fort Bragg Is A Redwood State Park With Hiking, Camping, And Fishing: Few landscapes define Northern California quite like its towering redwood forests. Whether it's the old-growth ancients at Big Basin Redwoods State Park or the timeless groves at Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, it's not a true NorCal experience if you don't see at least one redwood tree.
Anahid Akkam, Islands, March 10, 2026

The history of this beloved Bay Area park begins with a barrel of eggs: Under towering redwoods and bay laurels, Kourtney Boone sits in a small wood cabin brimming with puppets, fake scat and Samuel P. Taylor State Park history.
Kasia Pawlowska, SFGATE, March 10, 2026

Second Saturday guided nature walks continue at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park: The next guided nature walk at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park will be held on Saturday, March 14, at 8:30 a.m.
Henry Bornstein, Lake County News, March 10, 2026  

The Friends of CA Citrus Park celebrate the 4th Annual Citrus Festival on Saturday March 28: The Friends of California Citrus Park will host the 4th Annual Citrus Festival at California Citrus State Historic Park on Saturday, March 28, 2026!
Fullerton Observer, March 10, 2026

Lawmakers debate future of California’s free state park passes offered at local libraries: A bill that would guarantee the future of California’s popular State Library Parks Pass program is drawing criticism from the state Legislature’s nonpartisan budget watchdog.
Gerardo Zavala, Cap Radio, March 9, 2026

California warns beachgoers to stay away from sick or dead seals: California health officials are warning people to avoid sick or dead marine mammals along the coast after bird flu was confirmed for the first time in northern elephant seal pups at Año Nuevo State Park in San Mateo County.
Aidin Vaziri, San Francisco Chronicle, March 9, 2026 

Teenager dies at popular swimming hole along Big Sur coast: A teenager died Saturday at a popular swimming hole in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. The death of D.J. Neo Gallardo, a 17-year-old basketball player who attended Everett Alvarez High School in Salinas, was confirmed Monday by the Monterey County Sheriff’s Department and mentioned on various social media postings. Kathe Tanner, San Luis-Obispo Tribune, March 9, 2026 

Condor parents in Redwood National and State Park brave challenges: The Yurok Tribe announced that the first condor (or prey-go-neesh, in Yurok) egg laid in the wild in the Pacific Northwest in more than 100 years was likely being tended to by the Northern California Condor Restoration Program’s first breeding pair.
Robert Schaulis, The Mercury News, March 9, 2026 

Redwood Parks Conservancy seeks volunteers for March habitat restoration on North Coast: Northern California residents will have several chances this month to get outside and help restore fragile coastal habitats, as Redwood Parks Conservancy partners with California State Parks North Coast Redwoods District to host a series of volunteer restoration days across the region.
Veonna King, KRCR-TV, March 9, 2026

Month-long prescribed burn set to take place at Montaña de Oro State Park: Starting March 9, fire officials will be conducting a prescribed burn at Montaña de Oro State Park until the beginning of April. Actual burn days will be Monday-Wednesday or Tuesday-Thursday, and will occur depending on weather and permit conditions.
KSBY, March 9, 2026

Man dies near Big Sur state park swimming hole: A man died after suffering an emergency in the Big Sur River near a popular swimming hole on Saturday.
Katie Dowd, SFGate, March 8, 2026

Pacific Grove: Man Arrested By State Park Police On Suspicion Of Rape: Officers with California State Parks and the Pacific Grove Police Department responded to an alleged sexual assault on state park property.
SFGate, March 8, 2026

California State Parks Acquires 153 Acres to Expand Big Basin Redwoods State Park: California State Parks has acquired a 153-acre property known as NoraBella, permanently expanding Big Basin Redwoods State Park for the first time in 15 years as the historic park continues to rebuild from the devastating 2020 CZU wildfire.
The Publishing Group, March 8, 2026

Volunteer with Redwood Parks Conservancy This March to Restore Coastal Habitats: Redwood Parks Conservancy (RPC), in partnership with California State Parks North Coast Redwoods District, invites the public to volunteer this March to help restore coastal prairies, dunes, and native plant habitats across Northern California.
Redheaded Blackbelt, March 8, 2026

Researchers closely monitor bird flu outbreak in elephant seals at Año Nuevo State Park: At least seven weaned pups were infected with influenza A, subtype H5N1—more commonly known as avian influenza or bird flu.
Caroline Hemphill, Santa Cruz Sentinel, March 7, 2026

History crawl in Sonoma highlights women who shaped California’s past: The second annual Women’s History Crawl returned this weekend to the Barracks at Sonoma State Historic Park, offering a free afternoon devoted to the stories of women who shaped California’s past.
The Press Democrat, March 7, 2026

County supervisors approve taking over Turlock Lake operations: Stanislaus County, Turlock Irrigation District and California State Parks announced this week the approval of an agreement to re-open and operate Turlock Lake.
Joe Cortez, Turlock Journal, March 7, 2026

Celebrate Women’s History Month with State Parks virtual and in-person events: California State Parks, California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) and its supporting departments invite the public to celebrate Women’s History Month.
South Tahoe Now, March 6, 2026

Hipcamp map pairs California superbloom hotspots with nearby campsites: The company created a superbloom forecasting tool, complete with an interactive map with predicted wildflower hotspots paired with nearby camping sites.
Daniella Segura, Palm Springs Desert Sun, March 6, 2026