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 Feb. 23, 2026

The 2026 Superblooms Are Here. Don’t Be the Photographer Who Ruins Them: If you are reading this and planning a trip, good. You should go. But if you are reading this and planning a trip, you also need to understand what happened the last two times photographers and content creators descended on California's wildflower fields.
Alex Cooke, Fstoppers, Feb. 27, 2026

Plan for Bidwell Mansion's future continues development, State Park official says: Recent storms have taken their toll on the Bidwell Mansion as the community awaits the next steps while California State Parks confirms that a plan is still in development.
Hannah Gutierrez, KRCR, Feb. 27, 2026

Coastal Act turns 50: How a law shaped California’s coastal identity: The California Coastal Act, co-authored by Douglas, is celebrating a milestone 50 years since it was signed into law in 1976. It is hailed as the blueprint for shaping the future and identity of California’s 1,200-mile coastline, the third largest in the United States.
Laylan Connelly, The Orange County Register, Feb. 27, 2026

Exclusive: Woman run over at Point Lobos speaks after jury awards er nearly $19M: Helen Anthony, a Rhode Island woman, has been awarded nearly $19 million by a Monterey County jury for injuries she sustained when she was run over by a state parks volunteer at Point Lobos State Natural Reserve in June 2023.
Felix Cortez, KSBW 8, Feb. 26, 2026

L.A. firefighter testifies that Lachman fire was not fully put out: ‘I saw .. red hot coals’: Firefighter, Scott Pike, testified last month in a lawsuit brought by Palisades fire victims against the city and the state.
Alene Tchekmedyian, Los Angeles Times, Feb. 26, 2026

Bird flu kills dozens of elephant seal pups at California state park: An outbreak of a highly pathogenic strain of bird flu has killed more than two dozen elephant seal pups in California, leading to the temporary closure of seal-viewing areas at a popular Bay Area park.
Coral Murphy Marcos, The Guardian, Feb. 26, 2026

Santa Barbara judge rules against company that turned to Trump for help restarting pipeline: A Santa Barbara judge tentatively ruled that the Trump administration’s intervention wasn’t enough to let Sable Offshore restart a pipeline shut after a 2015 oil spill.
Alejandro Lazo, Cal Matters, Feb. 26, 2026

Where To See California’s 2026 Superbloom In State Parks: State Parks has identified multiple locations that could see standout blooms, from the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve to grassland and desert sites around Los Angeles and Kern counties.
Faith Katunga, Travel Noire, Feb. 26, 2026

Bay Area seals come down with bird flu, alarming California researchers: Thirty elephant seals have died on the beach in San Mateo County as the highly pathogenic strain of bird flu that has been circulating in recent years spreads through the population.
Brook Park, San Francisco Chronicle, Feb. 25, 2026

Big Basin expands with 153-acre purchase as park rebuilds after 2020 fires: Big Basin State Park, a historical site attracting visitors worldwide, is expanding for the first time in 15 years as it recovers from the devastating CZU Lightning Complex fires that burned 97% of the park in 2020.
Jacquelyn Quinones, KSBW, Feb. 25, 2026

California State Parks library program new bill is introduced: California State Parks Foundation recently applauded the introduction of new legislation that would help ensure the future of the incredibly popular California State Library Parks Pass.
Yucaipa Calimesa News Mirror, Feb. 25, 2026

Multiple whale festivals to take place in Northern California in coming weeks (subscription only): It’s that time of year, when beautiful, barnacle-covered behemoths migrate right off the coast of California.
John Metcalf, Santa Cruz Sentinel, Feb. 25, 2026

H5N1 bird flu found in California elephant seals for the first time: The H5N1 bird flu virus that devastated South America’s elephant seal populations has been confirmed in seals at California’s Año Nuevo State Park, researchers from UC Davis and UC Santa Cruz announced Wednesday.
Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, Feb. 25, 2026

5 fantastic Whale Festivals in Northern California for spring 2026: To celebrate the passage of gray whales, Northern California will hold several whale festivals this spring, complete with whale watching, live music and hiking, tasty treats and something called “abalone races.”
John Metcalfe, The Press Democrat, Feb. 25, 2026

Flock License Plate Readers Spark Privacy Concerns at L.A. State Historic Park in Chinatown: The cameras in L.A. State Historic Park were installed in late 2024, a spokesperson for California State Parks confirmed.
L.A. Taco, Feb. 24, 2026

Person fatally falls in California's Devil's Slide area: A person fell from a cliff and died on Tuesday in the Devil’s Slide area between Pacifica and Montara, the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office confirmed.
Olivia Harden, SFGATE, Feb. 24, 2026

Chico's Bidwell Mansion awaits plans; public input starts soon: The historic Bidwell Mansion, damaged by arson, is facing further challenges after last week's storm caused an awning to fall from a second-floor window to the porch below.
Bella Barbosa, Action News Now, Feb. 24, 2026

SCV Sheriff’s Station Opens Public Review For Annual Off-Highway Vehicle Grant Application: Starting next Tuesday, the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station is expected to have its Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) grant application open for public review until Thursday, May 7.
KHTS, Feb. 24, 2026

SoCal state park experiencing wildflower super bloom following rain: California is slated to get a moderate-to-strong super bloom this year, according to the California State Parks Department.
Karla Rendon, NBC Los Angeles, Feb. 24, 2026

Where to see SoCal’s super bloom this spring: Here are the best Southern California area to plan your super bloom pilgrimage — from poppy-covered hillsides to sprawling desert carpets this spring.
Bianca Heyward, New York Post, Feb. 24, 2026

California's 5 Best Beaches In Orange County, According To Reviews: Whether your ideal beach day centers on surfing, exploring tide pools, swimming, or just soaking up the sun, this part of SoCal has plenty of sandy stretches that come highly recommended by fellow beachgoers.
Christine Dulion, Islands, Feb. 24, 2026

America's Most Affordable State Parks That Are Worthy Of National Status:
From the arid, rugged peaks of the West, to the lush, green rolling hills of the East, there are no better places to experience America's beautiful and varied landscape in all of its glory than visiting one of the county's 63 national parks.
Kareem Gantt, Islands, Feb. 24, 2026

CA State Parks making new plans for future of Salton Sea State Recreation Area: California State Parks is preparing a new general plan for the Salton Sea State Recreation Area and is inviting the public to participate in the process through a series of workshops this month.
Daniella Lake, KESQ-TV (ABC-Palm Springs), Feb. 23, 2026

California's oldest state park expands after devastating fire in 2020: California’s oldest state park has expanded, as part of a restorative effort after a 2020 fire ravaged the park, state park officials say.
Daniella Segura, Desert Sun, Feb. 23, 2026

California opens grant funding for invasive mussel prevention projects: The California Department of Parks and Recreation is opening up applications for $2,000,000 worth in grant funding to help prevent the spread of invasive mussels.
Maxwell Tedfors, KRCR (ABC-Redding), Feb. 23, 2026

California State Parks library program new bill is introduced: California State Parks Foundation recently applauded the California State Parks Foundation recently applauded the introduction of new legislation that would help ensure the future of the incredibly popular California State Library Parks Pass.
Fontana Hearld News, Feb. 23, 2026

 California Wildflowers Bloom Returns Early After Winter Storms: Early winter storms have transformed parts of California into vivid colors, with landscapes across the state bursting into bloom following early winter storms. 
Kathakali Nandi, Edhat, Feb. 23, 2026

Person injured in rollover crash at the Oceano Dunes: One person was injured in a rollover crash at the Oceano Dunes on Saturday evening, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Cal Coast News, Feb. 22, 2026

California’s Oldest State Park Expands With 153-Acre Redwood Forest Addition: California State Parks announced the permanent addition of the 153-acre NoraBella property to Big Basin Redwoods State Park.
Nolan Deck, Unofficial Networks, Feb. 20, 2026

It's Game On...: Roll the dice and join the fun when the California State Railroad Museum and Foundation present “Game Night at the Museum” on Thursday, Feb. 26.
Carmichael Times, Feb. 20, 2026