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 August 31, 2026


Severe erosion leaves Carlsbad’s Tamarack beach slim for Labor Day weekend: State parks says it has no estimate of when it will reopen the popular closed day-use parking lot.
Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, Sept. 4, 2026

Oceano Dunes Off-Road Recreation Area Faces Legal Challenge: The iconic coastal OHV destination south of Pismo Beach faces ongoing litigation that could reshape public access to one of the few remaining beach driving areas in the state.
Off Road, Sept. 4, 2026

Second lawsuit filed in fatal oak branch fall: The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority has been hit with another lawsuit stemming from the July 2025 incident in which an oak tree branch broke off at King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas, crashing down onto a group of people and killing an 8-year-old boy.
Eamon Murphy. The Acorn, Sept. 4, 2026

California State Parks Announces Nearly 79,000 People Participated in Arts in California Parks, With 40% Visiting for First Time: Nearly 79,000 people participated in Arts in California Parks events during 2025, according to an independent evaluation released on Thursday by California State Parks and Parks California. (Copy of Press Release)
Sierra Sun Times, Sept. 4, 2026

California State Parks Opens Applications for Nearly $190 Million in Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program Grants: California State Parks is inviting eligible applicants throughout California to apply for Round 5 of the Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program (SPP), funded by Proposition 4 (2024 Climate Bond). (Copy of Press Release)
Redheaded Blackbelt, Sept. 4, 2026

Statewide events celebrate California Biodiversity Day: The California Natural Resources Agency, California State Parks, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the California Academy of Sciences and California Volunteers invite the public to join the celebration for California Biodiversity Day 2026. (Copy of Press Release)
Mountain Democrat, Sept. 4, 2026

Part of Highway 1 reopens in Big Sur as Plaskett Fire containment grows to 19%: A portion of Highway 1 in Big Sur reopened Thursday morning as firefighters made progress on one of two major blazes along the Central Coast, with Plaskett Fire containment growing from 1% to 19%.
Aidin Vaziri, SF Chronicle, Sept. 3, 2026

Baby turkey vulture rescued from Big Sur wildfires after being found alone on Highway 1: A baby turkey vulture rescued from wildfires in Big Sur is now safe and recovering at a local wildlife center in Salinas.
Adam Sutro, Bay City News, Sept. 3, 2026

McNear: Saving Mendocino’s headlands from development took a citizens campaign: The Mendocino Headlands stretch along the south side of Mendocino’s Main Street and the western border of town.
Averee McNear, The Mendocino Voice, Sept. 3, 2026

Visiting a state park on Labor Day? Who gets in free, safety tips: The unofficial end of summer is nearly here: Labor Day. And with it comes perhaps one last chance to take a summer trip to a California state park.
Daniella Segura, Desert Sun, Sept. 3, 2026

Heading to a State Park for Labor Day? Here’s What California Wants You to Know First: Labor Day weekend is the last big send-off of summer, and the people who run California’s parks want everyone to make it home from this one.
Active NorCal, Sep. 3, 2026

We’ve Identified California’s Top 100 Roundup Users. Some May Surprise You.:
The Wonderful Company is the top sprayer of the herbicide glyphosate in California, according to records analyzed by Mother Jones as part of its searchable database of Top 100 users in the state.
Nate Halverson, Mother Jones, Sep. 3, 2026

Multiple agencies taking part in California Biodiversity Day 2026 events: The California Natural Resources Agency and partner agencies will be hosting more than 180 events across the state from September 5-13 to celebrate California Biodiversity Day 2026.
Will Anderson, Action News Now, Sep. 2, 2026

SoCal's coastal communities prepare for possible high surf and flooding: With bigger surf from Hurricane Marie expected this weekend, the concern is that even more of the shoreline could disappear.
Lauren Corondo, Genesis Miranda Miramontes, and Amber Frias, NBC Los Angeles. Sep. 2, 2026

Part of Highway 1 to reopen in Big Sur, but officials urge visitors to stay away: A portion of Highway 1 in Big Sur will reopen Thursday morning as firefighters make progress on one of two major wildfires burning along the Central Coast.
Aidin Vaziri, San Francisco Chronicle, Sep. 2, 2026

Regional: Members Of The Public Asked To Track Monarch Butterfly Sightings:
As western monarch butterflies prepare to retreat to groves along the California coast for the winter, conservationists are asking the public to report sightings ahead of the annual count.
SF Gate, Sep. 2, 2026

Volunteer with Redwood Parks Conservancy This September to Restore Coastal Habitats: Redwood Parks Conservancy (RPC), in partnership with California State Parks North Coast Redwoods District, invites the public to volunteer this September to help restore coastal dunes and native habitats across Northern California. (Copy of Press Release)
Redheaded Blackbelt, Sept. 2, 2026

Put in the Work to Have a Safe Labor Day Weekend in California’s State Parks: As the unofficial end of summer approaches, California State Parks is reminding visitors to recreate safely in the outdoors during Labor Day weekend. California’s 280 (and growing) state parks offer something for everyone. (Copy of Press Release)
Sierra Sun Times, Sept. 2, 2026 

New photos show extent of erosion damage to Carlsbad beach park: Nearly a month after a popular California state beach lost most of its sand in just two weeks, the damage still shows little sign of repair.
Julie Tremaine, SF Gate, Sept. 2, 2026

County supervisors greenlight plan to build own Tijuana River treatment plant: Supervisors voted to launch the first phase of an initiative to capture and treat sewage on the U.S. side of the border and to fund a permanent fix at the Saturn Boulevard pollution hot spot
Walker Armstrong, San Diego Union-Tribune, Sept. 1, 2026

California lawmakers approve bill streamlining invasive golden mussel response: A California bill that would make it easier to respond to the threat of the invasive golden mussel has made its way to Gov. Gavin Newsom's desk.
Jonathan Ayestas, KCRA, Sept. 1, 2026

Hearst Castle remains open despite smoke from Plaskett Fire: Although portions of Hearst San Simeon State Park are within evacuation warning zones, the park remains open, according to State Parks.
Camille Lopez Rodriguez, KSBY, Sept. 1, 2026

Aggressive Plaskett fire outgrows Timber fire as Big Sur wildfires rage: The twin wildfires have led to the closure of 50 miles of Highway 1, as well as popular state parks including Pfeiffer Big Sur and landmark sites such as Nepenthe restaurant, the Big Sur River Inn and the Henry Miller Memorial Library.
Iris Kwok, LA Times, Sept. 1, 2026

Californians urged to report monarch butterfly sightings: California State Parks Foundation is encouraging Californians to report sightings of western monarch butterflies during California Biodiversity Day, Sept. 5–13, to help scientists track the declining species.
Camille Lopez Rodriguez, KSBY, Sept. 1, 2026

Encinitas Parks and Rec committee approves new Wiro Park playground design: On Aug. 18, the Encinitas Parks and Recreation Commission recommended that Encinitas City Council approve the new design, which features swing sets, slides and natural play for the one-acre park set amid a thick tree canopy in Olivenhain.
Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, Sept. 1, 2026

Can a billion dollar plan stop Tijuana River sewage pollution at the border?: After decades of pollution and years of beach closures caused by raw sewage in the Tijuana River, San Diego County Supervisors are pursuing a local plan to divert the river and treat it directly.
Deborah Brennan, CalMatters, Sept. 1, 2026

California’s Free Fishing Day Returns Sept. 5: Where to Fish in Merced County: California residents and visitors can fish without purchasing a sport fishing license on Saturday, Sept. 5, during the state’s second Free Fishing Day of 2026.
Los Banos Enterprise, Sept. 1, 2026

California’s beaches are being eaten away. El Niño could redraw the coast as we know it: California’s modern coastline is under assault like never before, and El Niño is poised to make things worse.
Rong-Gong Lin II and Robert Gauthier, The Los Angeles Times, Aug. 31, 2026

Large swells destroy Tamarack State Beach sand barrier and parking lot: From a partial closure to now an entire parking lot, Tamarack State Beach has lost its sand security barrier, leaving baseball-sized rocks behind after waves launched them into what was a roughly 140 beachside parking spaces.
Jaime Chambers, FOX5-TV, Aug. 31, 2026

Firefighters wrap 1884 Pfieffer Homestead Cabin in fire-resistant material as wildfires burn: Firefighters and California State Parks are working to protect the historic Pfieffer Homestead Cabin and other properties in Big Sur as the Plaskett and Timber fires continue to burn.
Jazmon DeJarnette, KSBW-TV, Aug. 31, 2026

'The forgotten empire': When Russia colonised California: It's a pretty, two-hour drive north from San Francisco to ?????????????. After slicing through the Golden Gate fog, I wound past sunburnt vineyards to Sonoma's remote coast and rolled down the windows.
Eliot Stein, BBC, Aug. 31, 2026

Monterey Co.: Timber Fire Reaches Nearly 25K Acres, 21% Containment Sunday: The Timber Fire burning in the Big Sur area of Monterey County grew to 24,728 acres Sunday evening with 21% containment as several zones remain under evacuation orders.
SFGATE, Aug. 30, 2026

Relief from Southern California heat is coming, but there’s a catch: After weeks of sweltering temperatures, Southern California is finally getting some relief, but those hoping to cool off at the beach may want to think twice.
Lily Dallow, KTLA-TV, Aug. 30, 2026

Sugar Pine Point State Park to host 3rd Annual Tahoe Bear Fest (News Release): The Tahoe Interagency Bear Team (TIBT) is proud to announce the return of Tahoe Bear Fest on Saturday, Sep. 12, 2026, from 2 to 6 p.m. at Sugar Pine Point State Park.
Sierra Sun, Aug. 30, 2026

CA State Parks opens applications for nearly $190 million in Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program grants (News Release): California State Parks is inviting eligible applicants throughout California to apply for Round 5 of the Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program (SPP), funded by Proposition 4 (2024 Climate Bond).
Contra Costa Herald, Aug. 29, 2026

Big waves, high tide strip sand from Carlsbad Beach: Tamarack State Beach in Carlsbad has experienced significant erosion due to powerful summer swells and unusually high tides that have left much of its sand gone. News 8's Jenny Day visited the beach to assess the situation, where beachgoers expressed their shock at the dramatic changes.
Jenny Day, CBS 8-TV, Aug. 29, 2026

Driver rescued after plunging off cliff at Point Mugu, landing on rocky ocean below: A driver was rescued after crashing and plunging off the cliff along Pacific Coast Highway and landing on the rocky shoreline in Ventura County.
ABC 7-TV, Aug. 28, 2026

Trump Intervened to Revive a Fraught Santa Barbara Oil Pipeline, But Why?: For roughly a year and a half, California state and local authorities have been locked in a power struggle with the Trump administration over who gets to regulate oil production off the coast of Santa Barbara, a beach town beloved by surfers, swimmers, tourists, and nature lovers—and by extension, the entire West Coast.
Marcie Parker, Mother Jones, Aug. 28, 2026

4 ways to get into national and California parks free this fall: The next couple of months are prime season for park visits, and with a little planning you might not even pay an admission fee.
The Mercury News, Aug. 28, 2026