NEWS CLIPS

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

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News Stories of Interest
California Department of Parks and Recreation
Week of Oct. 26, 2026

 

Malibu advances emergency storm preparations as coastal repairs near completion: With another round of high tides and rain in the forecast, Malibu officials are moving forward with emergency coastal repairs, road stabilization and flood-prevention efforts as the city prepares for what could be a challenging El Niño winter.
Hayley Mattson, Malibu Times, Oct. 30, 2026

Seven young condors released in northern California: The large birds of prey are clawing their way back from the brink of extinction.
Margherita Bassi, Popular Science, Oct. 30, 2026

Salterio master Marc Armitano Domingo to perform at ‘Music in the Mission’: Tickets to this unique event, sponsored by California State Parks and Sonoma Petaluma Parks, Inc., will be available at the door.
Tim Curley, Sonoma Index-Tribune, Oct. 30, 2026

Honor the dead at these California holiday events: Celebrating the life and honoring the memories of loved ones who have died, Di´a de los Muertos is a unique holiday that brings together a dichotomy of color, tradition, and introspection.
Roseann Cattani, USA Today, Oct. 30, 2026

Museum Unveils Lantern Project: The California State Railroad Museum has completed a lantern display featuring 204 historical lanterns as part of a multiyear, multiphase lobby renovation project. (Subscription Only; Copy of Press Release)
Mountain Democrat, Oct. 30, 2026

Railtown does Halloween: Railtown 1897 State Historic Park in Jamestown is offering a variety of frightfully fun activities and spirited train rides this Halloween season in partnership with the California State Railroad Museum Foundation. (Subscription Only; Copy of Press Release)
Mountain Democrat, Oct. 30, 2026

Designs Within Reach: Here’s a sneak peek at a few of our favorites around Sacramento, from two new sports and entertainment venues to an ambitious cultural center and an inspiring educational expansion on one of the largest urban farms in California.
Hillary Louise Johnson, Sactown Magazine, Oct. 29, 2026

Redwood Parks Conservancy to Host Public Reception Celebrating Fall 2026 Artists-in-Residence: Redwood Parks Conservancy and Redwood National and State Parks invite the public to a special reception celebrating the Fall 2026 Artists-in-Residence on Tuesday, November 10, from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. (Copy of Press Release from Redwood Parks Conservancy)
Redheaded Blackbelt, Oct. 29, 2026

Gov. Gavin Newsom Visits PCH Crack In South OC, Issues Order Protecting Eroding Hillside:The California governor visited Orange County on Tuesday and directed state agencies to prepare Coast Highway for future storm damage.
Miranda Ceja, Patch, Oct. 28, 2026 

• Additional Sources: The Korea Daily

Highway 1 will close north of SLO County on Thursday for Timber Fire repairs:Highway 1 will be closed at Torre Canyon for most of the day on Thursday as crews shore up hillsides burned by the Timber Fire along the Big Sur coast.
Joan Lych, The Tribune, Oct. 28, 2026

Lake Tahoe inspectors intercept boats carrying invasive golden mussels:Lake Tahoe boat inspectors intercepted 10 watercraft carrying invasive golden mussels this season, according to the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA).
2 News Nevada, Oct. 28, 2026

Photo | Estrellas de Esperanza dance at the Castro Adobe State Historic Park:Estrellas de Esperanza folklórico dancers perform Sunday at the Castro Adobe State Historic Park in Larkin Valley near Watsonville. 
Santa Cruz Sentinel, Oct. 28, 2026

These Are the 6 Best Campgrounds Across the U.S.—From California’s Towering Redwoods to Utah’s Stunning Desert Landscapes:A new ranking recognizes exceptional campgrounds across the country.
Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel plus Leisure, Oct. 28, 2026

In the 1980s, California condors went extinct in the wild. 7 were just released near the California-Oregon border: The birds were bred by the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance as part of the Northern California Condor Restoration Program (NCCRP), in collaboration with the Yurok Tribe and Redwood National and State Parks.
Daniel Graham, Discover Wildlife, Oct. 28, 2026 

• Additional Coverage: Active NorCal

Historian to lecture on Sonoma-Petaluma leg of El Camino Real: Dr. Peter Meyerhof will deliver a lecture in Sonoma in November on an unexpected Sonoma-Petaluma leg of El Camino Real (The Royal Road), which connected the 21 missions in California.
Daniel Johnson, Sonoma Index-Tribune, Oct. 28, 2026 

State Parks Considers Two Small Additions to Humboldt Redwoods, One to Jedediah Smith: California State Parks will hold a virtual public meeting Monday, November 2, to discuss potential land acquisitions, including two small parcels along the Avenue of the Giants that would become additions to Humboldt Redwoods State Park.
Kym Kemp, Redheaded Blackbelt, Oct. 28, 2026 

Shape the future of Woodson Bridge parks near Corning: Tehama County Public Works is hosting a community event to gather input on improvements for two local parks.
Robert Sheridan, Action News Now, Oct. 28, 2026

How to See Burney Falls Without the Crowds: A Complete Guide for 2026 and Beyond: Starting in 2026, McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park runs a day-use reservation system on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from mid-May through late September.
Active NorCal, Oct. 28, 2026 

Gov. Newsom visits cracked bluff along PCH, Crystal Cove cottages: Gov. Gavin Newsom visited Orange County on Tuesday, Oct. 27, to sign an executive order meant to protect a vulnerable stretch along Pacific Coast Highway that is showing severe cracking on the bluff between Laguna Beach and Newport Beach.
Laylan Connelly, Orange County Register, Oct. 27, 2026

• Additional Coverage: CBS Los Angeles, Surfer, UPI, AccuWeather

GVRD seeking community support in planning City Park: Beginning Wednesday, the agency will host a series of five meetings to help shape the future of City Park.
Sarah Rodriguez, Times-Herald, Oct. 27, 2026

Invasive golden mussels find a way to dig further into boaters’ pocket books: The invasive golden mussel has been digging into boaters’ pocketbooks since they were first discovered in the California Delta and O’Neill Forebay in October 2024, and the initiation of an additional mussel fee specifically for the golden mussel will add to the cost of vessel registration.
Western Outdoor News, Oct. 27, 2026

Archaeology Day celebrates heritage of Native Americans who lived in the Anza-Borrego Desert: An Archaeology Day with guided tours, art demonstrations, educational displays and storytelling is slated for Nov. 7 at the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Visitor Center and nearby Begole Archaeology Research Center.
Linda Mcintosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, Oct. 27, 2026

Newsom to sign order protecting Pacific Coast Highway from El Nino’s powerful storms:California Gov. Gavin Newsom will sign an executive order Tuesday to protect the iconic Pacific Coast Highway from the impacts of El Niño-related storms as a potentially stormy winter approaches.
Andrew Freedman and Julian Quinones, CNN, Oct. 27, 2026

State Parks awards $28.1 million for 136 off-highway vehicle projects, most for patrols and trail upkeep:Eighty-one agencies, districts and nonprofits will share the 2026 grants from the OHV Trust Fund. Law enforcement accounts for 67 of the projects and $6 million; requests topped $44 million.
Kyle Langford, The Golden Coast Journal, Oct. 27, 2026

Half Moon Bay Marine Flare Collection Tackles Disposal Problem:The collection addressed a major disposal challenge as California lacks facilities equipped to handle expired marine flares.
Sanestina Hunter, Patch, Oct. 27, 2026

Newport Beach sees some flooding, PCH northbound in Huntington Beach closed during high tide:Northbound lanes of PCH were closed Monday morning between the Bolsa Chica State Beach entrance and Warner Avenue.
Laylan Connelly, Claire Wang, and Erika I. Ritchie, The Orange County Register, Oct. 26, 2026

• Additional Sources: Patch, Cirebon Times

'A Perfect Storm': 5 Things To Know About The PCH Crack Repair Work:Caltrans contractors worked this weekend to prepare the roughly 360-foot long crack for brutal King Tides expected to last through Thursday.
Miranda Ceja, Patch, Oct. 26, 2026

California raises mussel fee for boaters as invasive species spreads near Los Banos:California has increased its mussel prevention fee for recreational boaters from $16 to $42 for a full two-year sticker cycle as officials work to contain invasive golden mussels already detected in waterways near Los Banos.Los Banos Enterprise, Oct. 26, 2026

• Additional Sources: Active Norcal, Redheaded Blackbelt (Press Release)

A 16-Foot Great White Was Just Filmed Near Lovers Point. Police Told Swimmers to Stay Out of the Water:Ten months after a great white killed an open-water swimmer at Lovers Point, Pacific Grove police are again telling people to stay out of the water at the same cove.
Active NorCal, Oct. 26, 2026

California’s Fastest-Eroding Cliffs Are in Humboldt County, Right Before a Super El Niño Winter: Somewhere on the Lost Coast Headlands in Humboldt County, a single landslide sent more than 1.4 million cubic yards of rock and soil toward the Pacific, and the cliff there has been retreating at more than 70 feet per year.
Active NorCal, Oct. 26, 2026

New and Expanded Marine Protected Areas Headed to Next Stage Following California Fish and Game Commission Vote: The California Fish and Game Commission (Commission) returned to the topic of marine protected area (MPA) petitions at its October meeting, granting seven petition actions to be considered for future rulemaking. (Copy of Press Release)
Kym Kemp, Redheaded Blackbelt, Oct. 26, 2026

Have these cards in your wallet? Get in free at these California museums, parks: If you are looking for ways to get the most for your money then look no further. Certain credit cards, library cards and EBT cards can gain you access to a variety of California’s art and history museums and parks at no cost.
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado, Sacramento Bee, Oct. 26, 2026

Identity of man who self-immolated on California beach remains a mystery: A man who self-immolated on a Northern California beach more than six years ago remains unidentified, but new DNA evidence suggesting he may have ties to a small religious minority community in Iran has given investigators a possible new lead.
Josh DuBose, KTLA, Oct. 25, 2026

California’s Oldest State Park Burned 97 Percent. Here’s What Big Basin Looks Like Now: The redwoods at Big Basin Redwoods State Park are sprouting new canopies six years after the CZU Lightning Complex burned through 97 percent of California’s oldest state park, but anyone expecting the dim, misty forest of memory is in for a surprise.
Active NorCal, Oct. 25, 2026

King Tides Pummel California’s Battered Coast as Super El Niño Surges: Just when it seemed Southern California’s coastline couldn’t take another beating, the ocean has a new trick up its bottomless, soggy sleeve: king tides.
Dashel Pierson, Surfer, Oct. 24, 2026

[Update: Located] Friends Ask Humboldt to Help Bring Ryan Koevenig Home: Ryan Koevenig’s beloved 4Runner was found sitting in the Eel River, its rooftop tent still strapped on top. Koevenig was nowhere to be found.
Kym Kemp, Redheaded Blackbelt, Oct. 24, 2026

Where to go to escape life’s stresses? This spot ranks near top of California list: One of northern California’s favorite playgrounds, just a two-hour drive from the Sacramento area, is near the top of the list of spiritual landscapes.
Gagandeep Singh & Allison Gibson, Sacramento Bee, Oct. 24, 2026

THE ECONEWS REPORT: Save the Redwoods League in the 21st Century: The venerable Save the Redwoods League was founded in 1918. Some hundred-plus years later, the League continues to be a major force in redwood conservation and restoration—although some of the work today may seem unfamiliar. (Audio)
Lost Coast Outpost, Oct. 24, 2026

California’s mussel sticker fee just went up. Here’s what boaters need to know: California boaters will now face a higher fee to use the state’s lakes, rivers and other waterways as officials expand their efforts to fight invasive golden mussels. (Subscription Required)
Daniel Hunt, Sacramento Bee, Oct. 23, 2026

• Additional Coverage: KRCR, Paso Robles Daily News, Sierra Sun Times

Pacific Grove police advise against water activities at Lovers Point after shark sighting: California State Parks had also issued a shark advisory for nearby Marina State Beach after a great white shark was seen breaching near shore.
Ricardo Tovar, KSBW, Oct. 23, 2026

• Additional Coverage: Surfer, New York Post

California state park’s cash cow struggles as tourist numbers plummet: Central California’s Hearst Castle in San Simeon, once a major cash cow in the state’s park system, has seen plummeting visitor numbers in recent years. Tourists are skipping the $35 ticket to the lavish estate and driving through the popular coastal route that runs right past its door.
Christopher Edwards & Bianca Zalben, New York Post, Oct. 23, 2026 

Santa Barbara Zoo President & CEO Charles Hopper Appointed to California State Park and Recreation Commission: Santa Barbara Zoo President & CEO Charles Hopper has been appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom to the California State Park and Recreation Commission, bringing his experience leading zoos and aquariums to a statewide body that guides the administration, protection and development of California’s state park system. (Copy of Press Release)
Santa Barbara Independent, Oct. 23, 2026