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 Oct. 12, 2026 

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

 

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). 

Mountain Democrat, Oct. 16, 2026 

 

Dana Point Update: Beach Road Homes Face Continued Storm Surge Damage: Heavy rain, strong winds, unusually high tides, and powerful waves and storm surge fueled by Tropical Storm Rachel — a hurricane that was downgraded after making landfall in Baja California on Saturday, Oct. 10 — battered the Southern California coast over the weekend, including in Dana Point. 

Hayze Law, Dana Point Times, Oct. 16, 2026 

 

Bryson Fire in Malibu hills burns 200 acres and prompts mandatory evacuation orders: Los Angeles County issued evacuation warnings and orders for a wide area that stretches to Leo Carrillo State Park, Pepperdine University and the coast. 

Matthew Rodriguez & Chelsea Hylton, CBS Los Angeles, Oct. 16, 2026 

 

As Santa Ana winds bear down, officials shutter parks to avoid sparking a fire: Here’s what’s closed:With red-flag fire weather warnings in place, several agencies overseeing portions of the Santa Monica Mountains announced Wednesday they were temporarily closing many parks. 

Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, Oct. 15, 2026 

 

Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park set to reopen Friday after wildfire:Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park will reopen to the public Friday, Oct. 16, after a two-month closure during the Timber Fire 
King City Rustler, Oct. 15, 2026 
 

See it: Large crack in ground forms on shoulder of iconic Southern California highway:  A southbound lane of the iconic Pacific Coast Highway is closed for an unknown amount of time after a crack formed off the shoulder of the road in Laguna Beach.  
Hayley Vawter, Fox Weather, Oct. 15, 2026 

 

MCSD holds scoping workshops to guide Pierson Park planning:  The McKinleyville Community Services District is inviting residents to help determine the future of Pierson Park as it prepares to seek state funding for improvements and new recreational opportunities at the community park. 
Mad River Union, Oct. 15, 2026 
 

Arizona man dies after he was found unresponsive at a California beach: An Arizona man was found dead near the coastline of a California beach after a multiagency search and rescue mission. (Subscription Required) 

Christian Cervantes, The Tribune, Oct. 15, 2026 

 

Massive Cliff Collapse Near PCH Caught on Camera as El Niño Batters California (Video): After weeks of hurricane-generated surf and elevated tides hammered Southern California, a section of coastal bluff near Pacific Coast Highway at El Morro, beside Crystal Cove State Park, broke away toward the ocean. Laguna Beach skimboarder Blair Conklin has documented the deteriorating coastline in dramatic footage. 

Dashel Pierson, Surfer Magazine, Oct. 15, 2026 

 

Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park set to reopen Friday after wildfire: Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park will reopen to the public Friday, Oct. 16, after a two-month closure during the Timber Fire, which burned approximately 517 acres within the park, including numerous trails. (Copy of Press Release) 

Salinas Valley Tribune, Oct. 15, 2026 

 

Planning Commissioners advance Point Lobos ParkIT! shuttle plan to address traffic and safety: Plans for the ParkIT! shuttle, a potential solution to the growing traffic congestion near Point Lobos State Reserve, moved another step forward.  

Katie Rodriguez, Monterey County Now, Oct. 15, 2026 

 

These photos just won the 2nd California State Parks Foundation Photo Contest:The winners of the 2nd annual California State Parks Foundation Photo Contest were announced Wednesday.  
Will Conybeare, KTLA 5, Oct. 14, 2026 

 

Arizona man found dead on Sand Dollar Beach in Big Sur:An Arizona man was found dead on the coastline of Sand Dollar Beach in Big Sur on Oct. 13, according to the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office.  
Chrissa Olson, Monterey County Now, Oct. 14, 2026 

 

Prof. Zachary honors great-grandfather’s founding of town turned state park: Anita Zachary, visiting assistant professor of the Occidental College Writing Program, was the keynote speaker at the Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park’s 50th Rededication event Oct. 10 — an annual ceremony celebrating the transition of the historic town into a state park. 

Francine Ghazarian, The Occidental, Oct. 14, 2026 

 

Big Sur’s Famous State Park Reopens Friday, Two Months After the Timber Fire Shut It Down:California State Parks said the reopening covers the campground, day-use areas, the Campfire Center, the Nature Center, Big Sur Lodge and the Redwood Grove Boardwalk, along with the Buzzards Roost Trail, River Path and Nature Trail. 

Active NorCal, Oct. 13, 2026 

 

Thousands mark Indigenous Peoples Day on Alcatraz as tribes decry Newsom’s vetoes of tribal bills:Organizers and attendees at the twice-yearly sunrise ceremony criticized the governor’s vetoes of bills on water, sacred sites and missing and murdered Indigenous people. 

Melanie Henshaw, Calmatters, Oct. 13, 2026 

 

Guests to the California State Railroad Museum are Now Welcomed by The Lantern Project, Part of a Multi-Phased, Multi-Year Lobby Renovation Project:The California State Railroad Museum & Foundation are proud to announce the completion of the Lantern Project – part of a multi-phased, multi-year renovation effort – that now lights up the lobby of the California State Railroad Museum.  

Traci Rockefeller Cusack, Sacramento Press, Oct. 13, 2026 

 

Pacheco Pass Conservation Easement Becomes First Santa Clara County Acquisition for Save Mount Diablo:Joseph Belli, expert Diablo Range conservation biologist and author, looks to begin a new era of Diablo Range land conservation. 

Contra Costa News, Oct. 13, 2026 

 

‘Such a fun thing to see’: Empire Mine State Historic Park celebrates 50 years:Despite the fact the Empire Mine was discovered and established in 1850, Empire Mine State Historic Park is just now celebrating its 50th anniversary 

Jennifer Nobles, The Union, Oct. 13, 2026 

 

Cracks in coastal bluff prompt PCH lane closure near Laguna Beach: Cracks discovered in a coastal bluff near Pacific Coast Highway at Crystal Cove State Park have prompted the closure of one southbound lane leading into Laguna Beach as officials investigate the extent of the damage. 

Bianca Buono, ABC 7, Oct. 13, 2026 

 

Sacramento Archives Crawl Coming: Celebrate American Archives Month with the Sacramento Archives Crawl from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 17. This fun, free, open-house event features behind-the-scenes tours and exhibits at four host institutions in Sacramento: the California State Archives, California State Library, Center for Sacramento History and Sacramento Public Library Central Branch. 

Elk Grove Citizen, Oct. 13, 2026 

 

Finalists Announced For 31st Annual California On Location Awards: Film Liaisons in California Statewide (FLICS) today announced the finalists for the 31st annual California On Location Awards (COLAs), which recognize the location managers, location teams, and public employees who help make filming possible across California. Winners will be announced on Sunday, December 6, 2026, at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Los Angeles. 

Globe Newswire, Oct. 13, 2026 

 

Famous Big Sur state park to reopen after major wildfire winds down: Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, the oldest and most popular state park along the Big Sur coast, will reopen next Friday after being closed for more than two months due to a major wildfire in the area. (Subscription Required) 

Paul Rogers, Mercury News, Oct. 12, 2026 

 

DWR issues danger advisory for toxic algae at San Luis Reservoir near Los Banos:State officials warn visitors to stay out of the water and keep pets away as harmful algae pose health risks at the Merced County reservoir. 

Los Banos Enterprise, Oct. 12, 2026 

 

Carlsbad declares emergency as beach erosion threatens road:High surf and rough waves created by Tropical Storm Rachel over the weekend exacerbated erosion issues along Tamarack State Beach. 

Juliette Vara, Fox 5 San Diego, Oct. 12, 2026 

 

Group Files for Legal Intervention in Ongoing Battle for Recreation at Oceano Dunes:Non-profit 'Friends Of Oceano Dunes' is intervening in a lawsuit to protect recreational use and vehicular access to the state beach. 

Jarrod Zinn, Keyt, Oct. 12, 2026 

 

Ahead of El Niño this winter, state prepares for winter storms and flooding impacts: Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office said he is taking early action to prepare for a potentially historic winter storm season amid an unprecedented El Niño forecast.  

Lake County News, Oct. 10, 2026 

 

Tropical Storm Rachel’s surf drives out Long Beach residents, briefly shuts Newport Beach beaches: A coastal flood warning covered beaches from Malibu to San Diego on Saturday as Tropical Storm Rachel moved toward Southern California, while Long Beach kept some oceanfront residents under an evacuation order, and Newport Beach closed piers and temporarily shuttered beaches before a reopening. 

Jasmine Mendez, Jaweed Kaleem & Rong-Gong Lin II, LA Times, Oct. 10, 2026 

 

Crystal Cove Conservancy Raises $950,000 for Education and Conservation at 27th Annual Endless Summer Soirée: Crystal Cove Conservancy welcomed more than 200 guests to the blufftop of Crystal Cove State Park’s Pelican Point on Saturday, Oct. 3, for its 27th Annual Endless Summer Soirée. 

Newport Beach Independent, Oct. 10, 2026 

 

After smoke blankets Sonoma County, officials explain benefits and risks of prescribed burns: When smoke from a prescribed burn along the Sonoma County coast spread inland Tuesday, Oct. 6, it blanketed communities from Sebastopol to Santa Rosa, prompting air quality warnings and raising questions about how these operations work and why they’re important to wildfire prevention. (Subscription Needed) 

Isabel Beer, Press Democrat, Oct. 10, 2026 

 

Dozens gather to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park:Guests toured historic buildings and heard from the great-great-granddaughter of Colonel Allensworth as the park celebrated its 50th anniversary. 

Karla Sosa, 23 ABC, Oct. 10, 2026 

 

Historic cottages evacuated at Orange County beach over flood risk: A portion of a Southern California beach is temporarily closed and its historic cottages are being evacuated amid dangerous high tides.  

Madilynne Medina, SFGate, Oct. 9, 2026 

 

Lost Colorado hiker found safe near Ossagon Trail in Prairie Creek Redwoods park: Search crews found a 66-year-old Colorado hiker safe early Friday morning after he became lost near the Ossagon Trail in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) said. 

Adam Robinson, KRCR, Oct. 9, 2026 

 

California State Parks to conduct prescribed burns in San Luis Obispo County: California State Parks, with assistance from CAL FIRE and other partner agencies, will begin a series of prescribed burns in several San Luis Obispo County park units starting in late October 2026 

Camille Lopez Rodriguez, KSBY, Oct. 9, 2026 

 

Geotechnical Study to Begin on Limekiln Creek Bridge: Caltrans is starting another major bridge project on Hwy 1 through Big Sur and motorists will again face traffic controls for the next few months. 

Neil Farrell, Estero Bay News, Oct. 9, 2026 

 

State Parks awards emergency contract for Malibu Pier repairs: California State Parks announced that repairs will begin later this month on Malibu Pier in Malibu Lagoon State Beach, following the recent award of an emergency contract. 

Maaz Alin, Santa Monica Daily Press, Oct. 9, 2026