June 16, 2025 Update. Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority OPENS More Parks and Coastal Accessways Including Westridge Canyonback Trail. Some Remain Closed.

LOS ANGELES, CA (June 16, 2025) —The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) announced today has reopened many of the Conservancy-owned and MRCA-managed parks and beach accessways that had been closed after the January 2025 Palisades Fire.

However, some parks, trails and beach access will remain closed.

MRCA Park Closures Include:

Temescal Gateway Park
Greenbriar Trailhead
Vanalden Trailhead

Closed in the City of Malibu:

Lechuza Beach at Bunnie Lane Entrance; 31736 & 31712 Broad Beach Road
Via Linda Accessway At Carbon Beach
Carbon La Costa Beach
Maritime Rocks Beach
Dolphin View Coastal Overlook
Miramar Coastal Overlook

All other MRCA-managed parklands and beach accessways, including the Los Angeles River Recreation Zone, will be opened sunrise to sunset.

The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) is a local government public entity exercising joint powers of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, the Conejo Recreation and Park District and the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District. The MRCA is dedicated to the preservation and management of local open space and parkland, wildlife habitat, coastal access, watershed lands, and trails in both wilderness and urban settings, and to ensuring access to public parkland and coastal resources. The MRCA works in cooperation with the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and other local government partners to acquire parkland, participate in vital planning processes, work towards wildfire resilience, and connect wildlife habitat. The MRCA manages more than 75,000 acres of parkland that it owns and that are owned by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. It is one of the lead agencies revitalizing the Los Angeles River

New Trail at King Gillette Ranch Named for Visionary Santa Monica Mountains Photographer

New Tom Gamache Inspiration Trail Leads from the National Parks Service Visitor Center to Spectacular Vistas of the Santa Monica Mountains

Calabasas, California (May 10, 2025)–At a ceremony today celebrating the life of the most acclaimed photographer of the Santa Monica Mountains, Tom Gamache, California State Senator Fran Pavley (ret.) dedicated a new trail built by the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) in his honor. The Tom Gamache Inspiration Trail is a new visitor-serving amenity that begins just outside the main entrance to the Anthony C. Beilenson Interagency Visitor Center at King Gillette Ranch. The easy .25 -mile trail then crosses a footbridge over Stokes Creek, and climbs up to join the existing 1.2-mile Inspiration Point Loop Trail, offering stunning views of the Santa Monica Mountains.

Tom Gamache, 83, of Calabasas, CA, a gifted landscape photographer, passed away in October 2024. His acclaimed collaboration with author Matt Jaffe, Range on the Edge: The Santa Monica Mountains included 140 spellbinding images of the rocky outcrops, deeply wooded canyons and sycamore-shaded creeks that comprise the 46-mile Santa Monica Monica Mountain Range through the heart of California’s largest metropolitan area.

“Tom’s gorgeous photography convinced lawmakers all the way in Sacramento, who knew nothing about Southern California, that these beautiful mountains had to be saved,” said Senator Pavley.

A perfect compliment to the Visitor Center experience, the Gamache trail is easy and direct and will give newcomers to the area a taste of the Santa Monica Mountains, including a shaded stream. In no time at all, the hiker feels absorbed in the beauty of the mountains and its Mediterranean ecosystem created by the effects of the Pacific Ocean, hot, dry summers and cool wet winters.

The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) is a local government public entity dedicated to the preservation and management of open space and parkland, coastal access, watershed lands, trails, and wildlife habitat. The MRCA works in cooperation with other government partners to acquire parkland, participate in vital planning processes, provide natural resources and scientific expertise, and complete major park improvement projects. The MRCA manages and provides ranger services and fire protection for almost 80,000 acres of parkland that it owns and that are owned by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy or other agencies and provides comprehensive education and interpretation and leadership programs for youth. It is one of the lead agencies providing for the revitalization of the Los Angeles River.

More MRCA Parks Reopened Not in Evacuation Zones

Parks remain closed in the Burn Areas

LOS ANGELES, CA (February 11, 2025) — The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) confirmed today that it has reopened most of its parks outside of the burn areas and evacuation zones of the recent Palisades Fire. All MRCA-managed parks and trails and beach accessways in the burn zones, including those in the city of Malibu and Topanga Canyon areas will remain closed until further notice. Once damage assessments can be made and restoration efforts are completed, many favorite hiking trails and public use areas in the fire zones can be reopened.

“We feel park users can return safely to the parks that are not in the burn areas,” said Chief Ranger Fernando Gomez. “We appreciate the public’s help in our efforts to keep the community safe.”

MRCA Park Closures Include:

Temescal Gateway Park
All Topanga Canyon Parks including Top of Topanga Overlook, Tuna Canyon Park, Mill Creek, Redrock Canyon Park, Ed Edelman Park
All MRCA Parks, Parking lots and Beach Accessways in and directly adjacent to the City of Malibu including Escondido Canyon Park, Sara Wan Trailhead, Cameron Nature Preserve at Puerco Canyon
Dirt Mulholland Drive
San Vicente Mountain Park

Popular MRCA Parks Now Open:

Wilacre Park
King Gillette Ranch Park
Franklin Canyon Park

The MRCA maintains its own fire division to protect resources on MRCA-managed properties, and works together with local fire departments, State and federal agencies, and the public to prevent wildfires, and—if necessary—to defend against them. In the current Palisades Fire incident, MRCA Fire Division defended Temescal Gateway Park in the Palisades Fire area. MRCA also successfully defended structures in Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve in the Kenneth Fire. The MRCA will resume 24 hour patrol should there be another red flag incident.

The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) is a local government public entity exercising joint powers of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, the Conejo Recreation and Park District and the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District. The MRCA is dedicated to the preservation and management of local open space and parkland, wildlife habitat, coastal access, watershed lands, and trails in both wilderness and urban settings, and to ensuring access to public parkland and coastal resources. The MRCA works in cooperation with the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and other local government partners to acquire parkland, participate in vital planning processes, work towards wildfire resilience, and connect wildlife habitat. The MRCA manages more than 80,000 acres of parkland that it owns and that are owned by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. It is one of the lead agencies revitalizing the Los Angeles River.

All MRCA Santa Monica Mountains Parks and Trails Closed Due to Fire Emergency. Northern MRCA Parks Open.

Parks also remain closed in the Evacuation Zone

LOS ANGELES, CA (January 18, 2025) — The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) announced that it would reopen most of its parks outside of the Santa Monica Mountains today. All MRCA-managed parks and trails, including those owned by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, in the Santa Monica Mountains, and in the fire evacuation zone, including Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve, are closed to the public until the fire emergency is over. See list of closed parks below.

“Now that the extreme wind event is over, we feel park users can return safely to our parks in the northern area,” said Chief Ranger Fernando Gomez. “We appreciate the public’s help in our efforts to keep the community safe.”

MRCA Park closures include:

Temescal Gateway Park
King Gillette Ranch
All Topanga Canyon Parks including Top of Topanga Overlook, Tuna Canyon Park, Mill Creek, Redrock Canyon Park, Ed Edelman Park
All MRCA Parks, Parking lots and Beach Accessways in and directly adjacent to the City of Malibu including Escondido Canyon Park, Sara Wan Trailhead, Cameron Nature Preserve at Puerco Canyon
Dirt Mulholland Drive
San Vicente Mountain Park
All Mulholland Overlooks
Fryman Canyon Park and the Betty Dearing Trail
Wilacre Park
Franklin Canyon Park
Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve

The MRCA maintains its own fire division to protect resources on MRCA-managed properties, and works together with local fire departments, State and federal agencies, and the public to prevent wildfires, and—if necessary—to defend against them. In the current Palisades Fire incident, MRCA Fire Division defended Temescal Gateway Park in the Palisades Fire area. MRCA also successfully defended structures in Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve in the Kenneth Fire. The MRCA is on 24 hour patrol now and throughout all red flag incidents.

The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) is a local government public entity exercising joint powers of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, the Conejo Recreation and Park District and the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District. The MRCA is dedicated to the preservation and management of local open space and parkland, wildlife habitat, coastal access, watershed lands, and trails in both wilderness and urban settings, and to ensuring access to public parkland and coastal resources. The MRCA works in cooperation with the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and other local government partners to acquire parkland, participate in vital planning processes, work towards wildfire resilience, and connect wildlife habitat. The MRCA manages more than 80,000 acres of parkland that it owns and that are owned by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. It is one of the lead agencies revitalizing the Los Angeles River.

All MRCA Parks and Trails Closed in Santa Monica Mountains

LOS ANGELES, CA (January 13, 2025) — The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) announced today that all of its parks and trails in the Santa Monica Mountains are closed to the public until the fire emergency is over. In addition, many parks throughout the MRCA’s 75,000-acre jurisdiction in other areas are also closed. See list below.

“We appreciate the public’s help in our efforts to keep the community safe,” said Chief Ranger Fernando Gomez.

MRCA Park closures include:

Temescal Gateway Park

King Gillette Ranch

All Topanga Canyon Parks including Tuna Canyon Park, Mill Creek, Redrock Canyon Park, Ed Edelman Park

All MRCA Parks and Beach Accessways in the City of Malibu including Escondido Canyon Park, Sara Wan Trailhead, Cameron Nature Preserve at Puerco Canyon

Dirt Mulholland Drive

San Vicente Mountain Park

All Mulholland Overlooks

Fryman Canyon Park and the Betty Dearing Trail

Wilacre Park

Franklin Canyon Park

Upper Las Virgenes Open Space Preserve

Wilson Canyon Park

Mentryville

Ed Davis Park at Towsley Canyon

Whitney Canyon Park

La Tuna Canyon Park

Lopez Canyon Park

Michael D. Antonovich Park at Joughin Ranch

Hidden Creeks Park

Rocky Peak Park

The MRCA maintains its own fire division to protect resources on MRCA-managed properties, and works together with local fire departments, State and federal agencies, and the public to prevent wildfires, and—if necessary—to defend against them. In the current Palisades Fire incident, MRCA Fire Division defended Temescal Gateway Park in the Palisades Fire area. MRCA also successfully defended structures in Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve in the Kenneth Fire. The MRCA is on 24 hour patrol now and throughout all red flag incidents. Air quality in the region is unhealthy.

The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) is a local government public entity exercising joint powers of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, the Conejo Recreation and Park District and the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District. The MRCA is dedicated to the preservation and management of local open space and parkland, wildlife habitat, coastal access, watershed lands, and trails in both wilderness and urban settings, and to ensuring access to public parkland and coastal resources. The MRCA works in cooperation with the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and other local government partners to acquire parkland, participate in vital planning processes, work towards wildfire resilience, and connect wildlife habitat. The MRCA manages more than 75,000 acres of parkland that it owns and that are owned by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. It is one of the lead agencies revitalizing the Los Angeles River.

MRCA Asks Public to Stay out of Parks, Follow Closures Due to Fire

LOS ANGELES, CA (January 10, 2025) — The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) is asking for the public to stay out of all MRCA parks and off of trails until the current extreme wind event is over and all regional fires are contained. MRCA Fire Division personnel, as well as Park Rangers and operation staff who are also certified wildland firefighters have been working around the clock to defend and protect MRCA parkland under dangerous and challenging conditions.

“We appreciate the public’s help in our efforts to keep the community safe,” said Chief Ranger Fernando Gomez.

All MRCA parks and trails in and around the current fire evacuation zones are closed. Information about the fire events, including maps of the evacuation zones are provided by L.A. County here.

MRCA Park closures include:

Temescal Gateway Park

King Gillette Ranch

All Topanga Canyon Parks including Tuna Canyon Park, Mill Creek, Redrock Canyon Park, Ed Edelman Park

Escondido Canyon Park

Dirt Mulholland Drive

San Vicente Mountain Park

All Mulholland Overlooks

Fryman Canyon Park and the Betty Dearing Trail

Wilacre Park

Franklin Canyon Park

Upper Las Virgenes Open Space Preserve

Wilson Canyon Park

Ed Davis Park at Towsley Canyon

Whitney Canyon Park

The MRCA maintains its own fire division to protect resources on MRCA-managed properties, and works together with local fire departments, State and federal agencies, and the public to prevent wildfires, and—if necessary—to defend against them. In the current Palisades Fire incident, MRCA Fire Division defended Temescal Gateway Park in the Palisades Fire area. The MRCA is on 24 hour patrol now and throughout all red flag incidents. Air quality in the region is unhealthy.

The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) is a local government public entity exercising joint powers of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, the Conejo Recreation and Park District and the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District. The MRCA is dedicated to the preservation and management of local open space and parkland, wildlife habit at, coastal access, watershed lands, and trails in both wilderness and urban settings, and to ensuring access to public parkland and coastal resources. The MRCA works in cooperation with the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and other local government partners to acquire parkland, participate in vital planning processes, work towards wildfire resilience, and connect wildlife habitat. The MRCA manages more than 75,000 acres of parkland that it owns and that are owned by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. It is one of the lead agencies revitalizing the Los Angeles.

MRCA Fire Division Urges Fire Prevention in Los Angeles Hillsides and Canyons

After two years of record rain, and significantly high vegetation growth, the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority urges residents to work together to prevent a local fire disaster.

LOS ANGELES (October 6, 2024)—As part of National Fire Prevention Week, the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority Wildland Firefighting Division is asking residents of the hillside and canyon areas of Los Angeles to work together to prevent catastrophic wildfires near their homes. October through the end of the year is the Santa Ana Wind season when the most devastating wildfires occur in this area.

“This year has the potential to be the worst fire season ever,” said Ken Nelson, Chief of the Fire Division of the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority, a local public agency that provides ranger and fire patrol of the Mulholland corridor and its parklands. “When there is a significant amount of growth like there is this year, we firefighters call it ‘fuel loading.’ It means that the potential for a volatile wildfire is very high. We need all residents to be alert to suspicious activities, particularly in the Mulholland Scenic Overlooks and open space areas. If you see activity that causes concern, call the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority Ranger Services at 310 456-7049.”

Chief Nelson noted that in an emergency, residents should always first call 911.

The MRCA has placed bright red high fire alert signs at all of the scenic overlooks and at open space parklands throughout the hillsides and canyons of the Mulholland Corridor from Griffith Park west to the City boundary with Calabasas asking residents to alert MRCA to suspicious activity.

The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority works year-round to minimize the risk of fire in the more than 80,000 acres of open space it manages in the greater Los Angeles region. The MRCA employs 45 full time, paid call, cadet and volunteer fire fighters—including its park rangers—who are wildland firefighters certified to the same standards as the U.S. Forest Service and CalFire. In this above average wildfire year in California, MRCA firefighters have assisted on seven events throughout the State—increasing their readiness for a local fire.

The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority Fire Division maintains its own firefighting equipment to assist local fire departments in fighting wildfires and to provide fire patrol under high fire alert conditions. Ranger patrol trucks are fitted with slip-ons, and provide flexibility in patrolling the narrow, twisty canyons that characterize the hillsides of the Mulholland corridor. Rangers will be patrolling seven days a week during the high risk periods.

National Fire prevention week is October 6-12, 2024. In 1920, President Woodrow Wilson issued the first National Fire Prevention Day proclamation, and since 1922, Fire Prevention Week has been observed on the Sunday through Saturday period in which October 9 falls. According to the National Archives and Records Administration’s Library Information Center, Fire Prevention Week is the longest running public health and safety observance on record. The President of the United States has signed a proclamation proclaiming a national observance during that week every year since 1925.

The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority is a local public park agency dedicated to the preservation and management of open space, urban parkland, watershed lands, trails, and wildlife habitat. The MRCA manages almost 80,000 acres of public parkland and provides natural resources and scientific expertise, critical regional planning services, operations, fire prevention and ranger services, as well as education and leadership programs for thousands of youth each year. It is one of the lead agencies revitalizing the Los Angeles River and its tributaries.

LA CITY COUNCILMEMBER BOB BLUMENFIELD, MRCA, LA SANITATION GM BARBARA ROMERO BREAK GROUND ON LA’S FIRST SELF-SUSTAINING PARK

Caballero Creek Park is being constructed by the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority

WEST SAN FERNANDO VALLEY, CA – Councilmember Bob Blumenfield was joined by city, local leaders and residents for the ceremonial groundbreaking of Caballero Creek Park. Located just south of Victory Blvd. on Lindley Ave, this site will convert a 1.5-acre underutilized lot into a multiple-benefit park right at the convergence of the Los Angeles River and Caballero Creek in Tarzana. It will be the first self-sustaining park in Los Angeles- meaning water will be captured on and off-site and using solar, the water will be cleaned to irrigate the park.

“It takes a village to take underutilized city land and create this sort of new, innovative green space and while it may be a heavy lift, it’s so wonderful to know that countless generations of Angelenos will be able to enjoy this incredible park,” said Blumenfield.

The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA), Department of Recreation and Parks, Bureau of Sanitation, General Services Department, and Los Angeles County have joined forces for Caballero Creek Park. Blumenfield helped bring in seven different funding sources and cut through significant red tape over the past few years to get shovels in the ground. Overall, it will cost about $5.5 million split between the city, county and state.He also partnered with Reseda High School so this new space will serve as an outdoor classroom. The design utilizes innovative methods that lead to watershed protection, including a bioswale and a wetland component for storm water treatment. The new wetlands will create habitat, clean water and help connect Angelenos to California’s struggling riverine ecology. The site plan also includes a variety of offerings for the community including an outdoor fitness center, play and recreation, access to the LA River bike paths, and more.

“This will be the first self-sustaining park along the Los Angeles River,” said Joseph T. Edmiston, FAICP, Executive Director of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, one of the funders of the project. “Most importantly, it will be the park that establishes the standards that all parks going forward will adhere to. That is how real change occurs.”

Leonard Shaffer, President of the Tarzana Neighborhood Council said, “One of the important objectives of this project is to have a place where residents of Tarzana, students from Reseda High School, and residents of surrounding communities can learn about water reclamation and conservation; something that has grown in importance because of ongoing changes in our atmosphere.

Caballero Creek Park is set to open around April of next year. It marks the latest new City park that Blumenfield has helped create following the Costanso Fire Station Park and the LA River and Aliso Creek Confluence Park. He also led the effort to create the new facilities at the Woodland Hills Rec Center, as well as major renovations at various parks throughout his community.

The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) is a local government public entity exercising joint powers of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, the Conejo Recreation and Park District and the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District. The MRCA is dedicated to the preservation and management of local open space and parkland, wildlife habitat, coastal access, watershed lands, and trails in both wilderness and urban settings, and to ensuring access to public parkland and coastal resources. The MRCA works in cooperation with the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and other local government partners to acquire parkland, participate in vital planning processes, work towards wildfire resilience, and connect wildlife habitat. The MRCA manages more than 75,000 acres of parkland that it owns and that are owned by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. It is one of the lead agencies revitalizing the Los Angeles River.

Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority Acquires Key Habitat Connector in the Hollywood Hills

The newly protected land at the end of Lankershim Canyon includes a natural year-round spring crucial to the survival of local wildlife.

LOS ANGELES (July 29, 2024) – The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) announced today that it had acquired a half-acre of critical habitat in the Cahuenga Pass area of the eastern Santa Monica Mountains. The now-permanently preserved open space frequented by mule deer and other native animals includes a perennial spring and oak woodland located on one of just two routes that wildlife can travel east to west along the north slope of the range.

“This is a solid victory for the animals that depend on the increasingly fragile connection of habitat in the Santa Monica Mountains between the 405 Freeway and Griffith Park,” said Paul Edelman, Chief of Natural Resources and Planning for the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority. “In addition to larger animals, native bats, lizards, owls and nesting birds will continue to thrive here.”

Despite development proposals (including a recent plan for a multistory house with a twelve-foot retaining wall and a swimming pool), the unique wildlife water source and habitat adjacent to other MRCA parkland made conservation of this sensitive property a high priority. Images caught on wildlife cameras installed by the local nonprofit Citizens for Los Angeles Wildlife (CLAW) over many years vividly underscored the animals use and dependence on the parcel. The closest perennial water source is a mile away in either direction.

Two open space advocates generously donated $40,000 in personal funds to preserve the property. The remainder of the $325,000 acquisition was funded by Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority Community Facilities District No. 2020-1 (Open Space and Fire Prevention). The MRCA plans to enhance the spring’s flow and remove vestiges of attempts by the prior owner to underground the flow with pipes and gravel.

“It is essential to buy keystone ecological parcels,” said Edelman, “to maintain the hope of a functioning wildlife corridor system.”

The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) is a local government public entity exercising joint powers of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, the Conejo Recreation and Park District and the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District. The MRCA is dedicated to the preservation and management of local open space and parkland, wildlife habitat, coastal access, watershed lands, and trails in both wilderness and urban settings, and to ensuring access to public parkland and coastal resources. The MRCA works in cooperation with the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and other local government partners to acquire parkland, participate in vital planning processes, work towards wildfire resilience, and connect wildlife habitat. The MRCA manages more than 75,000 acres of parkland that it owns and that are owned by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. It is one of the lead agencies revitalizing the Los Angeles River.

Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority Proactive Response to Threat of Goldspotted Oak Boarer in Oak Trees on its Public Parkland

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (May 30, 2024)— New infestations of Goldspotted Oak Borer (GSOB) were discovered on MRCA land for the first time this spring in native oak trees at two locations in East and Rice Canyons, and Whitney Canyon in the Santa Clarita Valley. The terrain is more rugged and inaccessible than most known areas of GSOB infestation. As several trees were in severe decline or dead, GSOB has likely been present for at least 3-5 years. While these are the only areas of MRCA land where the pest has been identified, every measure is being taken to prevent further infestation and spread in all of the jurisdiction.

GSOB is an invasive pest that originated in Arizona and has been spreading from San Diego north for the past 16 years. It is primarily spread through the movement of oak firewood. GSOB typically targets more mature oaks. If the GSOB reached the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, it could begin an infestation among the 600,000 coast live oak trees.

The MRCA is leveraging Regional Forest and Fire Capacity (RFFC) Program funds granted by the California Natural Resources Agency and California Department of Conservation to immediately address these areas of GSOB and develop a long-term strategy. As this is a serious regional issue, MRCA is working in collaboration with partner entomologists, pathologists and forest managers from Los Angeles County Fire, the Angeles-San Bernardino National Forests, CALFIRE, and University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UCANR), as well as representatives from LA County Agricultural Weights and Measures, and the Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains, and in consultation with private pest management contractors and various land managers dealing with GSOB in San Diego and Orange Counties.

Management of GSOB consists broadly of annual monitoring via ground and aerial surveys, and treatment including removal of amplifier trees and insecticide treatment of lightly to moderately infested trees (with full consideration given to minimizing environmental impacts). Crews from the nonprofit TreePeople will conduct ground surveys following US Forest Service-developed GSOB survey protocols.

This summer, CSUN will conduct aerial drone surveys to collect fine-scale data for targeting future ground surveys as well as to better inform a proposed fall 2024 NASA DEVELOP project that will utilize drone and satellite imagery to analyze GSOB infestation on MRCA land.

Treatment options are still being evaluated with outside experts but will likely include de-barking amplifier trees and either burning, chipping, or burying infested bark, with complete removal and chipping to less than 3” of amplifier trees that are able to be accessed by traditional equipment. Pesticide treatment will follow an integrated pest management strategy beginning this fall, which will include trunk injections and/or topical applications of insecticides by contractors.

As GSOB management in Southern California is an evolving science, novel approaches and experimentation should be welcomed in collaboration with researchers and tribes. The cycle of treatment, removal, and monitoring will be repeated on an ongoing basis, and GSOB management must now form a permanent part of MRCA budgeting and planning. MRCA will also make RFFC funds available to partner organizations, tribes, and agencies to increase their capacity for GSOB and other wildfire resilience projects including public education and messaging.

The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) is a local government public entity exercising joint powers of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, the Conejo Recreation and Park District and the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District. The MRCA is dedicated to the preservation and management of local open space and parkland, wildlife habitat, coastal access, watershed lands, and trails in both wilderness and urban settings, and to ensuring access to public parkland and coastal resources. The MRCA works in cooperation with the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and other local government partners to acquire parkland, participate in vital planning processes, work towards wildfire resilience, and connect wildlife habitat. The MRCA manages more than 75,000 acres of parkland that it owns and that are owned by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. It is one of the lead agencies revitalizing the Los Angeles

# # #