More Parks Reopen. All Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority Parkland in the Santa Monica Mountains and Fire Evacuation Areas Remain Closed.

 [Amended]
ORDER OF CLOSURE
PARKS, TRAILS AND PUBLIC ACCESSWAYS
WITHIN AND IMMEDATELY ADJACENT TO CITY OF MALIBU AND WITHIN THE TOPANGA WATERSHED SOUTH OF MULHOLLAND HIGHWAY
APPLICABLE TO PROPERTY OF THE SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS CONSERVANCY
AND THE MOUNTAINS RECREATION AND CONSERVATION AUTHORITY 

Findings:

1. Governor Newsom issued a Proclamation of State of Emergency on January 7, 2025 regarding the Palisades Fire, which proclamation remains in effect. All areas accessible from Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) from Sweetwater Mesa Road east to McClure Tunnel, and from McClure tunnel westbound to Sweetwater Mesa Road are closed to regular traffic. All parks, trail easements, and public accessways are closed that normally would be accessible from PCH are therefore closed to regular public use.
2. Other areas within and immediately adjacent to the city of Malibu and within the Topanga watershed south of Mulholland Highway are subject to potential wildfire conditions such as were responsible for the Palisades Fire, these include popular hiking trails that lead into areas where heavy public use during the state of emergency, including fire sightseeing, pose a threat of renewed of fire activity and other public safety dangers that require a restriction of recreational activity during this emergency period.

Closure Order Applicable to property of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy:

1. Pursuant to the provisions of Section 33211.5(a)(2) of the Public Resources Code all parks, open space, trails, parking areas, and beach access ways within the area described in paragraph B (above) are closed to public use during the pendency of the Governor’s state of emergency.  Under the authority of Section 33212 of the Public Resources Code the Executive Director may determine that conditions permit an earlier opening of specific areas. In making such determination he or she shall take into consideration the status of adjacent units of local and county parks, the State Park System, and the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area; provided however that the status of other park land shall not, in and of itself, determine conditions applicable to Conservancy property.
2. The Executive Director shall cause the purport of this order to be posted in such areas and by such means as to give reasonable notice to the public. It shall be reproduced in full on the official www.smmc.ca.gov webpage and distributed to social media venues, other affected government agencies, and to the news media.
3. Violation of this closure order is punishable as a misdemeanor under the provisions of Section 33211.6(c) of the Public Resources Code.

Closure Order Applicable to Property of the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority:

1. Pursuant to the authority vested in the Executive Director of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy acting ex officio as the Executive Officer of the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority under Section 10.1 of the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority joint exercise of powers agreement, and Sections 2.0, 2.2, and 2.4 of the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority Park Ordinance, as amended, it ORDERED that:
   1. All parks, open space, trails, parking areas, and beach access ways under the jurisdiction of the Authority are closed to public use during the pendency of the Governor’s state of emergency. The Executive Officer may determine that conditions permit an earlier opening of specific areas. In making such determination he or she shall take into consideration the status of adjacent units of local and county parks, the State Park System, and the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area; provided however that the status of other park land shall not, in and of itself, determine conditions applicable to Authority property:
   2. The Executive Officer shall cause the purport of this order to be posted in such areas and by such means as to give reasonable notice to the public. It shall be reproduced in full on the official www.mrca.ca.gov webpage and distributed to social media venues, other affected government agencies, and to the news media.
   3. The Executive Officer shall enforce the provisions of this order as a public safety measure using appropriate voluntary compliance measures as appropriate. Where necessary park rangers of the Authority, other California peace officers, public officers of the Authority, and authorized park personnel in the case of an ejectment, shall have the authority to enforce this order to the full extent of the law.

DATED: January 18, 2025 as amended January 20, 2025

/s/

Joseph T. Edmiston, FAICP, Hon. ASLA
Executive Director, Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy; ex officio
Executive Officer, Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority

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