Conservancy to Outline Plans for Public Camping at Five Malibu Parkland Sites

• Draft EIR Hopes to Forestall Critics with Strong Emphasis on Fire Safety

BY SUZANNE GULDIMANN

The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy will hold a public environmental scoping hearing at Temescal Gateway Park on Thursday, Oct. 1, as part of the initial study and draft environmental impact report process for its Malibu Parks Public Access Enhancement Plan, which addresses expanded public use of SMMMC holdings in Malibu, including overnight camping.
Many elements of the plan, including trail, parking and access improvements and stream restoration at the five SMMC and Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority properties in the Malibu area have been well received. However, plans for camping facilities at the five area parks—Ramirez, Escondido and Corral canyon parks, Malibu Bluffs Open Space area and at the SMMC’s Latigo Canyon trailhead site—have generated sharp criticism from residents who say they fear that camping will lead to increased wildfire risk.
The current draft includes a new parking area on Kanan Dume Road and three hike-in campsites in the meadow area at Ramirez Canyon; a new parking lot and 13 campsites (12 standard and one ADA accessible) in Escondido Canyon; a parking area, one ADA and four regular campsites at the SMMC’s Latigo property; and 14 regular and two ADA campsites at the Corral property, utilizing the existing parking lot but upgrading the existing access road to facilitate ADA use. The Bluffs Park Open Space portion of the plan includes two entrances on PCH, opposite Pepperdine University, that would require deceleration lanes, three parking lots, and 32 campsites, which would include four tent cabins and six ADA sites. While all five locations include plans for a camp host, the Bluffs Park campsite would have accommodations for two hosts.
The Corral and Bluffs Park locations are viewed by many outdoor enthusiasts as particularly desirable campground locations. Corral is adjacent to an existing private campground and a privately run restaurant facility. Planned trail improvements would connect the property with Solstice Canyon Park, Malibu Creek State Park and the Backbone Trail. The Bluffs Park site offers a central location with amenities that include the City of Malibu’s Bluff Park and nearby shops and restaurants. Both sites also offer direct beach access, a rarity in Southern California campgrounds.
Although the camping portion of the improvement plan met instant and vociferous opposition in Malibu when it was made public last year, the conservancy scored a major victor for the plan in June, when the California Coastal Commission approved, 12-0, the conservancy’s request for an amendment to the Malibu Local Coastal Plan to allow the project to proceed. At the same time, the commission unanimously denied a request by the City of Malibu to prohibit camping.
In response to the fire concerns, the camping portion of the plan now includes a number of fire safety measures, including a general fire prohibition: “No person shall make or maintain, nor aid and abet others in making or maintaining, a campfire or any other open fire in any of the park facilities covered by this plan.”
The plan also states, “Development, use restrictions, and brush maintenance for all campsites shall be carried out in accordance with the Fire Protection and Emergency Evacuation Plan,” and that “the only cooking apparatus permitted shall consist of self-contained propane stoves. No kerosene or white gas lanterns shall be permitted.”
Campers would also be required “to utilize designated cook stations (hospitality stations) provided at each approved campsite, which shall be designed of nonflammable materials and capable of being fully enclosed,” while “cold-camping apparatus such as flameless cookstoves and lanterns are preferred.”
The plan goes on to state, “Prospective campers shall be informed of the no campfire/cold camp policy upon reserving and/or registering for use of camp facilities and shall be put on notice that unauthorized use of fire-related camping and cooking apparatus specifically prohibited by the no campfire/cold camp policy will be cause for confiscation of such devices and/or expulsion of visitors from camp facilities. Signs shall be posted and camp areas will be routinely patrolled to enforce the no campfire/cold camp policy.” The plan states that violations would be punishable by fines of up to $1000.
The conservancy also outlines fire protection apparatus to be provided and maintained at all camp facilities, including, “at a minimum,” water storage tanks, a “portable and air-powered quick attack firefighting system to be provided at each camp facility for ready deployment by trained camp host, ranger, or park personnel in the event of a fire”; and portable self-contained fire extinguisher units to be provided for each cluster or group of campsites.”
Accessible by foot or wheelchair, but not by vehicles or RVs, the proposed campsites will be “carry in-carry out,” and “low-impact,” according to the draft plan, “with self-contained chemical or composting restrooms.”
The plan stipulates that overnight camping at Ramirez Canyon Park “shall be allowed by reservation only.” Overnight camping at Escondido and Corral Canyon parks, and Malibu Bluffs Open Space would be by reservation and/or by onsite registration. Boards or kiosks would be located at park entrances, to provide campers with information on campsite availability. All park facilities would be closed on high fire danger, or “red flag” days.
The scoping meeting will take place on Thursday, at 6 p.m. in Woodland Hall (adjacent to the camp store) at Temescal Gateway Park, 15601 Sunset Boulevard in Pacific Palisades. The initial study is available at the Malibu Public Library, or online at: mrca.ca.gov. Public comment is due Wednesday, Oct. 7, by 5 p.m.