I sat through all the speakers at the Conservancy’s meeting on Oct. 18. People from all over Los Angeles County are commenting on the public works plan for Malibu. The plan involves adding trails and campgrounds in Ramirez, Escondido and Corral Canyon. The speakers are making me crazy because they don’t understand the issues. There were many different organizations that spoke and some good points were made but they did not address the issue at hand.
We are opposed to six planned campsites in Ramirez, Escondido and Coral Canyons. The hiking and biking organizations spoke of wanting more trails within Malibu. What they don’t know, and I informed them, is that the City of Malibu adopted a master trails plan in 2004. The plan’s trail system travels the length of Malibu and also has trail linkages into national, state and conservancy parks. The city is working on those linkages and, with the conservancy, on coordinating efforts.
A retired fire department employee noted that the fire plan for the canyons was very well thought out. However, he was not from Malibu and certainly hadn’t spoken with the guys over at Station 73, who are opposed to camping in Escondido Canyon and would be the first company called in an emergency. He did not know that in the 1996, when Escondido Canyon was engulfed in flames, the fire department refused to travel past the fire department turn-around at the start of the conservancy’s property because it was and is unsafe for a fire truck.
There were three homes in jeopardy and the fire department was unable to help.
The cost to create this plan, for six campsites, would be astronomical. The existing road from the turn-around to the conservancy’s gate is too narrow and is situated in an area where the earth moves. To make it usable for emergency, park and handicap vehicles will require extensive work, including grading and retaining walls. Other costs include adding fire hydrants and potable water for the campers. The plan also requires a host of rangers full time at each of the canyon sites
I think the money would be better spent acquiring more trails and maintaining existing trails.
Larry Gray, chair
Malibu Trails Committee