Overview

• The California Legislature and Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy have together allocated $5.1 million to support rebuilding, landscape defense and fire-hardening at the park.
• Debris removal finished in February, clearing the way for restoration efforts that must follow historic-landscape guidelines, according to Superintendent Richard Fink.
• Park staff will gather public feedback this summer to refine restoration plans, including choices on tree species, hardscape and defensive perimeters.
• Acting environmental scientist Noa Khalili says post-fire rains have triggered rapid ecological regrowth, with seeds and root balls sprouting across the burned terrain.
• To reduce future fire threats, park authorities are developing protocols to monitor and control invasive, highly flammable species such as arundo donax ahead of a late-summer soft opening.