Volunteer Work to Begin in Santa Monica Mountains After Wildfire
With the 24,000-acre Springs Fire fully controlled, officials in the Santa Monica Mountains are beginning restoration, making sure habitat and recreational opportunities get back to normal. On Friday, volunteers will take to Rancho Sierra Vista, removing tracks made by fire trucks so hikers don't mistake them for official trails and trample on sensitive soils and habitat. Then on Saturday, they will remove jointed goatgrass, a highly invasive weed abut the burn area that could now easily take hold in the burn area.
National Park rangers on Tuesday asked for the help earlier this week and easily filled most spots. As the fire burned in early May, numerous residents asked how they could help, prompting the Park Service to ask for name and email addresses (yes, you can still submit).
Meanwhile, outside the burn area another opportunity is on the horizon: National Trails Day. The June 1 event across the country hosts a number of opportunities locally, like an organized hike to the Hollywood Sign and the world premiere of the documentary "Mile... Mile & A Half." But in the Santa Monicas, the event is celebrated through a hard day's work maintaining and repairing a 2-mile section of the Backbone Trail, which is over 60 miles long in total. Information can be found on the event page.
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