Conservancy, Broad Island Community and Families Meet to Discuss Safety at Beaches

AVALON, CATALINA ISLAND - Leaders of the Catalina Island Conservancy, members of the broader Island Community, and families of youth injured in the recent incident at Little Harbor met during recent weeks to discuss management issues and safety on the Island's beaches. The ongoing discussion of management issues at Island beaches began with the Windward Beaches Working Group meetings in September of last year, which focused on Cottonwood, Ben Weston, Shark Harbor and Little Harbor. Members of the Windward Beaches Working Group, an additional group of 13 Island Community leaders and concerned citizens, and family members of the injured youths were asked by Conservancy leadership to make suggestions concerning current rules and regulations regarding camping and driving in the interior, and to consider if these were sufficient, or if additional safeguards may be appropriate to enhance safety at all the Islands beaches.

During discussions, members of the Working Group and Island Community leaders commented on the overall safety record at Island beaches, noting that, as compared with mainland beaches, injuries on Island beaches had been relatively few. Still, the two groups agreed that "times have changed" and that additional rules, enforcement, and education efforts may be prudent. Their suggestions included the following (a partial list):

• Use multiple mechanisms to communicate existing rules and regulations (printed materials, service club meetings, City Council meeting)
• Review with vehicle permit applicants that minors must be included on permits and must receive special training in order to drive in the interior
• Provide camping guidelines to all road permitees
• Include a camping permit when issuing vehicle permits
• Develop sustainable, feasible mechanisms for enforcing rules that are not cost prohibitive; for example, grow a volunteer Ranger program to provide additional ranger presence in the interior, or request that Los Angeles County sheriff provide additional patrol coverage in the Interior
• Ranger staff, volunteer or employees, should be "trained and professional"
• Develop a more robust emergency communication system at beaches and campgrounds
  " Physically post all rules at both the managed campgrounds (e.g. Little Harbor, Black Jack, Two Harbors, Boat-in sites) and primitive campgrounds (e.g. Shark Harbor, Ben Weston, Parsons)
• If a group or individual hire a cab or shuttle bus to take them to a campground, require that the company notify Two Harbors Enterprises (THE), the entity responsible for managing campgrounds on behalf of the Conservancy
• Youth under the age of 18 should have adult supervision, and supervising adults (who are not the parents of said minors) should have permission slips from parents indicating they know their children are out camping
• Rules should be applied to both visitors from the mainland and to Island residents
• Eliminate provisional interior driving permits issued to minors
• Allow only minors that live in the interior to drive in the interior, with the permission of the parents
• Provide signage at mainland terminals and on web sites that include all campground rules and regulations so that visitors know what is required of them before they come to the Island
• Implement in the interior a curfew for minors of 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. (the same curfew for minors that currently exists in Avalon), or a "sunset to sunrise" curfew
• Ensure enforcement of the rules and develop a graduated response if individuals violate the rules (e.g. warning, loss of vehicle permit for some number of months, permanent loss of vehicle permit)
• Develop a brochure and/or training on how to have a positive camping experience on the Island (e.g. how to organize a camping trip; safe ways to use the interior)
• Develop a Junior Ranger program to engage youth in safe behavior and use of the interior. Investigate this being incorporated as a service requirement for high school students.

Family members of the injured youths offered a single suggestion, that the ranger presence be substantially enhanced, with a full-time ranger assigned specifically to these beaches and campgrounds. An attorney for the family members suggested that all rangers should be "trained professionals."

Moderation Appreciated
During the Working Group and Community Leader meetings, several members of the groups expressed that they had appreciated the approach the Conservancy had taken in the aftermath of the Little Harbor incident in continuing to provide access and in seeking Community input.

"We were very saddened by the injuries that occurred at Little Harbor," said Ann Muscat, Conservancy president. "We are also committed to continuing to provide a broad set of opportunities to access and enjoy the interior."

Muscat said she had been "very encouraged at the outcome of the Windward Beaches Working Group process, our first Conservation Council," and that the Conservancy would "continue to seek Community input in matters that concern the Conservancy and the Island Community."

"I, personally, very much appreciate the input from the groups of citizens weve spoken with regarding management of the Windward Beaches," she continued, "and I invite additional input as we consider some of the suggestions theyve offered."

Muscat encouraged Community members who would like to comment on suggestions of the two groups, or who may wish to offer additional suggestions or make comments, to contact the Conservancy by dropping her a note or by sending an email to: . She also noted that, as per community request, a review of current camping and driving rules will be provided to local papers in coming weeks.