November 5th, 2024
Harmon Canyon Closed Wednesday, Nov 6th
Preserve closure! Harmon Canyon Preserve will be closed on Wednesday, November 6 due to the forecasted red flag conditions for Ventura County. Strong east winds coupled with low relative humidity present an increased fire risk, and Ventura Land Trust wants to ensure everyone's safety during this type of weather event. Harmon Canyon Preserve is scheduled to reopen on Thrusday, November 7. Thank you for your understanding as we work to protect our community from fire risk.
Closure for Upper Harmon Canyon
Upper Harmon Canyon past the intersection with Long Canyon Rd. will remain closed due to complications with road repairs. The 2023/2024 wet season brought over 35 inches of rain, causing significant damage to trails and roads, especially north of the 1.5-mile gate. While Ventura Land Trust (VLT) is eager to restore access, repairing these roads falls under Southern California Edison’s (SCE) responsibility, as they lie within SCE’s easement area for high-tension power lines. If VLT were to conduct repairs and they later failed, the trust could be held financially liable.
Earlier this year, VLT worked with SCE to expedite road repairs, but in September, SCE reclassified the project from “maintenance” to “improvement,” transferring oversight to their civil engineering department. As a result, there is no timeline for completion, leaving Upper Harmon Canyon inaccessible for now.
In the meantime, VLT is actively seeking solutions while balancing environmental stewardship and public safety. For updates or questions, contact info@venturalandtrust.org.
Damage to Long Canyon Road in the upper portion of Harmon Canyon