Oxnard Campgrounds Shut Down Due To Flooding
OXNARD (CBSLA.com) — A popular campground in Oxnard has been shut down due to flooding, according to officials.
McGrath State Beach will no longer be open for camping and day-use after water from the Santa Clara River began backing up behind the naturally occurring sandbar blocking the mouth of the estuary last weekend, according to the California Department of Parks and Recreation.
The beach 5 miles south of Ventura off Highway 101 features 2 miles of shoreline for fishing and surfing enthusiasts, as well as a nature trail that leads directly to the Santa Clara Estuary Natural Preserve.
But officials say flooding has impacted all areas of the park due to ongoing drought conditions, which have helped to keep rainwater periodically breaking through the sandbar to allow floodwater to drain out to the ocean, according to the Ventura County Star.
A date for the park's reopening has not been set and will be dependent on if and when the flood waters recede, officials said.
Considered to be one of the best bird-watching areas in the state, McGrath State Beach previously faced threats of closure in 2011 over costly issues with a sewage line, but those were ultimately fixed, the Star reported.