Hot Springs a Hot Topic at September’s Land Use Meeting

The Montecito Association Land Use September meeting was held in person at the Montecito Library community room and on Zoom.

The meeting was led by its Chair, Dorinne Lee Johnson. Attendees were the Land Use Committee members: Montecito Association Executive Director, Houghton Hyatt; Chief of Staff for Santa Barbara County First District Supervisor Das Williams, Darcel Elliott; attorney Joe Cole;Executive Director for The Project for Resilient Communities, Pat McElroy; attorney and Montecito Water DistrictDirector Cori Hayman;and via Zoom for comment were Fire Chief David Neels and SBC Public Works Transportation Division Mostafa Estaji.

The key presentation was by Cole and McElroy on the Hot Springs Trail issues. Together they formed a new nonprofit called the Santa Barbara Wildfire Protection Team (SBWPT). Cole said they canvassed the Hot Springs Trail neighbors who have been experiencing an increase in crime, vandalism, and issues with parking. McElroy said the SBWPT presented their concerns to Congressman Salud Carbajal and thatCarbajal told them he would call a meeting of the stakeholders involved in the area to come together and work out a plan to resolve the issues.

Cole reviewed and updated his cogent report at the February 2024 Montecito Association meeting on the Hot Springs Trail issues with slides and a biologist’s report. 

Issues presented and discussed by Cole, McElroy, and Hayman were:

– The urgent need to address the safety of Montecito from potential fires caused by visitors and hikers to the trail and the pools with their illegal use of fire pits, kerosene, tiki lamps and other related fire type items. Additionally, many of these illegal fire uses are after dark. The area is difficult to evacuate should a fire ensue. Any fire in the Hot Springs area has the potential to affect all of Montecito, thus it is a community issue.

– Illegal parking along the East Valley Road

– Illegal removal of parking barriers and signage

– Vandalism and noise

– Approximately 11 mini-pools that are annually re-built by both residents of the area and hikers/campers every year following the natural removal of the said pools by the seasonal rains. They said that it is illegal to rebuild any naturally occurring pool, hot spring, and related water bodies after the water area has been washed over and removed by natural storms.

– There is a large group of stakeholders who manage the area and none take responsibility to monitor it and enforce existing laws to protect the environment, endangered species, and the public from the illegal activities of people on the trail and pool areas.

– Wildlife protection, especially for endangered species, and natural habitat protection in the area.

– Environmental impact of the hikers and people constructing the wading pools and redirecting the natural hot springs to their pools.

– Lack of a mechanism to fine those violating the rules

– Failure of the agencies who have jurisdiction over the area to monitor it and bring their agency rules and regulations to bear on the violators

– The springing up of various unauthorized groups claiming to issue permits, such as the group Stewards of the Hot Springs 

– Montecito Fire Protection District cannot enforce anything except to respond to emergencies

– There is a need for 24/7 supervision of the trail

For the stakeholders meeting with Congressman Carbajal, they listed the U.S. Forest Service, CA Dept. of Fish & Wildlife, SBC Sheriff’s Department, the SBC Board of Supervisors, Montecito Fire Protection District, Montecito Water District, CAL Fire, SBC Fire District, Montecito Trails Foundation, SBC Trails Council, SBC Public Works, Traffic Dept, and related agencies. They indicated the first meeting will be when Carbajal returns to California on October 1^st, and they will be in contact with him.

McElroy emphasized their focus is protection of the area, and not to stop hiking on the trails. Cole said he met with incoming SBC First District Supervisor Roy Lee at the trail head to review the issues. Lee asked him for a plan he can bring to the SBC Board of Supervisors. The need for public education on the issues was discussed, with possible social media information. Cole said their new nonprofit is seeking permits to restore the creek area themselves. Hayman pointed out that the main person violating the hot spring pools frequently posts on social media. She asked for a call to action by the Land Use Committee.

Fire Chief Neels stated that his department supports resolving the issues and will attend the meeting with Carbajal. SBC Public Works Transportation Director Estaji explained that their job is implementation of the strategy to keep the parking area safe and clear.

Following a Q&A and further discussion, Lee-Jones stated she will present the issues and call to action formally at the next Montecito Association meeting for direction. Two members of the Land Use Committee volunteered to be on the subcommittee.