Duca

Facts Santa Barbara County manages the Cachuma Lake Recreation Area under a management contract with the United States Bureau of Reclamation. One of the trails in the recreation area, the Live Oak Trail, has historically been reserved for the exclusive use of equestrians. In 2011, the Bureau of Reclamation adopted a resource management plan that would allow for use of the trail by hikers and mountain bikers. In January 2021, the County announced the Live Oak Trail multi-use program, opening the trail to hikers and mountain bikers. On January 12, 2021, the County posted a Notice of Exemption (NOE) for the program. At that time, the COVID-

1All statutory references are to the Public Resources Code unless otherwise stated.

2 state of emergency was in effect. The County’s website informed the public that, “County public counters are closed until further notice.” Members of the public were advised to visit the website of each county department to obtain more specific information about accessing that department’s services during the state of emergency.2 The County’s CEQA notices are handled by the office of the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors. That office’s website stated, “The…