L.A. County Beaches May Come Under Federal Management

National Park Service studying whether to incorporate coastal areas into national park system

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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The National Park Service is examining whether most of the Los Angeles County coastline should become part of a new 'park unit' under federal management. The process has been underway for two decades, and a first public meeting was held this week to gather input on the potential designation, which could include areas from Will Rogers State Beach to Torrance. While some expressed excitement at the prospect of federal conservation efforts, others raised concerns about potential restrictions on private property and oil/gas projects.

Why it matters

This proposal represents an unusual collaboration between California and the federal government on environmental issues, which are often contentious. If approved, it could lead to greater federal oversight and protection of the fragile coastal ecosystem in L.A. County, which is home to significant biodiversity but often overlooked by visitors to the region.

The details

The National Park Service is studying four key questions to determine if the L.A. County coastal areas merit inclusion in the national park system: whether the region has national significance, if it represents natural or cultural resources not already in the park system, if it's feasible to include, and if the national park system is the best manager. The idea was first proposed by Marcia Hanscom of the nonprofit Los Angeles Coast Forever!, who noticed the Santa Monica Bay watershed extends down to the county coastline. Hanscom and others have advocated for federal management, believing it could better protect the area's biodiversity compared to current state-level oversight.

  • The National Park Service held its first public meeting on the proposal on February 12, 2026.
  • The idea for federal management of the L.A. County coastline was first conceived around 2006.
  • Legislation enabling the initial study was introduced by Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Los Angeles) in 2016 and passed in 2022.
  • Funding for the study was not secured until last year.

The players

Marcia Hanscom

Director of the nonprofit Los Angeles Coast Forever!, which has advocated for federal management of the L.A. County coastline for years.

Rep. Ted Lieu

Democratic Congressman from Los Angeles who introduced legislation in 2016 that enabled the initial study of incorporating the county's coastal areas into the national park system.

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What they’re saying

“There's a lot of biodiversity and special places here along the coast that most people don't ever pay much attention to. People get off the plane at LAX and get right on the freeway, often not seeing the L.A. coast.”

— Marcia Hanscom, Director, Los Angeles Coast Forever! (Los Angeles Times)

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

The National Park Service study could lead to no action at all, or potentially a recommendation to incorporate the L.A. County coastal areas into the national park system. If that occurs, it would require further approval from Congress and the Biden administration.

The takeaway

This proposal represents a rare collaborative effort between California and the federal government on environmental protection, driven by concerns that the fragile L.A. County coastline is not receiving adequate management and oversight at the state level. If approved, it could lead to greater federal stewardship and conservation of this biodiverse region that is often overlooked by visitors to the area.