Drought closes Santa Cruz Mountains campground

A popular campground in the Santa Cruz Mountains has been closed because a creek is too low to draw water for visitors amid California’s lingering drought.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that the San Mateo County Parks Department closed all 154 tent sites at Memorial County Park in Loma Mar on Monday.

Daytime visitors are still welcome at the nearly 500-acre park nestled in redwoods along Pescadero Creek. But overnight camping is prohibited through June, and likely for the duration of summer.

Parks Director Marlene Finley says she’s looked at ways to keep the campground open, such as trucking in water or asking campers to bring their own, but options have so far proved unworkable.

Residents in nearby Santa Cruz County are facing tight water restrictions because of low flows in rivers and creeks.