California Governor Gavin Newsom signed two executive orders on Tuesday. These orders aim to ease environmental requirements for flood prevention work and require a risk assessment of Highway 1 in anticipation of possible El Niño storms.
The signing took place at Crystal Cove State Park in Newport Beach, Southern California. This followed the declaration of a state-wide emergency, which was formalized on September 21, according to the governor's office.
One of the orders allows for the suspension of state requirements for relevant agencies to limit flooding, landslides, mudflows, and erosion. However, the requirement for prior approval of compliance and protective measures for protected fish species and waterways remains.
The second order establishes a Highway 1 Task Force. This group is formed with the participation of state transportation and natural resource agencies to prepare this section for El Niño storms and address long-term climate threats.
Highway 1 stretches approximately 1056 kilometers along the Pacific coast of California and has suffered repeatedly from landslides and closures in the Big Sur area in recent years.
On Tuesday, the U.S. National Weather Service warned of significant coastal flooding in Orange and San Diego counties in Southern California, which will last until Thursday.
The Climate Prediction Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported on October 8 that there is over an 83% probability of a strong or very strong El Niño between January and March 2027.