California Costal Commission to Decide Future of Oceano Dunes SVRA

Recreational Access and Conservation - Conservation and Public Service Activities

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Edited by: John Stewart

California Costal Commission to Decide Future of Oceano Dunes SVRA

A Land Use Decision We Can Win

The California Coastal Commission is set to decide the future management protocol for Oceano Dunes State Vehicle Recreation Area AKA Pismo Beach at it’s February 2001 meeting. This meeting will be held the week of February 12 in San Luis Obispo, California. The exact date and time will be announced around February 1, 2001. It is very important to check the California Association of 4 Wheel Drive Clubs or American San Association web sites to get the very latest updates.

WE CAN WIN this with your help! We must let the California Coastal Commission (CCC) know how important this recreation is to the millions of annual visitors; that we strongly support the work of State Parks to protect the environment AND provide outstanding coastal access and recreation; that the proposed protocol is based on a comprehensive study with continual input from it’s own staff; and that the County Board of Supervisors held many public meetings on this issue before approving it.

Please consider attending this meeting and of course write, fax or e-mail your thoughts to the Commission.

THE ENVIROMENTAL GROUPS HAVE MADE THIS A MAJOR ISSUE. THEY WILL BE OUT IN FORCE. THEY WILL LOUDLY AND IN PRIVATE MEETINGS WITH THE COMMISSIONERS DEMAND THAT THE COMMISSION BAN VEHICLES FROM THE BEACH.

Some facts:

Address:

California Coastal Commission
Central Coast Area Office
725 Front Street, Ste. 300
Santa Cruz, CA. 95060

This process dates back to 1982 when State Parks was granted a Coastal Development Permit to build the entry kiosks and to fence the OHV boundary. As a condition of this permit State Parks, SLO County, and the Coastal Commission must agree on limits for camping and day use. Thus, this is still permit 4-82-300 and must be referred to as such in any correspondence.
In 1992 State Parks with direction from SLO County and CCC staff undertook a three-year Day Use Carrying Capacity Study for the park. This study looked at such things as sanitation, traffic (in the park and the community), visitor safety, habitat and resource protection, endangered species protection, visitor satisfaction and many other park management issues. This study concluded that, with current visitor use patterns and management, all of the study areas are highly acceptable and have improved since 1982.
The County Board of Supervisors gave the public four meetings to voice concerns with the study and the recommendation to continue historic use patterns.
In response to public’s concerns both pro and con State Parks and the County worked out details of a Technical Review Team (TRT) to be established by State Parks to give the Park Superintendent management recommendations. This team has one representative from; SLO County, CCC, OHV Commission, OHV groups, local Government, local business interests, and local environmental interests.
In 1998 the County accepted the Study and approved camping and day use limits and the creation of the TRT. This County action had the full support of the local governments, business and recreation interests. This leaves just CCC approval as the last hurdle to fulfilling the conditions of 4-82-300.
The CCC staff is recommending to the CCC that they APPROVE at their February meeting the proposed camping and day use limits with a three year review, and approve the creation of the TRT with the addition of two more representatives one from US Fish and Wildlife and one from California Fish and Game. CCC staff has also proposed a list of issues to be presented for review by the TRT.

The OHV Community has been represented at the table every step of the process. There were and are compromises and disappointments along the way. The focus has always been to not reduce riding and driving opportunity, to respect and protect historic visitor use patterns and not allow a process or action with long term negative impacts. We have accomplished all of the above in the CCC staff recommendations. We must emphasis our support of this staff recommendation.

The one thing that can snatch defeat from the jaws of victory is APATHY. Thousands of hours at the table come down to this: Will you take one hour or one day to insure your recreation opportunity remains at Oceano????? Check the web sites. Write the letters, come to the meeting. The California Coastal Commission will decide with or without you.

Thanks

Don Klusman

*************SAMPLE LETTER*************

		
California Coastal Commission
Central Coast Area Office
725 Front Street, Ste. 300
Santa Cruz, CA. 95060

Dear California Coastal Commission Members:

I am writing to express my support for the final approval of Coastal Development 
Permit 4-82-300. 

For almost 20 years, studies and public meetings have been conducted.  A Technical 
Review Team was established to develop management recommendations. In 1998 the 
County accepted the Study and approved camping and day use limits. This County action 
had the full support of the local governments, business and recreation interests. 
This leaves just CCC approval as the last hurdle to fulfilling the conditions of 
Permit 4-82-300.

The CCC staff is recommending APPROVAL of the proposed camping and day use limits 
with a three year review, and approve the creation of the TRT with the addition of 
two more representatives one from US Fish and Wildlife and one from California 
Fish and Game.

I urge the Commission to accept the staff recommendations and grant the final 
approval for Permit 4-82-300.

Sincerely,