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Dedicated to conservation and multiple use of public lands for recreation opportunities. Edited by: John Stewart |
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California Costal Commission to Decide Future of Oceano Dunes SVRA
SAN LUIS OBISPO (Feb. 1, 2001) – Off highway vehicle and other outdoor enthusiasts are encouraged to attend the upcoming California Coastal Commission meeting, Wednesday, Feb. 14 in San Luis Obispo, where the commission will decide whether to adopt a new management protocol for the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area (previously known at Pismo Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area).
According to Jim Bramham, a member of the California Association of Four Wheel Drive Clubs, the commission is not deciding on whether vehicles should be allowed in the park. The issue, he said, is for the commission to consider a recommendation brought forward by San Luis Obispo County and California State Parks. This recommendation would set new limits on day use visitors, camping, and OHV use at the park. Further, it would create a Technical Review Team (TRT) that would assist park officials with on going park management.
“The TRT would be part of an adaptive management process that would oversee on-going monitoring of both environmental and visitor use trends in the park for the purpose of supporting decision making about such things as total day use in the park,” said Bramham.
Bramham said the TRT, if approved, would be comprised of representatives from San Luis Obispo County, the California Coastal Commission, the Off-Highway Vehicle Commission, OHV groups, California Fish & Game, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, local government, local business interests and the local environmental community.
“The current limits were set in the early 1980s,” Bramham said. “We now have nearly a 20-year record of visitor use patterns and resource monitoring. The proposed limits represent a reduction from the current limits that were rarely met in recent years. The new limits ensure that the historic use patterns would continue and recognize the resource protection measures that the state has implemented throughout the park.”
The TRT would look at such things as sanitation, traffic in the park and surrounding community, visitor safety, habitat and resource protection, endangered species protection, visitor satisfaction and many other park issues.
The nearly 4,000-acrea Oceano Dunes SVRA is part of the 15,000-acre Nipomo Dunes complex. Slightly less than 1,500 of these acres are available for camping and off-highway vehicle use. In terms of coastline, OHV enthusiasts are using about 5.5 miles compared to the 17 miles of coastline, which was available in years past. By far, the greatest acreage is managed for non-motorized recreation.
Bramham said that in addition of OHV recreation, the scenic park is used by many others for aquatic sports, picnicking, fishing and clamming, photography, horseback riding, and camping. More than 1 million visitors each year enjoy the park and it generates nearly $100 million in revenue for San Luis Obispo County businesses.
The February 14 Coastal Commission meeting will be held at the Embassy Suites, 333 Madonna Rd., San Luis Obispo, beginning at 8 a.m.
For those with an interest in the future of the park's management and cannot attend the upcoming Coastal Commission meeting, Bramham said they could write letters to the following address: California Coastal Commission, Central Coast Area Office, 725 Front St., Suite 300, Santa Cruz, CA 95060.
Additional information about the history of the management plan development and a sample comment letter is available on the 4x4Wire.
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Jim Bramham |
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