If vehicles go away from the Oceano Dunes, the off-highway vehicle funds that actively protect the snowy plover go away. If these funds disappear, State Parks will manage the plovers and other threatened birds as they do at other beaches: build a massive enclosure that is completely free of people. No vehicles. No pedestrians. No fishing. No surfing. No dog walking. Absolutely nothing. Likely constructed at either at the creek, or at Pier Avenue.
The only real reason anyone is honestly suggesting closing down the beach to vehicles is that they own land and want to essentially be granted a private beach from the state, while excluding everyone else from these various types of recreation.
Jason Castillo
Grover Beach
This article appears in May 14-21, 2026.