A federal court recently ruled that the California Department of Parks and Recreation violates the Endangered Species Act by allowing motorized vehicle use that harms shorebirds at the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area. The ruling also restricts that use.
Since Tuesday, April 14, big signs at the Oceano beach vehicle ramp alert beach drivers that they cannot drive farther south than the Arroyo Grande Creek.
This is a unique opportunity for locals to visit and observe the Oceano beach and dunes safely because there are no cars or buggies running you over. Don’t you wish it could stay like this forever?
Here is what you can do to make it happen:
Walk on the beach from Pier Avenue to the south to enjoy one of the most spectacular beaches in California.
Take pictures of the creek and its lagoon, the wildlife, sunsets, wildflowers, the crushing waves. Post your beauty photos on social media.
Take friends along and document any plover activity or questionable State Parks activity or violation.
Sign our petition to San Luis Obispo County’s Board of Supervisors urging it to review and change our Local Coastal Plan to ban driving on Oceano beach and dunes. Help us gather signatures.
Patronize local businesses to increase revenues during the closure and prove that vehicles on the beach do not generate income.
Let’s keep Oceano beach and dunes vehicle free forever!
Oceano Beach Community Association
Oceano
This article appears in April 23-30, 2026.
I can’t help myself but think this “Community Association” is really that ole Chuck Varni fella serving up some prose as his Surfrider initiative appears to have lost a fin on the reef and his board is just spinnin in the zone…if you know what I mean.
FYI Delbert, the Surfrider campaign for 2.2 mile vehicle free beach in front of Oceano is gaining traction and moving forward. We are simply asking government agencies who created and have authority over the environmental and economic injustices perpetrated on our community 44 years ago be corrected. The Snowy Plover is a different issue but could definitely impact vehicles on the beach and dunes. For the FACTS on Surfrider’s Oceano Vehicle Free Beach campaign go to:
https://slo.surfrider.org/oceano-vehicle-free-beach