Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area is closed to vehicles. Yesterday I walked, safe and undisturbed, the entire length of the beach and a good stretch of the dunes. Their vastness, peace, and beauty eased my pandemic anxiety for the time being. However, I also realized the extent of the destruction done by motorized recreation and the California State Parks off-highway vehicles division’s efforts to control it and protect our natural resources. Miles of orange fence and barbed wire surround the Indian shell mitten, the snowy plovers’ nesting area, the natural preserve, Arroyo Grande Creek, and several small islands of native vegetation: one cage after the other for miles. I felt like I was in a cage, too. Next to those miles of fence and wire lay a thick, black layer of incinerated wood, cardboard, plastic, and all kinds of trash, leftovers from thousands of careless campers. This could be a wonderful opportunity for State Parks to do a deep cleaning! Oceano beach and dunes are closed to vehicles, but open for day use between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. This might be your only chance to explore them, safe and undisturbed, and see for yourself the beauty and the ugliness. Please maintain social distance.
Lucia Casalinuovo
Oceano
This article appears in Apr 2-9, 2020.
This is also an excellent opportunity for the Air Pollution Control District (APCD) to do some testing for air quality, during this time of closure of vehicles on the beach. I have contacted the APCD regarding this, and hope to hear back with some positive news.
Tina Dickason, Cambria
The positive news for those downwind who can’t breath will come if this absence of vehicles is long enough to allow the dune crust to heal. Please see http://www.safebeachanddunes.org for the science.
It is unrealistic to expect a drop of PM 10 right away. It is the dunes crust that keeps most of the sand down. The crust needs time to reform. Furthermore, the crust will also allow native vegetation to grow and it will also keep the sand down. Really, to be realistic, it might take at least a year or more.
I live on the Mesa and can see the dunes from my front porch. With the high winds we had yesterday, there was plenty of dust in the air even without people on the beach.
We purchased our house from a gentlemen that lived at this location until he was 94. He had his business here and worked outside for 55 years without complication.
We purchased our house knowing that the dunes were there. Maybe you should consider moving, as there will always be dust. Wind+sand=dust.
Good luck with your theory!
Excellent time to prove its not the vehicles since we have received air quality warnings almost daily since the vehicles are no longer on the sand. Bunch of liars and hypocrites!! Also the orange fences are not wanted or needed by the Offroaders!! Take the fences down from inside the park and build the WeatherSolve Windfence on the outside of the park.
Re-Opening day is going to be so beautiful for the offroad families.
For those of you wanting to walk go to Grand and walk towards shell beach or any other beach in California!!!! Let us keep the tradition going and stay off the Offroaders beach if you don’t like it.
#offroadersunited
#standforthesand
The only crust on the dunes is this cranky old grump.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrMpxLc5WXI
Thanks for the bias opinion Lucia
“Dune crust”?!?! Seriously?! For crying out loud, somebody take a damn geology class already. Scientifically speaking, there’s typically not much native vegetation that “naturally” grows in an active dune-field. It can’t … because the dunes are
-cough- ACTIVE. I reiterate: take. a. geology. class. Even a basic entry-level one. As long as it’s taught by an ACTUAL geologist. -facepalm-
“Dune Crust”?!?! Seriously?! For crying out loud, somebody take a damn geology class already. Scientifically speaking, native vegetation can’t grow very well in an active dune field because it’s, well… ACTIVE, and keeps getting covered by wind blown sand. Seriously, take. a. geology. class. Even an entry-level one. As long as it’s taught by an ACTUAL Geologist. -facepalm-
It’s been wonderful to enjoy my local beach without vehicle traffic. I hope State Parks OHMVRD takes the opportunity to clean up all the trash left behind by visitors.