Before the last big storm, heavy rain and high tides were predicted by the weather forecasts. The disastrous washout on Oceano Beach should not have been a surprise.
Several trailers and vehicles were dragged into the ocean where they lost all their contents: provisions, pots and pans, plastic wear, trash. The debris ended up in the ocean. And it is not the first time.
It is surprising that State Parks allowed people with their trucks and recreational vehicles to drive on Oceano Beach, cross the Arroyo Grande Creek, and camp. I thought there was a rule that crossing the creek is not allowed if the water is 12 inches or deeper.
Isn’t it the responsibly of State Parks to manage if and how vehicles are allowed on the beach when the weather is threatening?
I only saw a sign posted: Beach access and creek crossing at your own risk.
People who used their own judgment placed their lives at risk. We taxpayers paid for the heavy duty equipment and time it took to rescue them. The risk-takers polluted our beach and ocean and placed the lives of the park rangers at risk too.
Why did State Parks behave so recklessly? Is it because our State Parks system does not manage Pismo State Beach and the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area as it does all other state beaches in California? Pismo State Beach is part of the Oceano Dunes District managed by the Off-Highway Vehicles Division of State Parks. Our beach is managed by risk-takers and off-roaders. The fox is managing the henhouse!
Mary Martin
Oceano
This article appears in Volunteers 2024.
Sign clearly posted: “Beach access and creek crossing at your own risk”
Enough said. What, should state parks have brought in some tanks and infantry to keep idiots from doing something stupid. No, that’s not their job. Get a clue.
Mary, I believe the answer to your questions is had the state closed the beach there would have been dozens if not more of people bitch and complain that the state had violated their rights to access the beach and the dunes. People who had made reservations would have screamed about how they had been planning this trip for months and the state Parks and Rec had no business keeping them out even if it was for their own safety. The general public had advanced warning and yet chose to put themselves and their vehicles in that situation. Yes, the state had to come to their rescue because if they had not again the knuckle heads would have screamed murder and the State Rec dep’t would have faced a lynch mob. As for the trash, that because people don’t give a hoot about our beach and have zilch for respect.