Crowdog
02-08-2002, 12:46 PM
The Dunes Debate
Off-road activists head to Hanford in drive to keep Oceano rec area open to vehicles.
By Kerri Ginis
The Fresno Bee
February, 8, 2002
Off-road riding enthusiasts opposed to a federal lawsuit that threatens to close public access to a stretch of sandy dunes near Pismo Beach are trying to garner support from central San Joaquin Valley residents.
Between 300 and 1,000 people are expected to attend an informational meeting Saturday in Hanford, where volunteers with a nonprofit organization will discuss the possible closure of the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area.
The Friends of Oceano Dunes are fighting to keep 1,500
acres of beach and sand dunes open to motorized vehicles, such as dune buggies and ATVs.
A lawsuit filed last year on behalf of the Sierra Club could banish motorized vehicles from Oceano Dunes because environmentalists say not enough is being done to protect three endangered animals living in the area.
Oceano Dunes is a popular recreation area for off-road riding and camping. Of the roughly 1 million people who visit the area each year, 40% are from the Valley, park officials said.
The lawsuit alleges that the state Department of Parks and Recreation, which manages Oceano Dunes, is violating the federal Endangered Species Act because it is not protecting the habitat of the Western snowy plover, the California least tern and the steelhead trout.
"This area is ecologically very sensitive," said Babak Nasicy, an attorney with the Environmental Defense Center, which is representing the Sierra Club. "We're asking the park service to better manage the habitat and to comply with the Endangered Species Act."
Many Valley residents say they don't want to see the park closed. Gene Schroeder of Fresno said he's been going to the area since the early 1970s. He and his family go off-road riding anytime they have a three-day weekend.
"Everybody who recreates likes to go out there," said Schroeder, who is affiliated with Friends of Oceano Dunes and helped organize Saturday's meeting. "It's the last park of its kind in California."
In 1975, the state Parks and Recreation Department acquired 3,600 acres of land designated as the Oceano Dunes State Vehicle Recreation Area. The area includes a stretch of beach and dune-riding spots behind the beach.
Some of that acreage was restricted from motor-vehicle use in 1982 when the California Coastal Commission put 2,000 of the 3,600 acres into wildlife preserves.
Over the years, other areas have been protected from off-road riders and campers, typically during the birds' nesting seasons. The area that remains open to vehicles and campers includes a five-mile stretch of beach and sandy dunes totaling 1,500 acres.
"I feel like what has happened is they have choked us into a smaller and smaller area," said Clovis resident Kim Kammer, whose family visits Oceano Dunes at least once a month. "There's no reason for us to be restricted. We are not the problem."
The lawsuit alleges Oceano Dunes lies entirely within an area designated as "critical habitat" for the endangered species.
The large number of people who visit the areas on holiday weekends, such as Memorial Day and Fourth of July, creates noise and disturbs the nesting season of the Western snowy plover and the California least tern, according to the lawsuit. Campers and off-road riders also cross the Arroyo Grande Creek, which is home to the protected steelhead trout. "There [are] problems with birds abandoning their nests because people are too close to them," Nasicy said. "There's no limit to the amount of cars and people that come in, especially on the holidays."
Park officials maintain there are limits placed on the number of people and vehicles in the area. The park allows 4,300 day-use vehicles and 1,000 camping vehicles overnight.
"We are complying with the mandates of the federal agencies," said Andrew Zilke, chief ranger for Oceano Dunes. "We're still experimenting with what is the best way to protect the species."
Off-road riding enthusiasts say the Sierra Club has no basis for its lawsuit. They say environmentalists don't have scientific evidence showing the endangered species are being affected by their activity.
They point to predators as the reason for any population declines.
"The lawsuit from my point doesn't have a whole lot of merit to it," said Jim Suty of San Jose, president of The Friends of Oceano Dunes. "The endangered species in the area are doing well."
The Friends of Oceano Dunes say there are other reasons to keep the park open. Visitors bring in more than $100 million a year in revenue to the area, they say.
The lawsuit, which likely will be heard in a Los Angeles court, is in the preliminary stages. Park officials say any closure that may result from the lawsuit isn't going to happen this year.
"It's an emotional issue from both perspectives," Zilke said. "But it has to go to litigation, and we'll see what happens from there."
The reporter can be reached at kginis@fresnobee.com or 622-2417.
IF YOU GO The Friends of Oceano Dunes will hold an informational hearing from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Elks Lodge in Hanford, 506 N. Douty St. Details: (559) 322-1242 or (559) 308-0935.
http://www.fresnobee.com/local/stor...p-1676451c.html
*****************************************
Crowdog
www.crowley-offroad.com
Off-road activists head to Hanford in drive to keep Oceano rec area open to vehicles.
By Kerri Ginis
The Fresno Bee
February, 8, 2002
Off-road riding enthusiasts opposed to a federal lawsuit that threatens to close public access to a stretch of sandy dunes near Pismo Beach are trying to garner support from central San Joaquin Valley residents.
Between 300 and 1,000 people are expected to attend an informational meeting Saturday in Hanford, where volunteers with a nonprofit organization will discuss the possible closure of the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area.
The Friends of Oceano Dunes are fighting to keep 1,500
acres of beach and sand dunes open to motorized vehicles, such as dune buggies and ATVs.
A lawsuit filed last year on behalf of the Sierra Club could banish motorized vehicles from Oceano Dunes because environmentalists say not enough is being done to protect three endangered animals living in the area.
Oceano Dunes is a popular recreation area for off-road riding and camping. Of the roughly 1 million people who visit the area each year, 40% are from the Valley, park officials said.
The lawsuit alleges that the state Department of Parks and Recreation, which manages Oceano Dunes, is violating the federal Endangered Species Act because it is not protecting the habitat of the Western snowy plover, the California least tern and the steelhead trout.
"This area is ecologically very sensitive," said Babak Nasicy, an attorney with the Environmental Defense Center, which is representing the Sierra Club. "We're asking the park service to better manage the habitat and to comply with the Endangered Species Act."
Many Valley residents say they don't want to see the park closed. Gene Schroeder of Fresno said he's been going to the area since the early 1970s. He and his family go off-road riding anytime they have a three-day weekend.
"Everybody who recreates likes to go out there," said Schroeder, who is affiliated with Friends of Oceano Dunes and helped organize Saturday's meeting. "It's the last park of its kind in California."
In 1975, the state Parks and Recreation Department acquired 3,600 acres of land designated as the Oceano Dunes State Vehicle Recreation Area. The area includes a stretch of beach and dune-riding spots behind the beach.
Some of that acreage was restricted from motor-vehicle use in 1982 when the California Coastal Commission put 2,000 of the 3,600 acres into wildlife preserves.
Over the years, other areas have been protected from off-road riders and campers, typically during the birds' nesting seasons. The area that remains open to vehicles and campers includes a five-mile stretch of beach and sandy dunes totaling 1,500 acres.
"I feel like what has happened is they have choked us into a smaller and smaller area," said Clovis resident Kim Kammer, whose family visits Oceano Dunes at least once a month. "There's no reason for us to be restricted. We are not the problem."
The lawsuit alleges Oceano Dunes lies entirely within an area designated as "critical habitat" for the endangered species.
The large number of people who visit the areas on holiday weekends, such as Memorial Day and Fourth of July, creates noise and disturbs the nesting season of the Western snowy plover and the California least tern, according to the lawsuit. Campers and off-road riders also cross the Arroyo Grande Creek, which is home to the protected steelhead trout. "There [are] problems with birds abandoning their nests because people are too close to them," Nasicy said. "There's no limit to the amount of cars and people that come in, especially on the holidays."
Park officials maintain there are limits placed on the number of people and vehicles in the area. The park allows 4,300 day-use vehicles and 1,000 camping vehicles overnight.
"We are complying with the mandates of the federal agencies," said Andrew Zilke, chief ranger for Oceano Dunes. "We're still experimenting with what is the best way to protect the species."
Off-road riding enthusiasts say the Sierra Club has no basis for its lawsuit. They say environmentalists don't have scientific evidence showing the endangered species are being affected by their activity.
They point to predators as the reason for any population declines.
"The lawsuit from my point doesn't have a whole lot of merit to it," said Jim Suty of San Jose, president of The Friends of Oceano Dunes. "The endangered species in the area are doing well."
The Friends of Oceano Dunes say there are other reasons to keep the park open. Visitors bring in more than $100 million a year in revenue to the area, they say.
The lawsuit, which likely will be heard in a Los Angeles court, is in the preliminary stages. Park officials say any closure that may result from the lawsuit isn't going to happen this year.
"It's an emotional issue from both perspectives," Zilke said. "But it has to go to litigation, and we'll see what happens from there."
The reporter can be reached at kginis@fresnobee.com or 622-2417.
IF YOU GO The Friends of Oceano Dunes will hold an informational hearing from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Elks Lodge in Hanford, 506 N. Douty St. Details: (559) 322-1242 or (559) 308-0935.
http://www.fresnobee.com/local/stor...p-1676451c.html
*****************************************
Crowdog
www.crowley-offroad.com