Lost Coast 4x4 Members Take Part in Saving Oceano Dunes

Recreational Access and Conservation - Conservation and Public Service Activities

Dedicated to conservation and multiple use of public lands for recreation opportunities.

by: Stacy Hardy

Dave Wheeler, Louise and Richard Oliver and I set out on our way to Santa Rosa Wednesday afternoon. Our destination was the California Coastal Commission hearing on Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area (formerly known as Pismo).

The hearing was supposed to be an annual review of the Technical Review Team (TRT) that has been in place at Oceano for a year. The TRT is important at Oceano since the ODSVRA has become a target of environmentalist groups supported by the Sierra Club. The TRT is made up of stake holders, including an OHV member, Jim Suty, founder of Friends of Oceano Dunes. Other stakeholders represent local business and environmental interests. The TRT is the only chance we have, as members of the public, to make sure that our interests are represented when decisions are made regarding the management of this vast dune complex.

Of course, whenever the environmental faction is involved, it is quite difficult to stick to the issues at hand. The Sierra Club showed a video depicting what they believed to be harmful OHV damage to Oceano. They proclaimed "Remove vehicles from the beach" and that Oceano Dunes was dying a "Death by Committee." They showed concern over dwindling Snowy Plover populations, the Least Tern, and the steel head trout - whose existence in the area is speculative at best.

While hundreds of members from the OHV community showed definite concern for these sensitive species, they also offered heartfelt and tearful testimony about how the ODSRVA helps keep their families together, keeps their kids off the streets and off of drugs, how it enables the disabled to enjoy the outdoors, and provides sanctuary from the turmoil of everyday life. I think I actually saw a few of the commissioners lift tissues to their eyes during this part; a suprise to us all.

An air of fairness prevailed at the CCC meeting that day and this meant a victory for the OHV community. The TRT will remain in place for another year, at which time it will be up for it's second annual review.

This meeting was important for people who go to the ODSVRA, but even more important for us here in Humboldt County. Other than the ODSVRA, we have the LAST remaining coastal OHV park in California. We must realize that Samoa will not be safe forever. The best we can do now is bond with everyone else who is going through these battles, like Friends of Oceano Dunes, so that when the time comes for us to fight our own battle here at home, we will have an enormous arsenal.