|
|
 |
|
|
A State Park is at Risk
- Protecting San
Onofre State Beach
for People and
Wildlife
"San Onofre State Beach is one of the
last remnants of large coastal open
space in Southern California. Sea and
sky, surf and reef, beach and coastal
bluff, wetland and grassland, sycamore
groves and scrub, hillsides and
arroyos, long coastal strip and broad
coastal valley… Experiencing the broad
natural expanses of San Mateo valley,
the coastline, and the sea reinvigorates
the senses and renews the spirit"
Source: State Parks and Recreation "Mitigation Assessment of
FTC-South Impacts on San Onofre State Beach"
|
|
|
|
| |
Development
Would Devastate
Popular Park
The proposed Foothill-South toll road extension through the
inland portion of San Onofre State Beach would devastate the
park, ruin a popular campground and threaten the world-famous
Trestles surfing beach. Among Southern California surfers, the Trestles breaks are known as
"The Yosemite of Surfing." As State Parks has noted, "Trestles is
such a vital surfing experience that for many, it is the paragon of
surfing destinations and each visit is a pilgrimage."
The park is also threatened by the proposed development of
adjacent lands owned by the Rancho Mission Viejo development company.
Interference with natural stream erosion and sedimentation, pollution
of currently clean creeks with runoff, and light pollution
would compound the problems the toll road would create.
|
Affordable Camping
Would
be Lost
The developed 161-unit San Mateo Campground provides rare
affordable public access to a rural coastal valley and a world-class
surfing beach for thousands of families annually.
Construction of the toll road through the park would also preclude
the development of a second family campground of 150 to
200 sites, an interpretive site, an equestrian camp and seven
primitive or environmental camp areas.
|
Endangered
Species in Jeopardy
An astounding number of threatened and endangered species
depend on the park for protection. The Pacific Pocket Mouse has
in the park one of its three known locations. Southern Steelhead
Trout race through the park to spawn in upstream ponds and also
spend time in the park’s estuary. Least Bell’s vireo, southwestern
flycatcher, gnatcatchers are some of the rare birds that inhabit the
chaparral and riverine habitat.
If the Foothill-South toll road is built through this park, then State
Parks will relinquish the majority of the inland portion of the
park, depriving Californians of an important park resource.
|
Robin Everett
robin.everett@sierraclub.org
Conservation Organizer
Sierra Club/Friends of the Foothills
949-361-7534 /
fax: 949-361-6623
|
HOME |
What's at Stake? |
How Can You Help? |
Event Calendar
Resource Links |
Newsletter |
Contact Us
|
© 2004 Sierra Club. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
