-----Original Message-----
From: Friends of Oceano Dunes [mailto:oceanodunes@earthlink.net]
Sent: Sunday, January 27, 2002 9:42 PM
To: Oceanodunes
Subject: Oceano Dunes Update - 1-27-02


1/27/02

FRIENDS OF OCEANO DUNES - UPDATE
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1) AB 640 - WE OPPOSE IT! - ACTION REQUIRED!
2) MEETING IN HANFORD FEBRUARY 9TH - ACTION REQUIRED!
3) TRT MEETING FEBRUARY 11TH
4) LAWSUIT UPDATE!
5) BEACH CLEAN UP, A SUCCESS
6) CCC MEETING UPDATE!
7) JANUARY PETITION DRIVE - ACTION REQUIRED!
8) CLOSING COMMENTS!

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1) AB 640 - WE OPPOSE IT! - ACTION REQUIRED!

AB 640 (Hannah Beth Jackson) has come back to life. This bill would wrest local control from cities and counties by empowering the Coastal Commission to unilaterally amend LCPs, without the consent of the affected local government. The Coastal Act currently has built-in checks and
balances requiring agreement between local agencies and the Coastal Commission before amending Commission-certified LCPs. AB 640 would give the Commission the ability to impose amendments to LCPs against the will of the local agency or the local agency will effectively have their certified plan suspended.

We want everyone to send in emails and faxes to show our opposition to AB 640. A website has been set up to make this fast and easy.

a. Go to this website: www.capitolconnect.com/caaction
b. Enter in your profile.
c. Then click on "SEND BOTH" at the bottom of the page!

That's it! It will take less than 2 minutes!


2) MEETING IN HANFORD FEBRUARY 9TH - ACTION REQUIRED!

The information meeting in Hanford scheduled for February 9th is growing at an alarming rate. Please be sure to attend the meeting and bring your checkbooks. We have $1000's of dollars on prizes donated by many great people and companies who are in support of our efforts. In addition, we will have our t-shirts, stickers, sweatshirts etc on hand.

A review of the lawsuit, data pertaining to the parks and much more will be presented. In addition, we welcome questions and will spend as much time as required to make sure everyone walks away informed.

The fight is here and we must act now. Our success depends on good data (which we have), a good lawyer (which we retained) and a financial backing to make it all happen (which we are building).

For more information, visit: http://www.oceanodunes.org/hanford.asp

3) TRT MEETING FEBRUARY 11TH

The Technical Review Team (TRT) is having its 4th meeting on Monday February 11th. This meeting will be very important! The Scientific Subcommittee will present its recommendations from the review of the Point Reyes Bird Observatory (PRBO) report.

State Parks contracted the PRBO to review the operations of the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreational Area (ODSVRA). PRBO gave the park a detailed review and found that many great things have occurred, however it made some recommendations that we do not agree with. Some of these recommendations are: Western Snowy Plover Exclosures to be extended to Pole 6, Closure of the Equestrian Trail near the Arroyo Grande Creek, and the potential to Ban all dogs in the ODSVRA if leash laws are not strictly enforced.

The TRT will listen to the Scientific Subcommittee recommendations and then try and balance Economic Impact, Recreational Impact and other concerns to ensure we have a successful Western Snowy Plover season.

We strongly support the PRBO recommendation that State Parks implement a Predator Management program.

We encourage people to attend and speak during the open comment period.

The meeting will start at 6:00PM in Oceano on February 11th. The location is believed to be at the Oceano Community Services District (OCSD) which is located at the Oceano Firehouse on Hwy 1.


4) LAWSUIT UPDATE!

November 30, 2001 - The Environmental Defense Center (EDC) on behalf of the Santa Lucia Chapter of the Sierra Club filed a lawsuit against the California State Parks.

The lawsuit has been assigned to a judge in Southern California and all people identified in the lawsuit have been served.

Our lawyers will try to intervene in the lawsuit to ensure our interests are upheld. We will inform you of further information as it becomes available.


5) BEACH CLEAN UP, A SUCCESS

By Gene Schroeder

I would like to thank all the people that were involved in the success of the First Beach Cleanup sponsored by the Friends of Oceano Dunes. Cleanup director Anthony Herring and Ron Hartley worked hard to make this event a success. I believe the Park Rangers were a little shocked at the amount of trash that was picked up. Two and a half heaping piles of trash were hauled out of the Park by an overloaded Park Ranger pickup. The park ranger even had to ask for volunteers to help him unload the trash, "poor guy"!

Even though the news and camera crew from Channel 12 arrived two hours early for the event, Anthony managed to give a good interview and his fiancée Mara managed to get on the front page of the Local Section of the San Luis Tribune picking up trash back at Competition Hill.

Thanks to Ron Hartley for arranging the media event and Chris and Lori Bufford for standing most of the day answering questions and getting signatures on petitions and even getting an article printed in the Fresno Bee Opinion Section January 19 titled "Before Its Too Late" and another article in the Merced Paper.
Great job Butch Hotz, who had a busy day also picking up trash and talking about the upcoming meeting in Hanford.

Many groups and individuals helped out like Cliff and friends from Central Valley Chapter of Scouts West with his cool International Scout, and who has got over a hundred signatures from his work. And Randy and his fisherman buddies that were having a great time catching perch and supporting our efforts to keep the beach open to all. Wherever we go now, more and more people are stepping up to the plate and making a difference! ---Gene

If you want to get involved with the next clean up or would like information, give Anthony an email at Anthony@oceanodunes.org or log onto our forums at http://oceanodunes.org/forums/ to see what is going on.


6) CCC MEETING UPDATE!

The critical California Coastal Commission (CCC) meeting that will decide whether the State is issued a permit to operate the park will be held in Santa Rosa California during May 7 -10. We will provide the exact day of the meeting when the agenda is released.

Hilton Sonoma County
3555 Round Barn Blvd.
Santa Rosa, CA
(707) 523-7555

We want a lot of people to show up in support of State Parks and to show support to the Friends of Oceano Dunes members who will present our case.

We will be providing more information in the future, but we want you to start planning and reserving this time.


7) PETITION DRIVE - ACTION REQUIRED!

The petitions are still being gathered. To date, we have well over 10,000 names taken from over 1700 pages of petitions. The contact information has been entered into a database and we are planning a massive mailing to inform people of some important information in the coming months.

It is our plan to deliver copies of the petitions in March to the Governor and other distinguished people. In addition, copies will be sent to President Bush and Gayle Norton.

So get your signed petitions into us as soon as possible. Please consider helping us get these names inputted in an excel spreadsheet so they can be imported into our database. Contact auntie@oceanodunes.org for more information.

We will need help getting copies made.if you can help, please contact us!


8) CLOSING COMMENTS!

We are continuing to get our message out to as many people as we can. This is being accomplished by numerous articles in the paper, purchased ads in the paper, magazine articles, speaking to kids in schools and even radio interviews.

It is now being viewed that we have "one chance" to keep the Oceano Dunes open. We must be prepared for the CCC meeting in May and we must continue to work on correcting all the misinformation being portrayed by the Sierra Club and Environmental Defense Center.

Get Involved, or Lose It All!

SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL WHO HAVE DONATED THEIR TIME AND MONEY!

Please feel free to donate on-line at:
http://www.oceanodunes.org/donate.asp


NO SALARIES ARE PAID, WE ARE A 100% VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION


Sincerely,

Friends of Oceano Dunes!
P. O. Box 398
Oceano, CA 93445
805-788-4926
www.oceanodunes.org

webmaster@oceanodunes.org



Friends of Oceano Dunes is a 501(c)(3) California Not-for-Profit Public Benefit Corporation, comprised of over 12,000 members. We represent businesses, environmentalists, equestrians, campers, fishermen, families and off-road enthusiasts who enjoy the benefits of Public Access through Responsible Recreation at the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area (ODSVRA). We want to maintain Access For All!

This is good news for Oceano Dunes!

Coos County to file lawsuit over Snowy Plover habitat (http://www.crowley-offroad.com/Snitz/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=314)

Crowdog

I was going to go to the meeting on the 9th but I just realized that is on Sat. :mad2: Why did they make this the same day as Cal Ass Conv ????? I have comitted myself to the convention.

Originally posted by spoolnaround
Cal Ass Conv

You're going to a California Ass Convention??? is that some sort of :rainbow: thing you're into??


:flipoff2:


Tell everyone at the CA4WDC Convention that I'm not going to make it to represent the Axle Snappers, due to a funeral I will be attending on Sat :(

Thanks,
PSD


:usa:

During our last massive email campaign we asked people to write in opposing AB 640. Here is a note of the outcome.

This is GOOD NEWS!

Thanks in part to your quick action in formally opposing AB 640 -- and to that of hundreds of other interested citizens -- this harmful legislation died in the State Assembly last week without even being considered for a vote on the Assembly floor.

AB 640 would have even further expanded the power of political appointees on the State Coastal Commission at the expense of local governments and coastal residents. This bill would have had long-lasting negative consequences for economic development, family farming and private property rights.

While widespread opposition led to the second defeat of this legislation in less than a year, Assemblymember Hanna-Beth Jackson, the author of AB 640, has already vowed to raise the issue again. In an Opinion-Editorial published in the Santa Barbara News-Press on Sunday February 3, 2002, Assembly Member Hannah-Beth Jackson states, "Though AB 640 was not considered by the full California State Assembly by the Jan. 31 legislative deadline, I will continue working to address this important issue (this year)."

While AB 640 has been defeated, the substance of the bill may be amended into other legislation this year. If that happens you will be notified immediately.

Your continued attention and involvement on this important issue is appreciated.

Thank You.

Jim Suty
Friends of Oceano Dunes (http://www.oceanodunes.org)

The following article was published in today's "The Sentinel" (On the front page!)


Off-highway vehicle battle hits Hanford

By Maria G. Ortiz-Briones
Sentinel Reporter

HANFORD -- The fight to keep open a popular Central Coast locale for off-road recreational vehicles is coming to town this weekend.
Friends of Oceano Dunes is hosting a Central Valley informational rally meeting Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Hanford Elks Lodge, 506 N. Douty St.
Jim Suty, president of Friends of Oceano Dunes, said the purpose of the meeting is to inform citizens of the current lawsuit filed last November by the Sierra Club and the Environmental Defense Center (EDC) against the California State Parks.
According to Suty, the lawsuit seeks the immediate closure of the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Areas (ODSVRA) -- located in San Luis Obispo County just south of Pismo Beach -- until the state parks have demonstrated full compliance with the mandates of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to protect three wildlife species found at the site.
Suty said the three primary species of concern are the Western snowy plover (with its breeding season between March and September), the California least tern (breeding season between March and September), and the steelhead trout (breeding season between November and February).
According to the Friends of Oceano Dunes' Web site, the lawsuit "prohibits through a preliminary injunction, any further operation of the ODSVRA until defendants have demonstrated full compliance with the mandates of ESA," according to page 16, line 8 of the lawsuit.
Suty said the meeting in Hanford is "about all issues surrounding the Oceano Dunes and the potential closure of Oceano Dunes."
The informational meeting will include discussions on various topics surrounding the park and the organizations, Suty said.
"We will discuss everything," Suty said, "and how to prevent the closure of Oceano Dunes."
Butch Hotz, Friends of Oceano Dunes area representative, said the lawsuit may result in "seasonal closure of the Oceano Dunes" between November and September for the breeding season of the three endangered species.
"We want people to be informed on the issue and how they can get involved to keep the Oceano Dunes open," Suty said of the approximately 1,000 people expected to attend the meeting hosted by Friends of Oceano Dunes.
Hotz said the meeting will provide answers to anyone's questions. He said the Friends of Oceano Dunes organization doesn't want to provide misinformation.
Hotz agreed with Suty on the importance of the meeting, which informs Central Valley families how they can help to keep the Oceano Dunes open.
"Oceano Dunes are considered a family beach (area)," Hotz said, "and it's up to the families to keep it open. Without the families' help, (the lawsuit) can close the beach."
According to Suty, Oceano Dunes is visited by 1.2 million people annually. From that figure, it's estimated at least 50 percent are from the Central Valley.
Suty said that if the dunes are closed off, the economic impact would be approximately $110 million.
Hotz thanked the many sponsors from local family businesses which are helping host Saturday's meeting, saying the sponsors are also concerned with the possible closure of the beach.
According to Hotz, before 1982 Oceano Dunes had 15,000 acres open to vehicles; today only 1,500 acres are open for the ODSVRA with the rest converted to a wilderness preserve.
"We have to keep this open for our children," he said.
Suty said the Sierra Club has made it a priority to close Oceano Dunes for many years, but during the past year has tried to close off all activity at the beach.
Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area -- formerly Pismo Dunes SVRA -- is a geologically unique sand dune complex which also provides an impressive playground for off-highway enthusiasts from throughout the United States.
One of several off-highway vehicle areas administered by the California Department of Parks and Recreation, Oceano Dunes also offers visitors other recreational activities such as swimming, surfing, surf fishing, camping, and hiking.
Anyone seeking more information on the meeting can contact Kim Kammer at (559) 322-1242 or at photorich@mediaone.net, or contact Butch Hotz at (559) 308-0935 or at bkhotz@inreach. Information is also available on the Friends of Oceano Dunes Web site at www.oceanodunes.org.
(The reporter may be reached at mortizbriones@sentinelnews.net)

(Feb. 7, 2002)

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Crowdog

Hope everything goes fine for Presidents weekend. It will be crazy out there.

http://www.fresnobee.com/local/story/1600314p-1676451c.html

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
(Published Friday, February, 8, 2002 9:41AM)



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.
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They are getting some good news coverage!

Crowdog

Oceano Dunes meeting draws a crowd


By Maria G. Ortiz-Briones
Sentinel Reporter

HANFORD -- An estimated 2,000 people came to an informational meeting Saturday to discuss the possible closure of the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreational Area near Pismo Beach.

Hosting the meeting for Valley residents at the Hanford Elks Lodge was the Friends of Oceano Dunes.

The group is aimed at keeping open the popular Central Coast locale which consists of 1,500 acres of beach and sand dunes.

Issues discussed Saturday included a Sierra Club lawsuit that could close the off-road area, an overview of who the Friends of Oceano Dunes are and a general discussion of the situation.

The lawsuit by the Sierra Club and the Environmental Defense Center filed last November seeks immediate closure of the off-road area until the California State Parks demonstrates full compliance with the mandates of the Endangered Species Act to protect the habitat of three endangered wildlife species found at the dunes.

The three primary species of concern are the Western snowy plover, the California least tern, and the steelhead trout.

Jim Suty, president and founder of the Friends of Oceano Dunes, said the goal of his organization is to inform people who could be effected by the lawsuit of what's happening and what they can do to prevent it from happening.

"We are a "friends' group working together for one common goal ... Access for all," Suty said.

He said members of the group are "tired of losing our precious beach, tired of compromise, tired of opponents' lies, tired of wondering if it will be closed the next time we show up and tired of fearing if it will be there for our kids and theirs."

The nonprofit group, founded in May 2001, has more than 10,000 members and is working to keep open public access to the dunes, Suty said.

Friends of the Oceano Dunes has conducted debates on radio and television with the Sierra Club, held a petition drive, published articles in the media, initiated monthly meetings and elicited help from Sacramento politicians among other things, he said.

Jim Crettol, a Democratic candidate for 30th State Assembly District, attended Saturday's meeting and read a letter of support from Senator Jim Costa, D-Fresno.

In the letter, Costa voiced his support for the cause and stated the "public has a right to use public land ... (the) lawsuit must be stopped."

Michael P. Ryan, District 5 Supervisor for San Luis Obispo County, who also attended on Saturday, said "this is a state issue, not only a county issue."

Ryan asked those present to write letters to their legislators and ask them to take into consideration the needs of those who would be effected by a closure of the dunes.

Suty said the reason for any of the population declines with the endangered species at the dunes is due to animal predators and not to people, vehicles, or equestrians. The Sierra Club has no scientific evidence that shows off-road activity harms endangered species, he said, only a movie made by the Sierra Club which portrays off-road enthusiasts, in an evil, and uncaring manner.

No date has been set for a judge to hear the Sierra Club's case, Suty said, but when the time does come a judge could rule to close down the Oceano Dunes immediately. And, even if the lawsuit doesn't proceed, the California Coastal Commission could deny the permit used to operate the park, which would result in closure too, he said.

Suty also said the Coastal Commission and San Luis Obispo County can also deny the permit to grade the ramps which could also close the beach.

Suty said the closure of the dunes won't take place in the following week or by March 1 as some people think, he said the process is long.

One of the many to attend the meeting on Saturday, Terianne Garcia, 23, of Tulare, said all her family goes to Oceano Dunes at least 10 times per year.

She said all her family came to the meeting to get information on what was going on and what they could do to help to prevent its closure.

Jeanne Atkins, of Hanford said the Oceano Dunes is enjoyed by children and adults so it is important to keep it open to "pass this adventure from one generation to the next."

According to Suty, Oceano Dunes is visited by 1.2 million people annually. From that figure, it's estimated at least 50 percent are from the Central Valley.

According to Butch Hotz, the Friends of Oceano Dunes area representative, Oceano Dunes had 15,000 acres open to vehicles before 1982, but today has 1,500 acres open including sandy dunes and a five mile stretch of beach with the rest converted to a wilderness preserve.

The reporter may be reached by e-mail at: mortizbriones-@sentinelnews.net

(Feb. 10, 2002)