Oceano Dunes riders want full access and giant fence. They’re taking their case to Sacramento
Off-roaders are headed to rally in Sacramento Friday to protest recent closures at Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area — and propose building a 30- to 50-foot wind fence along the park perimeter.
Hundreds are expected to travel to the state Capitol after multiple off-road riding groups promoted the event on social media and as multiple videos called for off-roaders from across the state to get to together and “stand for the sand.”
“I don’t want to see our economy devastated for a few people that are complaining about our sand dunes,” Greg Cottrell, owner of Rugged Radios, said in a video for the protest.
Among those planning to join is SLO County supervisor candidate Stacy Korsgaden, who is challenging incumbent Adam Hill for the District 3 seat on the Board of Supervisors in the March 3 election.
“Representatives are not protecting our freedoms. We’ve got to stand strong for our freedoms and access to the beach.,” Korsgaden says in a video for the protest. “I want you to know ... that we can make a difference together. They need to know how much we care.”
Off-roaders are protesting the most recent closure at the SVRA, 48 acres in a popular camping area that was fenced off at the end of December as part of an order to reduce dust emissions from the state park. State Parks announced the closure in response to a hearing regarding alleged air quality violations from the park that create a health risk for hundreds of neighbors.
High levels of particulate matter blow downwind from the Oceano Dunes over the Nipomo Mesa, creating a health risk for hundreds of people who live there — particularly for children and older adults. Some of the dust is natural, but scientific research indicates the dust is greatly increased by vehicle activity.
Additional closures of riding areas are likely as State Parks works to comply with an order to reduce dust by 50% by 2023.
Riders say they want the area reopened and for State Parks to instead build a 30- to 50-foot-high wind fence along the perimeter of the park to . WeatherSolve Structures said a wind fence along the eastern boundary of the park would cost around $4.2 million, according to a bid acquired by the groups Off-Roaders United and Share Trails.
Oceano resident and owner of Freedom Ropes, Danny Hensley, presented the proposal at an air pollution hearing in November where State Parks Director Lisa Mangat first announced the closure.
Experts told State Parks that the best way to reduce dust emissions that contribute to a health risk in downwind communities is to fence off an area near the shoreline, plant vegetation and allow a dune to develop to prevent the movement of wind-blown dust. The area is the most emissive in the park, according to State Parks own research.
Hensley, who runs the Jerk Pirates Offroad group, pitched the proposal after stating that State Parks has spent “a lot of money and it’s not accomplishing anything.”
“I have found WeatherSolve fencing that has a process where we can reduce this down to acceptable levels in the first year .... and expand the (riding) areas inside the park,” Hensley said during a public comment period at the November hearing in San Luis Obispo County.
Scientists have said that installing mitigation efforts in the front of the dune, near the shore, will be effective to reduce dust. It’s unclear how effective a wind fence would be — even a tall one — given how high the plume of dust travels above the Nipomo Mesa.
County Air Pollution Control District Officer Gary Willey responded to the proposal at the hearing.
“We are not aware of what would work on the Dunes out there. Whether you put it in the back or the front. We know that if you put it in front, it makes a big difference. However, some of these tall fences have to get Coastal Commission approval for viewshed. And I think that’s unfortunately extremely unlikely,” Willey said.
In response to questions from The Tribune, he added: “I’m not aware of any studies on fence placement behind the sand. Neither Parks nor the (Scientific Advisory Group) have suggested this approach.”
This story was originally published January 30, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
