Oakley, CA -- A highly popular off-road state park located on the central coast of California was host last week for a government body that oversees the operation. On Dec. 11-12, the California State Park's Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation (OHMVR) Commission met in Grover Beach. Commissioners toured the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Area (SVRA) and discussed many aspects of the CA OHV program statewide including various operational tenets of the SVRA.
Over the course of two days, local elected officials including the Mayor of Grover Beach, city council members, the county sheriff, fire fighters, OHV leaders, park concessionaires, park volunteers and riders learned about the park's popularity and economic impact. Both chairmen from the California State Park Commission and the Boating and Waterways Commission were seated as guests on the dais.
According to a 2011 Economic Impact Report, park visitors generate about $171 million dollars in economic benefit to the business community. That activity sustains approximately 2,000 jobs in San Luis Obispo County.
Current SVRA information details that about 1.62 million recreationists attended the park in 2013 which is up from the 1.55 million users in 2010. They access about 1,500 acres that are open for OHV recreation and several additional miles of beach routes that are restricted to street-legal vehicles.
Don Amador, the Western Representative for the BlueRibbon Coalition, attended the meeting and also toured the SVRA with staff from the OHMVR Division. Leadership from AMA, AMA District 36, CAL 4WD, CORVA, and Friends of Oceano Dunes were also in attendance.
SVRA staff updated the commission on many programs that include interpretation, education, safety, volunteer assistance, air quality, weed control, water quality, habitat monitoring and habitat conservation. In addition, staff highlighted their very successful western snowy plover and California least tern protection efforts.
BLM gave presentations on the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan, the West Mojave Travel Planning process and new OHV planning efforts in the Keyesville and Taft areas.
The Forest Service gave a presentation on the Region 5 Wet Weather Soil Study that could help better manage trail access during the rainy season. This could allow for trails to be open during dry periods instead of having trail access restricted via extended seasonal closures.
Don Amador, the Western Representative for the BlueRibbon Coalition, said, "The SVRA staff did a great job of relocating the regularly scheduled field tour of the dunes to an event center. The new indoor ‘tour’ allowed visitors to experience the program via slide shows, oral presentations, and hands-on education stations."
He added, "The OHV program and user community has a lot to be proud of. OHV recreation has matured over the last 40 years into a shining example of how a land management agency can provide high quality motorized use while at the same time protecting our natural resources and cultural heritage."
Link to Oceano Dunes SVRA
http://ohv.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=1207
Link to Oceano Dunes Virtual Tour
http://www.regal360.com/clients/ohv/index.html
Link to OHV Commission Meeting at Grover Beach
http://ohv.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=27160
Link to Article on Region 5 Wet Weather Soil Study
http://quietwarriorracing.blogspot.com/2014/03/wet-weather-soil-study-new-trail.html.
