San Onofre State Park
Encyclopedia
San Onofre State Beach is a 3000 acres (12 km²) state park located in San Diego County
, California
, USA
. The beach is 3 miles (5 km) south of the city of San Clemente
on Interstate 5
at Basilone Road. Governor Ronald Reagan
established San Onofre State Beach in 1971. With over 2.5 million visitors per year, it is one of the five most-visited state parks in California, hosting swimmers, campers, kayakers, birders, fishermen, off-duty Marines
, bicyclists, sunbathers, surfers
, and the sacred Native American site of Panhe.
Since 2007, the Orange County
-based corporation Transportation Corridor Agency (TCA) has been lobbying to construct a six lane toll highway through the state park and a habitat reserve in Orange County, despite local and national objections.
Located between San Onofre Bluffs and San Onofre Surf Beach is the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station
(SONGS), which generates enough energy to power 1.5 million homes in Southern California.
es with six access trails cut into the bluff above. The campground is along the old U.S. Route 101
adjacent to the sandstone
bluffs. The beach is popular with swimmers and surfers. San Onofre includes San Onofre Bluffs and Beach areas; San Onofre Surf Beach, a day use facility; San Mateo campgrounds and day use facility; and Trestles, accessible via a nature trail from San Mateo Campgrounds. Alcohol is banned from all beaches within the State Park.
The park includes a marshy area where San Mateo Creek meets the shoreline and Trestles
, a well-known California surfing site. Whales, dolphins and sea lions can be seen offshore from time to time. The park’s coastal terrace is chaparral
-covered.
.
San Onofre has several surf breaks on its 3.5 miles (5.6 km) of coast, ranging from the beginner’s gentle breaking waves to one of the premiere surf breaks in the United States, Trestles.
, the Sierra Club
, Natural Resources Defense Council
, Defenders of Wildlife
, Surfrider Foundation, Save Trestles, the California State Parks Foundation, the California State Park and Recreation Commission, the Native American United Coalition to Protect Panhe, The City Project, the Save San Onofre Coalition, and others. Opponents that construction and operation of the toll road would cause irreversible environmental damage, the loss of park camping and recreational areas, and the loss of a site sacred to Native Americans (Panhe), citing studies that show that traffic congestion would actually increase on the San Diego Freeway if the toll road were built through San Onofre Beach. A 2007 survey of Orange County voters revealed that while 52% favored some kind of toll road, 66% opposed a route that would cut through San Onofre State Park. As part of the effort, at least four groups filed lawsuits with the goal of preventing the toll road from passing through San Onofre State Beach.
On February 6, 2008 the California Coastal Commission
denied a Coastal Permit for the route proposed by the TCA that would cut through San Onofre and the reserve, saying that of the eight proposals considered, the San Onofre route was the most environmentally damaging. Had a permit been granted, the 241 Toll Road would have been the first to run through a California state park. The TCA appealed the Coastal Commission's decision to the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), calling the highway a matter of national security. On December 18, 2008, the George W. Bush Administration
denied TCA’s appeal, noting that construction through San Onofre was inconsistent with the California Coastal Act. In a release, the DOC stated that at least one reasonable alternative to the project existed, and that the project was not necessary in the interest of national security.
The steelhead trout in San Mateo Creek (the last free-flowing stream in the area), its tributaries, and in the waters off Trestles and San Onofre have been identified by environmentalists as one of several species that would suffer irreparable harm if the toll road were built along the proposed route though San Onofre State Beach, and in particular, the San Mateo campground and San Mateo Creek areas. In February, 1999 Southern Steelhead Trout (Oncorhyncus mykiss) were discovered in the creek by Toby Shackelford, making San Mateo Creek the only watercourse south of Malibu Creek
in Los Angeles County to host this endanged species
.
Steelhead have historically spawned in the creek, whose upper reaches also support a population of rainbow trout
, the form taken by Oncorhyncus mykiss when it remains land-locked. There are about 11 miles (17.7 km) of streams in the watershed that provide suitable habitat for steelhead trout.
Significantly, DNA analysis has shown that San Mateo Creek steelhead are genetically native southern steelhead, and not hatchery stocked fish. In February 2010, San Onofre State Park officers discovered a Golden Beaver (Castor canadensis subauratus) at the river mouth of the San Mateo Creek.
According to State Parks officials, the species was once native to the San Mateo Creek area. They say that the animal surely came from one of the streams that flows into the San Mateo Creek. A report on the fauna of San Diego County by Dr. David Hoffman in 1866 stated "Of the animal kingdom we have a fair variety: the grizzly bear, the antelope, the deer, the polecat, the beaver, the wildcat, the otter, the fox, the badger, the hare, the squirrel, and coyotes innumerable."
Environmentalists make the point that the beaver is part of a thriving watershed ecosystem that deserves the highest level of protection.
San Diego County, California
San Diego County is a large county located in the southwestern corner of the US state of California. Hence, San Diego County is also located in the southwestern corner of the 48 contiguous United States. Its county seat and largest city is San Diego. Its population was about 2,813,835 in the 2000...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The beach is 3 miles (5 km) south of the city of San Clemente
San Clemente, California
San Clemente is a city in Orange County, California. The population was 63,522 at the 2010 census. Located on the California Coast, midway between Los Angeles and San Diego at the southern tip of the county, it is known for its ocean, hill, and mountain views, a pleasant climate and its Spanish...
on Interstate 5
Interstate 5
Interstate 5 is the main Interstate Highway on the West Coast of the United States, running largely parallel to the Pacific Ocean coastline from Canada to Mexico . It serves some of the largest cities on the U.S...
at Basilone Road. Governor Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
established San Onofre State Beach in 1971. With over 2.5 million visitors per year, it is one of the five most-visited state parks in California, hosting swimmers, campers, kayakers, birders, fishermen, off-duty Marines
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
, bicyclists, sunbathers, surfers
Surfing
Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
, and the sacred Native American site of Panhe.
Since 2007, the Orange County
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
-based corporation Transportation Corridor Agency (TCA) has been lobbying to construct a six lane toll highway through the state park and a habitat reserve in Orange County, despite local and national objections.
Located between San Onofre Bluffs and San Onofre Surf Beach is the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station
San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station
The San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station is a nuclear power plant located on the Pacific coast of California. The site is in the northwestern corner of San Diego County, south of San Clemente, and surrounded by the San Onofre State Park and next to the I-5 Highway.Unit 1 is no longer in service...
(SONGS), which generates enough energy to power 1.5 million homes in Southern California.
Park attractions
The San Onofre Bluffs portion of San Onofre State Beach features 3.5 miles (5.6 km) of sandy beachBeach
A beach is a geological landform along the shoreline of an ocean, sea, lake or river. It usually consists of loose particles which are often composed of rock, such as sand, gravel, shingle, pebbles or cobblestones...
es with six access trails cut into the bluff above. The campground is along the old U.S. Route 101
U.S. Route 101
U.S. Route 101, or U.S. Highway 101, is an important north–south U.S. highway that runs through the states of California, Oregon, and Washington, on the West Coast of the United States...
adjacent to the sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
bluffs. The beach is popular with swimmers and surfers. San Onofre includes San Onofre Bluffs and Beach areas; San Onofre Surf Beach, a day use facility; San Mateo campgrounds and day use facility; and Trestles, accessible via a nature trail from San Mateo Campgrounds. Alcohol is banned from all beaches within the State Park.
The park includes a marshy area where San Mateo Creek meets the shoreline and Trestles
Trestles
Trestles is a collection of surfing spots at San Onofre State Beach in San Diego County, California. Trestles consists of, from north to south, Upper Trestles , Lower Trestles , and Middle Trestles . North of Upper Trestles is the surf spot called Cottons...
, a well-known California surfing site. Whales, dolphins and sea lions can be seen offshore from time to time. The park’s coastal terrace is chaparral
Chaparral
Chaparral is a shrubland or heathland plant community found primarily in the U.S. state of California and in the northern portion of the Baja California peninsula, Mexico...
-covered.
Surfing
A surfing and fishing camp had been there since the 1920s, before the land was taken by the U.S. government to establish Camp Pendleton, a U.S. Marine training camp during World War II. Surfers using redwood boards have visited San Onofre since at least the 1940s, including notables Lorrin "Whitey" Harrison, Don Okey, Al Dowden, Tom Wilson, and Bob SimmonsRobert Wilson Simmons
Robert Wilson Simmons , better known as Bob Simmons, was an early surfing pioneer, and considered to be the father of the modern surfboard....
.
San Onofre has several surf breaks on its 3.5 miles (5.6 km) of coast, ranging from the beginner’s gentle breaking waves to one of the premiere surf breaks in the United States, Trestles.
- TrestlesTrestlesTrestles is a collection of surfing spots at San Onofre State Beach in San Diego County, California. Trestles consists of, from north to south, Upper Trestles , Lower Trestles , and Middle Trestles . North of Upper Trestles is the surf spot called Cottons...
- Trestles is inaccessible by vehicle; a long walk from either the north or south end is necessary for access. This world-famous surfing area is known for its consistent waves. - Church - Located near Camp Pendleton’s beach resort, Church provides sunbathing and duck watching. The name refers to the long-gone chapel which was located not far from the site.
- Surf Beach - The "surf beach" area has 'flush' pit toilets and cold showers, but no camping. It is divided by the locality into three breaks spots known as The Point, Old Man’s, and Dogpatch (named from north to south). All perform best on a south swell, though the beach takes any surf and slows it down to a very slow pace. The entire area is covered by a rock reef, often making walking into or out of the water difficult.
- Trails - Trails is the most southern of surf spots in this region and includes both rock bottom and sandy breaks. Trails is also the last point to camp at San Onofre. Camping is on the bluffs with cold showers and 'flush' pit toilets nearby.
Panhe
Panhe is an ancient Acjachemen village that is over 8,000 years old and a current sacred, ceremonial, cultural, and burial site for the Acjachemen people. Many Acjachemen people trace their lineage back to Panhe. It is the site of the first baptism in California, and in 1769 saw the first close contact between Spanish explorers, Catholic missionaries, and the Acjachemen people. The United Coalition to Protect Panhe and The City Project advocate for the preservation of the site.Toll road controversy
The Transportation Corridor Agency seeks to construct a six lane toll highway (graded for eight lanes) through San Onofre State Beach/Park and a habitat reserve in Orange County, joining the San Diego Freeway at the Trestles surf break. The Toll Road is supported by business groups and some public officials in Orange County as both a commercial enterprise and a way to ease future traffic congestion. The toll road is opposed by more than two dozen of California’s congressional delegation in Washington, D.C., thirty-eight California legislators including California's United States Senator Barbara BoxerBarbara Boxer
Barbara Levy Boxer is the junior United States Senator from California . A member of the Democratic Party, she previously served in the U.S. House of Representatives ....
, the Sierra Club
Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is the oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States. It was founded on May 28, 1892, in San Francisco, California, by the conservationist and preservationist John Muir, who became its first president...
, Natural Resources Defense Council
Natural Resources Defense Council
The Natural Resources Defense Council is a New York City-based, non-profit, non-partisan international environmental advocacy group, with offices in Washington DC, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Beijing...
, Defenders of Wildlife
Defenders of Wildlife
Defenders of Wildlife is a United States-based, 501 non-profit organization founded in 1947, "dedicated to the protection of all native animals and plants in their natural communities." The organization is active in political interventions and lobbying aimed at protection of wildlife, and...
, Surfrider Foundation, Save Trestles, the California State Parks Foundation, the California State Park and Recreation Commission, the Native American United Coalition to Protect Panhe, The City Project, the Save San Onofre Coalition, and others. Opponents that construction and operation of the toll road would cause irreversible environmental damage, the loss of park camping and recreational areas, and the loss of a site sacred to Native Americans (Panhe), citing studies that show that traffic congestion would actually increase on the San Diego Freeway if the toll road were built through San Onofre Beach. A 2007 survey of Orange County voters revealed that while 52% favored some kind of toll road, 66% opposed a route that would cut through San Onofre State Park. As part of the effort, at least four groups filed lawsuits with the goal of preventing the toll road from passing through San Onofre State Beach.
On February 6, 2008 the California Coastal Commission
California Coastal Commission
The California Coastal Commission is a state agency in the U.S. state of California with quasi-judicial regulatory oversight over land use and public access in the California coastal zone....
denied a Coastal Permit for the route proposed by the TCA that would cut through San Onofre and the reserve, saying that of the eight proposals considered, the San Onofre route was the most environmentally damaging. Had a permit been granted, the 241 Toll Road would have been the first to run through a California state park. The TCA appealed the Coastal Commission's decision to the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), calling the highway a matter of national security. On December 18, 2008, the George W. Bush Administration
George W. Bush administration
The presidency of George W. Bush began on January 20, 2001, when he was inaugurated as the 43rd President of the United States of America. The oldest son of former president George H. W. Bush, George W...
denied TCA’s appeal, noting that construction through San Onofre was inconsistent with the California Coastal Act. In a release, the DOC stated that at least one reasonable alternative to the project existed, and that the project was not necessary in the interest of national security.
The steelhead trout in San Mateo Creek (the last free-flowing stream in the area), its tributaries, and in the waters off Trestles and San Onofre have been identified by environmentalists as one of several species that would suffer irreparable harm if the toll road were built along the proposed route though San Onofre State Beach, and in particular, the San Mateo campground and San Mateo Creek areas. In February, 1999 Southern Steelhead Trout (Oncorhyncus mykiss) were discovered in the creek by Toby Shackelford, making San Mateo Creek the only watercourse south of Malibu Creek
Malibu Creek
Malibu Creek is a year-round stream in western Los Angeles County, California. It drains the southern Simi Hills and the westernmost San Fernando Valley, flows south through the Santa Monica Mountains, and enters Santa Monica Bay east of Malibu. The Malibu Creek watershed drains and its tributary...
in Los Angeles County to host this endanged species
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
.
Steelhead have historically spawned in the creek, whose upper reaches also support a population of rainbow trout
Rainbow trout
The rainbow trout is a species of salmonid native to tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in Asia and North America. The steelhead is a sea run rainbow trout usually returning to freshwater to spawn after 2 to 3 years at sea. In other words, rainbow trout and steelhead trout are the same species....
, the form taken by Oncorhyncus mykiss when it remains land-locked. There are about 11 miles (17.7 km) of streams in the watershed that provide suitable habitat for steelhead trout.
Significantly, DNA analysis has shown that San Mateo Creek steelhead are genetically native southern steelhead, and not hatchery stocked fish. In February 2010, San Onofre State Park officers discovered a Golden Beaver (Castor canadensis subauratus) at the river mouth of the San Mateo Creek.
According to State Parks officials, the species was once native to the San Mateo Creek area. They say that the animal surely came from one of the streams that flows into the San Mateo Creek. A report on the fauna of San Diego County by Dr. David Hoffman in 1866 stated "Of the animal kingdom we have a fair variety: the grizzly bear, the antelope, the deer, the polecat, the beaver, the wildcat, the otter, the fox, the badger, the hare, the squirrel, and coyotes innumerable."
Environmentalists make the point that the beaver is part of a thriving watershed ecosystem that deserves the highest level of protection.