WiLD Blog

The proposed 241 private toll road that would have destroyed 60% of San Onofre State Beach Park was the subject of a very monumental hearing February 14. As the California Coastal Commission anticipated a colossal turnout at the very critical toll road hearing, the usual Oceanside City Council Chamber location was substituted for the huge space of the Del Mar fairgrounds. Just after 11pm and nearly 14 hours of presentations from members of the Save Trestles campaign, the TCA and personal testimonies from the public, the California Coastal Commission voted 8-2 against the proposed 241 Toll Road extension deciding that certain aspects of the project failed to meet California’s coastal regulations. Their vote prohibited transportation officials from creating the first toll-way to run through a state park.

It is estimated that more than 3,500 people rallied to defend the park. It was the largest turnout for any meeting in the commission’s 36-year history for what we are calling the Woodstock of our Save Our Coast movement. People of all ages and socio-economic backgrounds swarmed in and around the hall decked out with slogan-riddled t-shirts and rally signs.

Surfline quoted former world champ Pete Townend stating that it was great to see “these real people who recognize San Onfore State Park’s true value in their lives, not just a bunch of paid sign holders in orange shirts who look like they’ve never seen the beach.” Here Townend was referring to the small number of road workers that were forced to support the 241-extension by their union. Similar surf celebrities could be found scattered throughout the crowds showing their support to the park such as Greg and Rusty Long, CJ and Damien Hobgood, and Evan Slater just to name a few.

This victory is deserving of huge thanks to the Save San Onofre Coalition for doing such an awesome job in this long-time building movement to defend San Onofre’s scenic views, endangered species and world-class breaks. Partners involved include: the Surfrider Foundation, Sierra Club, Wildcoast, Natural Resources Defense Council, Endangered Habitats League and countless other magnificent organizations.

Thomas Margo, the TCA’s chief executive officer, said he will appeal the commission’s decision to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce. However, this is definitely the greatest victory we have seen yet, which has provided a great deal of hope for making the park’s protection permanent.

Cory Keen

In a surprising (or maybe not so much) decision by President Bush to put military maneuvers above the good of the environment has threatened the wellness of the marine mammals that live and migrate off the coast of Southern California.  A news article dated 17January from msnbc.com cited “President Bush’s decision to let the Navy continue using high-power sonar in its training off Southern California, a practice they say harms whales and other marine mammals” despite the fact that the use of this type of sonar is outlawed in the Coastal Zone Management Act which was passed unanimously by Congress, the federal court, and the California Coastal Commission.  Conservationists continue to protest this decision yet Bush seems to hold fast that the use of sonar off California’s coast is pivotal in Navy training exercises.  The Navy claims that they are on the watch for marine mammals during exercises, and if one is spotted within 2,200 yards, the sonar is cut off, but is this enough? High frequency sonar is proven to cause debilitating harm to marine mammals’ brains and ears.  Also, many marine mammals use their own version of sonar to locate food, and with conflicting sonar patterns being produced by the Navy, it will inhibit the ability of the mammals to locate their own food source. 

Julia Novak