Crowdog
04-26-2004, 10:41 AM
FRIENDS OF OCEANO DUNES DEMAND BUSH INVESTIGATE USFW ABUSE
Unrelenting Closures of California State Park By United States Fish and Wildlife
Raise Misuse of Authority Concerns
SACRAMENTO, CA – April 26, 2004 – Friends of Oceano Dunes, a non-profit organization striving to protect camping and recreation at the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area (ODSVRA), is demanding that the Bush administration review recent United States Fish and Wildlife (USFW) actions — actions which have severely reduced the public’s access to camp at the waters edge at one of California’s most popular state parks. Oceano Dunes is the last 5 miles of legislatively permitted recreation vehicle beach access and camping. 1.4 million visitors each year share in the exhilarating experience of driving on the beach. Recently, after three years of incrementally eliminating RV camping for bird habitat, USFW again demanded more in 2004, culminating in a total camping area reduction of over 50%.
As background, the Western Snowy Plover, an endangered species under the Federal Endangered Species Act, the bird of contention, is currently being evaluated for delisting as a result of lawsuits challenging its original listing.
In 1993, no Plover nests or chicks were identified at the ODSVRA. After intense Department of Parks and Recreation attention, including an aggressive predator removal program in 2002, 2004 success exploded to 94 nests and 162 chicks…success applauded by unbiased scientists. All, while cohabitating with 1.4 million visitors annually.
To the south of the park is 15,000 acres of wildlife sanctuaries including 13 miles of beach. Unlike Oregon, who has chosen to remove beach vegetation to create habitat for Plovers, the USFWS has ignored that creative approach in favor of shrinking the tiny park. Via a few of its more radical biologists, they instead have undertaken a mission to slowly strangle the vehicle accessible park, seemingly to its ultimate closure under the guise of creating habitat, a few acres at a time, oblivious to the impact to the 1.4 million annual visitors and the local economy.
In response, the Friends of Oceano Dunes is demanding that the Bush Administration investigate the USFW’s abuse of power. At issue is the agency’s apparent hostility towards the ODSVRA. “It’s time for the Bush administration to investigate why USFW chooses to ignore the option of developing plover habitat in the adjacent 13 miles of wildlife refuge versus continuing to fence the public out of a state legislated recreational park”, said Jim Suty, President of Friends of Oceano Dunes. “President Bush would impress over a million Californians if he would authorize an investigation of USFW selectively enforcing laws in this state park while ignoring others. No other California Park receives the laser focus of this supposed public service! One has to ask, why?”
Rather than applaud the phenomenal success at the park, one of the best in the state, a few radicals in the USFW have decided to make the RV camping area an experimental laboratory. Even more appalling is that the adjacent wildlife refuge, six times the size of the park, managed by USFW, is a failure when compared to the Plover success of the ODSVRA. Instead of bringing the rest of California beaches, parks, and “preserves” up to the level of the ODSVRA, USFW chooses to ignore them and focus on this one.
Unfortunately, in early 2004 a single WSP was found to have died. Blaming visitors, USFW heavy-handedly threatened criminal prosecution of State Parks officials, while ordering even more campground closure. Over 50% of the public’s beach camping area has been closed.
“Fairness and common sense seems to be absent from USFW authorities, ” continued Suty. “If the birds do poorly, they take more beach from the public. If the success rate is phenomenal — as it has been for the past 3 years — they threaten state parks officials personally, insisting that they take more park from the people. A “lose-lose” situation for the public. It deserves an investigation.”
To receive more ODSVRA facts and statistics, please download the 2004 fact sheet from our website at http://oceanodunes.org/facts.doc.
About Friends of Oceano Dunes
Friends of Oceano Dunes, a 501(c)(3) California Not-for-profit Public Benefit Corporation, is the first organization of its kind to include representation from all forms of responsible recreation. Over twenty-seven thousand strong, the group’s membership is comprised of local residents, business owners, equestrians, surfers, fishermen, off-roaders, elderly and disabled; all of which enjoy the benefits and usage of the Oceano Dunes State Vehicle Recreation Area (ODSVRA). Friends of Oceano Dunes is headquartered in Oceano, California, 805-788-4926, www.oceanodunes.org.
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Unrelenting Closures of California State Park By United States Fish and Wildlife
Raise Misuse of Authority Concerns
SACRAMENTO, CA – April 26, 2004 – Friends of Oceano Dunes, a non-profit organization striving to protect camping and recreation at the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area (ODSVRA), is demanding that the Bush administration review recent United States Fish and Wildlife (USFW) actions — actions which have severely reduced the public’s access to camp at the waters edge at one of California’s most popular state parks. Oceano Dunes is the last 5 miles of legislatively permitted recreation vehicle beach access and camping. 1.4 million visitors each year share in the exhilarating experience of driving on the beach. Recently, after three years of incrementally eliminating RV camping for bird habitat, USFW again demanded more in 2004, culminating in a total camping area reduction of over 50%.
As background, the Western Snowy Plover, an endangered species under the Federal Endangered Species Act, the bird of contention, is currently being evaluated for delisting as a result of lawsuits challenging its original listing.
In 1993, no Plover nests or chicks were identified at the ODSVRA. After intense Department of Parks and Recreation attention, including an aggressive predator removal program in 2002, 2004 success exploded to 94 nests and 162 chicks…success applauded by unbiased scientists. All, while cohabitating with 1.4 million visitors annually.
To the south of the park is 15,000 acres of wildlife sanctuaries including 13 miles of beach. Unlike Oregon, who has chosen to remove beach vegetation to create habitat for Plovers, the USFWS has ignored that creative approach in favor of shrinking the tiny park. Via a few of its more radical biologists, they instead have undertaken a mission to slowly strangle the vehicle accessible park, seemingly to its ultimate closure under the guise of creating habitat, a few acres at a time, oblivious to the impact to the 1.4 million annual visitors and the local economy.
In response, the Friends of Oceano Dunes is demanding that the Bush Administration investigate the USFW’s abuse of power. At issue is the agency’s apparent hostility towards the ODSVRA. “It’s time for the Bush administration to investigate why USFW chooses to ignore the option of developing plover habitat in the adjacent 13 miles of wildlife refuge versus continuing to fence the public out of a state legislated recreational park”, said Jim Suty, President of Friends of Oceano Dunes. “President Bush would impress over a million Californians if he would authorize an investigation of USFW selectively enforcing laws in this state park while ignoring others. No other California Park receives the laser focus of this supposed public service! One has to ask, why?”
Rather than applaud the phenomenal success at the park, one of the best in the state, a few radicals in the USFW have decided to make the RV camping area an experimental laboratory. Even more appalling is that the adjacent wildlife refuge, six times the size of the park, managed by USFW, is a failure when compared to the Plover success of the ODSVRA. Instead of bringing the rest of California beaches, parks, and “preserves” up to the level of the ODSVRA, USFW chooses to ignore them and focus on this one.
Unfortunately, in early 2004 a single WSP was found to have died. Blaming visitors, USFW heavy-handedly threatened criminal prosecution of State Parks officials, while ordering even more campground closure. Over 50% of the public’s beach camping area has been closed.
“Fairness and common sense seems to be absent from USFW authorities, ” continued Suty. “If the birds do poorly, they take more beach from the public. If the success rate is phenomenal — as it has been for the past 3 years — they threaten state parks officials personally, insisting that they take more park from the people. A “lose-lose” situation for the public. It deserves an investigation.”
To receive more ODSVRA facts and statistics, please download the 2004 fact sheet from our website at http://oceanodunes.org/facts.doc.
About Friends of Oceano Dunes
Friends of Oceano Dunes, a 501(c)(3) California Not-for-profit Public Benefit Corporation, is the first organization of its kind to include representation from all forms of responsible recreation. Over twenty-seven thousand strong, the group’s membership is comprised of local residents, business owners, equestrians, surfers, fishermen, off-roaders, elderly and disabled; all of which enjoy the benefits and usage of the Oceano Dunes State Vehicle Recreation Area (ODSVRA). Friends of Oceano Dunes is headquartered in Oceano, California, 805-788-4926, www.oceanodunes.org.
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