Pismo State Beach and Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area Public Works Plan Volume 2: Existing Conditions Prepared for: California State Parks 1725 23rd Street, Suite 200 Sacramento, CA 95816 Contact: Alexandra Stehl, Project Manager Prepared by: 2020 L Street Suite 400 Sacramento, CA 95811 Contact: Petra Unger, Principal Table of Contents Volume 2 Page 1.0 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 1 2.0 Park History and Existing Conditions ................................................................................... 1 2.1 Local and Regional Setting ............................................................................................... 1 2.2 Pismo State Beach ............................................................................................................ 1 2.3 Oceano Dunes SVRA ......................................................................................................... 1 2.4 Environmental Setting ...................................................................................................... 2 2.4.1 Climate .................................................................................................................... 2 2.4.2 Topography/Geology .............................................................................................. 3 2.4.3 Hydrology ................................................................................................................ 3 2.4.4 Scenic Resources and Visual Characteristics .......................................................... 4 2.4.5 Adjacent Land Use .................................................................................................. 5 2.5 Biological Resources ......................................................................................................... 5 2.5.1 Park Area Habitats .................................................................................................. 5 2.5.2 Vegetation Types .................................................................................................... 6 2.5.3 Common Wildlife in the Park Area ......................................................................... 9 2.6 Cultural and Historic Resources ..................................................................................... 10 2.6.1 Ethnographic Background ..................................................................................... 10 2.6.2 Prehistoric ............................................................................................................. 12 2.6.3 Historic - First Exploration Through American Era (1849 – Present) .................... 13 2.6.4 Energy ................................................................................................................... 17 2.6.5 Entertainment and Recreation ............................................................................. 18 2.6.6 Off-Road Vehicle Activity History .......................................................................... 19 2.6.7 California State Parks ............................................................................................ 19 2.6.8 Coastal Access and Environmental Protection Background ................................. 23 2.7 Environmental Protection Legislation ............................................................................ 25 2.8 Archaeological Resources and Site Review .................................................................... 25 2.8.1 PWP Specific Cultural Resources Review .............................................................. 26 Existing Conditions| Table of Contents i 2.8.2 Pismo State Beach Boardwalk Project .................................................................. 26 2.8.3 Oso Flaco Lake Improvement Project ................................................................... 26 2.9 Park Access, Parking, and Public Transportation ........................................................... 27 2.9.1 Access and Circulation .......................................................................................... 27 2.9.2 Parking and Public Transportation ........................................................................ 28 2.10 Park Facilities .................................................................................................................. 28 2.10.1 Overnight Visitor Facilities .................................................................................... 28 2.10.2 Day Use Areas ....................................................................................................... 29 2.10.3 Administrative and Operations Facilities .............................................................. 30 2.11 Utilities ........................................................................................................................... 30 2.11.1 Water System ........................................................................................................ 30 2.11.2 Wastewater System .............................................................................................. 30 2.11.3 Solid Waste Disposal ............................................................................................. 31 2.11.4 Electricity and Natural Gas Systems and Providers .............................................. 31 2.11.5 Communication Systems and Providers ............................................................... 31 2.12 Recreation ...................................................................................................................... 31 2.12.1 Visitor Attendance and Use Numbers .................................................................. 33 2.12.2 Pismo State Beach and Oceano Dunes SVRA Recreational Opportunities ........... 36 2.12.3 Pismo State Beach and Oceano Dunes SVRA Recreation ..................................... 36 2.12.4 Camping ................................................................................................................ 40 2.12.5 Day Use Activities .................................................................................................. 40 2.12.6 Special Events ....................................................................................................... 43 2.12.7 Holidays ................................................................................................................. 44 2.13 Education and Interpretation Program .......................................................................... 45 2.13.1 Park Interpretive Facilities .................................................................................... 45 2.13.2 Park Educational Programs ................................................................................... 46 2.13.3 Community Participation ...................................................................................... 46 2.13.4 Junior Lifeguard Program ...................................................................................... 46 2.13.6 Recurring Interpretive Special Events ................................................................... 47 2.13.7 Guided Hikes ......................................................................................................... 47 2.13.8 Trails and Signs ...................................................................................................... 48 2.13.9 Publications ........................................................................................................... 48 Existing Conditions| Table of Contents ii 2.14 Motorized Vehicle Crossing of Arroyo Grande Creek .................................................... 48 2.15 Emergency Response, Medical Aid, and Access/Egress ................................................. 49 2.16 Specialty Vehicle Safety Training (ATV and ROV) ........................................................... 49 2.17 Other Agency and Concession Vehicles ......................................................................... 49 2.18 Fire Protection ................................................................................................................ 50 2.19 Facility Management ...................................................................................................... 50 2.19.1 Beach Concessions ................................................................................................ 51 2.19.2 Oceano Dunes District Staff and Programs ........................................................... 52 2.19.3 Cultural Resources Management ......................................................................... 54 2.19.4 Natural Resource Management ............................................................................ 54 2.19.5 Dust Control Management and Maintenance ...................................................... 55 3.0 References ......................................................................................................................... 57 Appendix Appendix A. Oceano Dunes Timeline of Historic Events Tables Page Table 1. Vegetation Types and Other Land Coverage, Including Acreages within the Planning Area ......................................................................................................................... 6 Table 2. Summary of State Parks System Units (Fiscal Year 2016/17) ......................................... 32 Table 3. Public Recreation Lands at and Near the PWP Area ......................................................