Pismo State Beach and Oceano Dunes
State Vehicular Recreation Area
Public Works Plan
Volume 1: Draft Plan
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:
Table of Contents
Volume 1
Page
ES Executive Summary ... ES-1 ES.1 Summary of PWP Proposed Development Projects and Operational Changes ... ES-2 ES.2 Protect and Enhance Natural Resources ... ES-2 ES.3 Habitat Conservation Plan ... ES-2 ES.4 Biodiversity Management Plan ... ES-3 ES.5 Address Regional Air Quality Issues ... ES-3 ES.5.1 Particulate Matter Reduction Plan ... ES-3 ES.6 Incorporate Sea-Level Rise Strategy for Coastal Resilience ... ES-4 ES.7 Increase Coastal Access and Lower-Cost Coastal Accommodations ... ES-4 ES.7.1 Oso Flaco Improvement Project (Initial) ... ES-4 ES.7.2 Oso Flaco Improvement Project (Future) ... ES-4 ES.7.3 Phillips 66/Southern Entrance Project ... ES-5 ES.7.4 Oceano Campground Infrastructure Improvement Project ... ES-5 ES.8 Create Operational Efficiencies to Better Serve Visitors ... ES-5 ES.8.1 Corporation Yard Improvement Project ... ES-5 ES.8.2 Pier and Grand Avenue Entrances & Lifeguard Towers Project ... ES-5 ES.8.3 North Beach Campground Facility Improvements Project ... ES-5 ES.9 Enhance Pismo State Beach Access and Education Opportunities... ES-5 ES.9.1 Monarch Butterfly Grove Public Access Project ... ES-5 ES.9.2 Pismo State Beach Boardwalk Project ... ES-6 ES.10 Address Ongoing Management Issues and Opportunities ... ES-6 ES.11 Vehicle and Camping Use Limits ... ES-6 ES.11.1 Exceptions to Use Limits ... ES-6 ES.12 Predator Management ... ES-6 ES.13 Night Riding ... ES-7 ES.14 Arroyo Grande Creek Crossing ... ES-7 ES.15 Shorebird Management and Nest Exclosures ... ES-7 ES.16 Improve Fencing Program ... ES-7 ES.17 Operational Enforcement ... ES-8 ES.18 Enhance Public Outreach ... ES-8 ES.19 Special Events Protocols ... ES-8 ES.20 Evaluate Entrance Modifications ... ES-9 ES.21 Allow for Future Closures for Required Dust Control ... ES-9 ES.22 Evaluate Phasing Out of OHV ... ES-9 ES.23 The Plan Overview ... ES-9 ES.24 Benefits of the Public Works Plan ... ES-10 ES.25 Public Involvement ... ES-10 ES.26 Environmental Justice ... ES-11
Public Works Plan | Table of Contents ii ES.27 Plan Implementation ... ES-12 1.0 Introduction ... 1-1 1.1 Volume 1 Organization ... 1-1 1.2 Local and Regional Setting ... 1-1 1.3 Pismo State Beach ... 1-1 1.4 Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area ... 1-3 1.5 California State Parks Management and Authority ... 1-5 1.5.1 The Department of Parks and Recreation ... 1-5 1.5.2 California State Parks Mission ... 1-6
1.5.3 Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Authority and Program ... 1-6
1.5.4 Park Commissions ... 1-9 1.5.5 State Park Classifications ... 1-9 1.5.6 State Park Management Structure ... 1-10 1.5.7 Superintendent’s Orders ... 1-10 1.5.8 State Park Funding ... 1-11 1.5.9 OHMVR Program Funding ... 1-11 1.5.10 State Park Planning ... 1-12 1.6 Other Regulatory Authorities ... 1-14 1.7 Concurrent Planning Efforts ... 1-14 1.7.1 Particulate Matter Reduction Plan ... 1-14 1.7.2 Habitat Conservation Plan ... 1-14 1.7.3 Biodiversity Management Plan ... 1-15 1.8 California Environmental Quality Act ... 1-16 1.9 California Coastal Act ... 1-17 1.9.1 California Coastal Zone ... 1-17 1.9.2 California Coastal Commission ... 1-17 1.9.3 Local Coastal Programs ... 1-18
1.9.4 Oceano Dunes District Coastal Development Permit History ... 1-19
1.10 Purpose of the Public Works Plan ... 1-20 1.11 Public Works Plan Process ... 1-21
1.11.1 The Pismo State Beach and Oceano Dunes SVRA Public Works Plan Project
Overview ... 1-21 2.0 Planning Process ... 2-1 2.1 Overview of the Public Works Plan Planning Process ... 2-1
2.1.1 Public Outreach and Stakeholder Involvement ... 2-1
2.1.2 Agency Coordination ... 2-2 2.1.3 Native American Consultation ... 2-3 2.1.4 Public Involvement ... 2-3 2.1.5 Coastal Commission Involvement ... 2-9 2.2 Environmental Justice ... 2-10 2.2.1 Respecting Tribal Concerns ... 2-11 2.2.2 Meaningful Engagement ... 2-11 2.2.3 Coastal Access ... 2-11 2.2.4 Housing ... 2-12
2.2.5 Local Government ... 2-12 2.2.6 Accountability and Transparency ... 2-13 2.2.7 Climate Change and Sea-Level Rise ... 2-13 2.3 Planning Considerations ... 2-13
2.3.1 Coastal Commission Conditions and Concerns ... 2-13
2.3.2 Other Planning Considerations ... 2-22 3.0 The Plan ... 3-1 3.1 Public Works Plan Goals, Guiding Principles and Objectives ... 3-1 3.1.1 Goals and Guiding Principles ... 3-1 3.1.2 Objectives... 3-2 3.2 Issues to Be Resolved from Previous CDP ... 3-4 3.3 Proposed Development Projects ... 3-6 3.3.1 State Parks Design Standards ... 3-6 3.3.2 PWP Lighting Design Standards ... 3-6 3.3.3 California Building Standards Code ... 3-6 3.3.4 Stormwater Design Standards ... 3-7 3.3.5 PWP Development Projects ... 3-7 3.3.6 A1. Oso Flaco (Initial) Improvement Project ... 3-9 3.3.7 Oso Flaco (Future) Improvement Project ... 3-16
3.3.8 A2. Park Corporation Yard Improvement Project ... 3-19
3.3.9 A3. Oceano Campground Infrastructure Improvement Project ... 3-25
3.3.10 A4. Pier and Grand Avenue Entrances and Lifeguard Towers Project ... 3-28 3.3.11 A5. North Beach Campground Facility Improvements Project ... 3-37 3.3.12 A6. Butterfly Grove Public Access Project ... 3-43 3.3.13 A7. Pismo State Beach Boardwalk Project ... 3-49 3.3.14 A8. Phillips 66/Southern Entrance Project (Conceptual)* ... 3-53 3.4 Small Development Projects ... 3-59
3.4.1 Pismo Creek Estuary Seasonal (Floating) Bridge Installation ... 3-60
3.4.2 40 Acre Riding Trail Installation ... 3-60
3.4.3 Replacement of the Safety and Education Center... 3-61
3.4.4 Oso Flaco Boardwalk Replacement ... 3-62
3.4.5 Oceano Campground Campfire Center Replacement Project ... 3-62
3.4.6 Trash Exclosure at Post 2/Beach Trash Management ... 3-63
3.4.7 Other Existing Programs and Plans ... 3-64 3.5 Other Park Management Programs and Plans ... 3-68
3.5.1 Cultural Resource Management Programs ... 3-68
3.5.2 Natural Resource Management Programs ... 3-69
3.5.3 Visitor Services Programs ... 3-69 3.5.4 Interpretation and Education ... 3-70 3.5.5 Special Events ... 3-70 3.5.6 Other Programs and Plans ... 3-71
3.5.7 Relationship of Small Projects to Covered Activities in the HCP ... 3-72
3.5.8 Systemwide Strategic Initiatives and Plans ... 3-73 3.6 Managing Use Limits ... 3-74
Public Works Plan | Table of Contents iv 3.6.1 1975 General Plan Limits ... 3-74
3.6.2 Coastal Development Permit History and Use Limits ... 3-75
3.6.3 Visitor Attendance ... 3-75 3.6.4 Current Limits ... 3-76 3.6.5 Adaptive Management ... 3-76 3.6.6 Management Actions to Manage Use ... 3-77 3.6.7 Adaptive Management Process ... 3-79 3.6.8 Research, Investigation, and Monitoring ... 3-80 4.0 Consistency with Local Coastal Programs and the Coastal Act ... 4-1 4.1 Introduction ... 4-1 4.2 Public Access and Recreation ... 4-4 4.2.1 Public Works Plan EIR Findings ... 4-4 4.2.2 Public Works Plan Policies ... 4-9 4.2.3 City of Pismo Beach LCP ... 4-9 4.2.4 City of Grover Beach LCP ... 4-16 4.2.5 San Luis Obispo County LCP ... 4-24
4.2.6 Coastal Act Public Access and Recreation Policies ... 4-40
4.3 Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Area and Special-Status Species ... 4-45 4.3.1 Public Works Plan Policies and EIR Findings ... 4-45 4.3.2 City of Pismo Beach LCP ... 4-51 4.3.3 City of Grover Beach LCP ... 4-55 4.3.4 San Luis Obispo County LCP ... 4-61 4.4 Marine Resources: Water Quality ... 4-77 4.4.1 Public Works Plan Policies and EIR Findings ... 4-77 4.4.2 City of Pismo Beach LCP ... 4-79 4.4.3 City of Grover Beach LCP ... 4-83 4.4.4 San Luis Obispo County LCP ... 4-85 4.5 Agricultural Resources ... 4-93 4.5.1 Public Works Plan EIR Findings ... 4-93 4.5.2 San Luis Obispo County LCP ... 4-94 4.6 Archaeological and Paleontological Resources ... 4-100 4.6.1 Public Works Plan EIR Findings ... 4-100 4.6.2 City of Pismo Beach LCP ... 4-103 4.6.3 City of Grover Beach LCP ... 4-104 4.6.4 San Luis Obispo County LCP ... 4-106 4.7 Coastal Visual Resources ... 4-109 4.7.1 Public Works Plan EIR Findings ... 4-109 4.7.2 City of Pismo Beach LCP ... 4-110 4.7.3 City of Grover Beach LCP ... 4-114 4.7.4 San Luis Obispo County LCP ... 4-117 4.8 Coastal Hazards ... 4-123 4.8.1 Public Works Plan EIR Findings ... 4-123 4.8.2 City of Pismo Beach LCP ... 4-129 4.8.3 City of Grover Beach LCP ... 4-132
4.8.4 San Luis Obispo County LCP ... 4-134 4.9 Air Quality, Energy Conservation and Promotion of Public Transit ... 4-138 4.9.1 Public Works Plan Policies and EIR Findings ... 4-138 4.9.2 City of Pismo Beach LCP ... 4-141 4.9.3 City of Grover Beach LCP ... 4-142 4.9.4 San Luis Obispo County LCP ... 4-143 5.0 Implementation ... 5-1 5.1 Authority and Procedures for Coastal Commission Review and Approval ... 5-2 5.2 General Provisions and Supplemental Reports for any Specific Project Contained in the
Certified PWP ... 5-2 5.2.1 Notice of Impending Development ... 5-2
5.2.2 Preparation and Contents of a PWP Project Report ... 5-5
5.3 Coastal Commission Review of PWP Development Projects or any Portion Thereof .. 5-5 5.3.1 Filing the Notice of Impending Development ... 5-6 5.3.2 Coastal Commission Hearing Deadline ... 5-6
5.3.3 Coastal Commission Review and Determination of Consistency with PWP ... 5-6
5.3.4 Amendment of Development Project Authorizations ... 5-7
5.4 Development Excluded from Notice of Impending Development Procedures ... 5-8 5.5 Effective Date of Development Project Authorizations. ... 5-9 5.6 Coastal Commission’s Jurisdiction ... 5-10 5.7 Monitoring Development Projects ... 5-10 5.8 Emergency Authorizations ... 5-10 5.8.1 Definition of Emergency ... 5-10
5.8.2 Emergency Development in Areas Outside of the Coastal Commission’s Retained
Jurisdiction but Within Original Jurisdiction ... 5-10
5.8.3 Emergency Development in Areas within the Coastal Commission’s Permit
Jurisdiction ... 5-12 5.9 PWP Amendment Procedures ... 5-13 5.9.1 Public Hearing at Local Level ... 5-13
5.9.2 Amendment Application Contents and Coastal Commission Review Application ..
5-13
5.9.3 Coastal Commission Rejection of Application for PWP Amendment ... 5-15
5.9.4 Coastal Commission Acceptance/Process of Application for Minor Amendment ..
5-15
5.9.5 Coastal Commission Acceptance/Process of Application for Major Amendment ..
5-16
5.9.6 Notice and Hearing Procedures of for Major Amendment ... 5-16
5.9.7 Public Works Plan Amendment in Areas with a Certified Local Coastal Plans .... 5-16
5.9.8 Consolidated Review of PWP Amendment and Project-Specific NOID ... 5-17
6.0 References ... 6-1
Appendix
Public Works Plan | Table of Contents vi
Tables
Page
Table 1-1 Oceano Dunes District Management Plans ... 1-13 Table 2-1. Email Blasts ... 2-4 Table 3-1. CDP and Use Limits ... 3-75 Table 4-1: PWP Development Projects within Local Coastal Program and Plans ... 4-3
Figures
Page
Figure 1-1. Regional Location Map ... 1-2 Figure 1-2. Existing Park Land Use and Facilities ... 1-4 Figure 2-1. PWP Timeline ... 2-2 Figure 2-2. Sea Level Rise and Erosion Data ... 2-25 Figure 3-1. PWP Development and Small Development Projects ... 3-8 Figure 3-2. Oso Flaco Improvement Project Location ... 3-9 Figure 3-3. View of Leased Agricultural Field from the Northeast Corner of the Day-use
Parking Lot ... 3-10 Figure 3-4. Day-use Parking Area with Accessible Parking Stalls, Entrance Kiosk, and Vault
Toilets ... 3-10 Figure 3-5. Entrance Kiosk Elevation Example ... 3-15 Figure 3-6. Corporation Yard Site ... 3-21 Figure 3-7. Restrooms and Showers Building with an Attached Maintenance Facility ... 3-22 Figure 3-8. View from Inside Natural Resources’ Greenhouse ... 3-22 Figure 3-9. Materials Storage ... 3-23 Figure 3-10. Oceano Campground Area ... 3-27 Figure 3-11. Existing Entrance Kiosk at Grand Avenue ... 3-30 Figure 3-12. Existing Pier Avenue Entrance Kiosk and Adjacent Day-use Parking Lot
Location ... 3-30 Figure 3-13. Existing Pier Avenue Entrance Kiosk ... 3-31 Figure 3-14. Proposed Entrance Kiosks, as Featured in Design Drawings (Appendix A4) 3-31 Figure 3-15. Proposed Lifeguard Tower Rendering ... 3-33 Figure 3-16. Grand Avenue Lifeguard Tower Site ... 3-36 Figure 3-17. Grand Avenue Lifeguard Tower Elevation ... 3-36 Figure 3-18. Pier Avenue Lifeguard Tower Site ... 3-37 Figure 3-19. North Beach Campground Facility Improvements Project Location ... 3-38 Figure 3-20. North Beach Campground Facility Improvements Project Site Plan, as shown in Appendix A5 ... 3-39 Figure 21. North Beach Campground Entrance/Exit Driveways, Kiosk, and Dump Station
3-40
Figure 3-22. Proposed Kiosk Floor Plan, as shown in Appendix A5 ... 3-41 Figure 3-23. Proposed Kiosk Elevation, as shown in Appendix A5 ... 3-42 Figure 3-24. Butterfly Grove Public Access Project Location ... 3-44 Figure 3-25. Pismo State Beach Butterfly Grove (northern end) from SR 1 ... 3-45
Figure 3-26. Pismo State Beach Butterfly Grove (southern end) from SR 1 ... 3-45 Figure 3-27. Proposed Project Elevation from SR 1, as shown in Appendix A6 ... 3-47 Figure 3-28. Visitor/Concession Kiosk and Restroom Building Floor Plan Example ... 3-47 Figure 3-29. Visitor/Concession Kiosk and Restroom Elevation Example ... 3-48 Figure 3-30. Existing Pismo State Beach Boardwalk ... 3-49 Figure 3-31. Pismo State Beach (Grand Dunes) Boardwalk Project Site ... 3-50 Figure 3-32. Beach Boardwalk Construction (Example) ... 3-51 Figure 3-33. Boardwalk Elevation ... 3-52 Figure 3-34. Phillips 66/Southern Entrance Project Site ... 3-54 Figure 3-35. Post 2 Trash Dumpster ... 3-63 Figure 3-36. Concept for Replacement Dumpster ... 3-64 Figure 3-37. Oceano Dunes District Attendance 2015-2019 ... 3-76 Figure 4-1. PWP Development Projects within Local Coastal Program and Plan Boundaries
Public Works Plan | Table of Contents viii
Acronyms and Abbreviations
AC asphalt concrete
ADA Americans with Disabilities Act APCD Air Pollution Control District ASI American Safety Institute ATV all-terrain vehicle
BDMP Biodiversity Management Plan BMPs Best Management Practices CA covered activities
Caltrans California Department of Transportation CCC California Coastal Commission
CCR California Code of Regulations
CDFW California Department of Fish and Wildlife CDP Coastal Development Permit
CEQA California Environmental Quality Act CESA California Endangered Species Act CLTE California least tern
CMU concrete masonry unit
Coastal Act California State Legislature adopted the California Coastal Act Commission Coastal Commission
County San Luis Obispo County CRLF California red-legged frog cu. yds cubic yards
CZLUO Obispo County Coastal Zone Land Use Ordinance CZMA Coastal Zone Management Act
District Superintendent State Parks District Superintendent
Dunes Preserve Oceano Campground, Pismo Dunes Natural Preserve EIR Environmental Impact Report
ESHA Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Aras FAQs Frequently Asked Questions
FESA Federal Endangered Species Act
General Plan the1975 Pismo State Beach and Pismo [Oceano] Dunes SVRA General Development Plan and Resource Management Plan Grove Pismo State Beach Butterfly Grove
HCP Habitat Conservation Plan IMP Interpretation Master Plan ITP incidental take permit LCP Local Coastal Plan LUP Land Use Plan
MS4s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems NAHC Native American Heritage Commission NCCP Natural Communities Conservation Plan NEPA National Environmental Policy Act NOID Notice of Impending Development
Oceano Dunes SVRA Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area ODSVRA Oceano Dunes State Vehicle Recreation Area OHMVR Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation
OHV Act Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Act of 2003 OHV off-highway vehicle
Pismo Beach SVRA Pismo Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area PMRP Particulate Matter Reduction Plan
PRC Public Resources Code PWP Public Works Plan RUV recreational utility vehicle RV recreational vehicle
RWQCB Regional Water Quality Control Board
SLO APCD San Louis Obispo Air Pollution Control District SNPL western snowy plover
SOA Stipulated Order of Abatement SPRF State Parks and Recreation Fund SR State Route
State Parks California State Parks
SVRA State Vehicular Recreation Area
SWMP State Beach Stormwater Management Plan the District State Parks’ Oceano District
TRT technical review team U.S. U.S. Highway
USACE U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
USEPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency USFWS U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
WDRS Waste Discharge Requirements WHPP Wildlife Habitat Protection Program
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