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Lompoc, California-
Update: This is a story that's hard to keep up on.
We receive emails from time to time about the policy changes in public
access to these beautiful beaches. The beach is closed, then it is
open. Then it is partially accessible. On a recent visit, stickers
in windows around Lompoc suggested beach access was still a hot topic.
The story below is outdated but we kept it to provide a flavor of what
concerns citizens now and for years to come, we imagine.
A temporary pedestrian path connecting the beach access
point at Lompoc's Ocean Park to the half-mile of open beach area at Surf
Beach opened June 1, 2000. After nearly 100 citations were issued to pedestrians
entering a prohibited area which closed for the summer months to protect
endangered nesting snowy plover birds, Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB)
officials had to do something, according to base officials.
The path is a 3,000 foot stretch of sand from Ocean Park
to Surf Beach which closed and was supposed to be out of commission from
March 1 to September 30 to protect near extinct birds that build nests
on the sand. Rather than bury their eggs, snowy plovers scratch the surface
and lay their eggs right on top.
When popular Ocean Beach (pictured) closed, some local
beach lovers and tourists ignored posted signs while others traveled a
short distance south to Surf Beach where an Amtrak Station sits.
Past several large guard-gated NASA buildings, Surf Beach provides a beautiful
fine, sand beach located on the perimeter of VAFB. But access requires
crossing the Amtrak train tracks. Concerns about public safety have caused
officials to create temporary access paths so that the snowy plovers and
humans can thrive side by side on the Central Coast beaches.
For now, Ocean Beach is open though large areas are off limits.
While this photographer spotted no snowy plovers, a coyote was recently
spotted on the beach. Coyotes, which are known to keep their distance
from humans, are plentiful in the region and especially at the protected
Oso Flaco and Guadualupe dunes. It is not recommended you approach or attempt
to feed them or the small bobcats seen roaming the secluded and protected
areas of the Central Coast.
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