Very Important California Coastal Commission Hearing

In early February, the California Coastal Commission will hear an application for the toll road project. This is THE most important hearing in regards to stopping the toll road and we need hundreds of people to attend. The hearing will take place in San Diego, but the exact date and time has not been set. We will keep you posted.

In the meantime, please take some time to do two things. First, if you haven’t already, send this quick letter to the Coastal Commission? Here is the link: http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/tollroad_ccc_07

Then, create a quick You-tube video telling the California Coastal Commission why you want to Save Trestles and San Onofre State Park and upload it to our site: www.youtube.com/savesanonofre.

Here's what to do:

1) You don't necessarily need a video camera. Most cell phones or still digital cameras will work.

2) Go to www.youtube.com and Create an Account.

3) Once you have created your account, record yourself, family and friends, talking to the Coastal Commission, telling them to Save the Park and Stop the Toll Road. If they have personal experience with the park, they should include that in their message.

4) Connect your camera or phone to your computer, and save your video to your hard drive.

5) Go to http://www.youtube.com/my_videos_upload

6) Fill out the information regarding your video. To make it easier for others to find, put “San Onofre” in the title, and add San Onofre, sanonofre and Trestles to the space where the site asks for Tags.

7) Click “Browse,” select the video you saved in your computer, and click “Upload Video.”

8) Go to http://youtube.com/group/savesanonofre. Click the ‘Join This Group” link. Click ‘Add Videos’ and select the video you uploaded!

Save Trestles from Brazil’s surf cradle

SURFRIDER FOUNDATION BRASIL supports the Save Trestles campaign from the Southern Hemisphere!

Cool Comic

Click the picture for bigger version.

Thanks to Surfreal Comics

Tis the Season to Save Trestles....Attend the S. Orange County Chapter Holiday Party

This is one of the most eclectic and entertaining Holiday parties you can go to this season! What else could you ask for?…..live music, fine art, surfboards, goody-bags, and more schwag then you’ll need for all your holiday shopping. Plus, you will be supporting one of the most important campaigns in the state of California—Save Trestles! Go here for more info: http://www.surfrider.org/southorangecounty/

Even Australians Know the Toll Road is Bunk

The Save Trestles campaign joins Step It Up 2007 to raise awareness about climate change and the unnecessary 241 toll road extension.

Why are the two groups joining efforts? Because more roads mean more cars—and more cars mean more greenhouse gases. It’s that simple.

On Saturday, Nov 3, Step It Up is organizing events all around the country, calling for leadership on global warming. From coast to coast, people are gathering.

Join Surfrider, and other environmental organizations for a beach cleanup at Trestles. Meet at the Trestles Parking lot at 4pm. Then join us for an after party at WestEdge.

For more info go here:
www.HalcyonSpiral.com/stepitup.html

Save Trestles at the Boost Mobile Pro - Interview

Record a You Tube video--an easy way to Save Trestles

We are encouraging supporters to be part of our "Virtual Hearing" by recording a message to the Coastal Commission, telling them you want to Save the Park and Stop the Toll Road.

Go to: http://www.youtube.com/group/savesanonofre to learn more!

It's great fun!

S. OC Chapter Hosts "Nightmare at Trestles" Party

This is a great chance to show off that costume you have been putting together. Plus, it's a wonderful way to support local efforts to Save Trestles. For more info go here: http://www.surfrider.org/southorangecounty/

Toll Road Hearing Postponed--TCA is Cornered

The Coastal Commission hearing regarding the proposal for the extension of the Foothill-South Toll Road has been postponed.

Therefore we will not attend the October 11th hearing.

The TCA asked for an extension on their application. They say they need more time to digest the Coastal Commission Staff report. That's probably because the staff report found the toll road couldn't possibly be done in an environmentally conscious way, and there was no amount of mitigation that could justify it!

In addition, we believe the TCA is back-peddling because they are intimidated by our efforts and recent victories! We beat them in San Diego when the City passed a resolution to protect San Onofre State Park. Then, the TCA continued to falter after a recent poll found 70% of Orange County voters do not support toll roads through State Parks. Plus, the TCA has been receiving bad press, and their newest attempt to throw $100 million at State Parks fell flat.

They are stalling—we are prevailing—but your continued supported is more important than ever!

We are encouraging supporters to be part of our “Virtual Hearing” by recording a message to the Coastal Commission, telling them you want to Save the Park and Stop the Toll Road. Go to: http://www.youtube.com/group/savesanonofre

Stay tuned for additional updates! We need your assistance in other ways very soon! We will keep you posted on when the hearing is rescheduled.

We want to thank everyone who came to the Paddle Out on Saturday. We had a great turn out and this is exactly the kind of event that keeps the pressure on the TCA. Of course, we’ll be planning more visible events in the near future to make sure the TCA knows we are not resting on our laurels!

Thanks again for your enormous help in opposing this destructive proposal and your efforts to protect San Onofre State Beach.

"Paddle Out" to raise awareness for the Coastal Commission Hearing

Oct 6 "Paddle Out" to raise awareness for the Coastal Commission Hearing 10am.

In conjunction with the Sierra Club, we are having a paddle at Trestles to raise awareness about the Coastal Commission hearing and the campaign. We want to get a huge crowd in the water to Paddle out and raise awareness. Get your boards ready and waxed.

Meet at Trestles Beach, "Uppers" at 10am sharp!

Community Organizing meeting for Coastal Commission Hearing 7pm

Oct1-- Community meeting for Coastal Commission Hearing 7pm

Together with the Sierra Club we are having a "community meeting" to get people geared up for the California Coastal Commission meeting. This is also a great chance to learn more about the Save Trestles campaign and why getting on the bus for the Coastal Commission meeting is important. The Community meeting will take place at the San Clemente Community Center. 100 North Calle Seville. San Clemente, CA

Victory in San Diego!!

No good thing should come easy.

After failing to gain the support of the San Diego City Council last year, we went back and spent the last 11 months meeting with each member of the San Diego City Council and presented them with the facts.

Then yesterday, by a vote of 6-2, the San Diego City Council voted to adopt a resolution supporting San Onofre State Beach Park and opposing the planned SR-241 toll road extension!!

This now means that our efforts to stop the 241 toll road extension and protect our State Park and San Mateo Creek watershed resources are supported by the three largest cities in California: San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego, as well as nearly a dozen other cities around the state!


Next stop – the California Coastal Commission hearing on October 11th in San Pedro. This is a big one folks!!

This hearing will determine whether the TCA’s 241 extension project is consistent with the California Coastal Act.

We are asking everyone to take a moment and send one of our Action Alert emails to the California Coastal Commission. Simply click here to send them a message.

The Surfrider Foundation has also reserved several motor coaches to shuttle activists from South Orange County and San Diego to San Pedro. If you are interested in attending the meeting (we need all the bodies we can get there folks!) and would like to go up on one of the buses, please email Stefanie at ssekich@surfrider.org as soon as possible!

Please Tell the CA Coastal Commission to Protect San Onofre and Save Trestles

We need you to attend the meeting of the CCC on October 11 in San Pedro. The Commission will be hearing the application to build the Foothill-South Toll Road through San Onofre State Beach.

October 11, 2007
Crowne Plaza Los Angeles Harbor Hotel
601 S. Palos Verdes Street
San Pedro, CA

Also, please send a letter to the Coastal Commission asking them to DENY the application.

Kelly Slater says Save Trestles

From the Boost Mobile Victory party!

The Toll Road won't Help Traffic!

Take a look at this map created by the Orange County Transportation Authority. It shows that if it's built, the toll road will be the LEAST used highway in Orange County, while the I-5 will be stuck in gridlock. So tell me how destroying a state park helps traffic?? As we've been saying... It's NOT WORTH IT!!




And while you're at it, here's older article talking about this very issue.

Save Trestles at the Boost Mobile Pro

Be sure to watch the webcast . They've been running some great video interviews with Surfrider activists talking about the toll road. We'll try to get the footage up here in the near future.

Save Trestles on Fox in the Morning

Stefanie Sekich recently attended the 2007 NSSA National Championship held at lower Trestles. She had a chance to talk to Fox News about the Save Trestles Campaign.

First Important Public Hearing in Stopping the Toll Road

Mark your calendars now!! The California Coastal Commission will be hearing the application for the proposed toll road in October at a hearing in San Pedro (near the LA Harbor). The California Coastal Commission is a very important regulatory agency that oversees development along California’s coast. Literally, this is one of the most important meetings in regards to stopping the toll road through San Onofre State Park; and we need throngs of people to attend! In order to get people from all over Southern California to the hearing, the Surfrider Foundation and Sierra Club are renting Charter buses. In addition, we will have Save Trestles tee-shirts for everyone, signs/banners, and talking points for people who want to speak during public comment period. Remember, you can still attend the hearing even if you do not testify. Our main objective is to have an enormous presence.

The exact date for the meeting has not been set, but we do know the application will be heard between October 10 -12. We will send an official e-vite soon so you can RSVP space on the bus. In the meantime, mark your calendars for this very important meeting and start thinking about ways to “call in sick to work” so you can join us on this fun and meaningful adventure! To find out more about the Coastal Commission meeting, or the Save Trestles campaign, email Stefanie at: SSekich@surfrider.org

Save Trestles at the US Open of Surfing

Volunteers recently set up a booth at the US Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach and found lots of support to protect Trestles and San Onofre State Beach from the toll road.



Direct Video Link here

ACTIVISTS SPEAK OUT TO SAVE TRESTLES AND SAN ONOFRE STATE PARK

Surfers, hikers, and outdoor enthusiasts gather to protect California’s 5th most visited State Park from a proposed toll road.

On Saturday June 23, activists gathered at San Onofre State Park to attend an outdoor lecture series to learn about the history of San Onofre State Park and the efforts being done to protect it. Over 75 activists from all over Southern California attended the event. After an inspirational lecture, the activists hiked from the San Mateo Campground to Trestles beach where they conducted a trail and beach clean up. The day ended with a surf session and beach-goers soaking up the sun at the world-class Trestles Beach.

View a slideshow at Flickr

Air America

Our own Stefanie Sekich was recently on the San Diego Air America affiliate.

Trestles in NYTimes

NY Times covers Trestles and the Toll Road

Last week the best school-aged surfers competed here at Lower Trestles in the National Scholastic Surfing Association Championships. The winners, especially in the open divisions, often go on to distinction as professionals.

But the future of the waves here is less assured. Many surfing enthusiasts have been fighting a plan to build a toll road nearby that could alter the iconic surf break. Some recent events have been encouraging to the surfers.

Work on the road was scheduled to begin in 2008 and expected to cost $875 million, but the project has been pushed back to 2011 because of regulatory hurdles. And in May the House Armed Services Committee passed an amendment to the National Defense Act that forces the Transportation Corridor Agencies, the group that would build the toll road, to comply with state and federal environmental laws. It had previously been exempt.

Named for the railroad trestles running over San Mateo Creek, the surf spot consists of five point breaks where waves curl over a cobblestone reef. Lower Trestles is the best, with waves that are not overly large, but with well-shaped shoulders, they are ideal for long, fast rides, and aerials and other maneuvers.

“It’s by far the best wave in Southern California,” said Pat O’Connell, a professional surfer who lives in nearby Laguna Beach.

Lots more after the jump

Art Farm "Save Trestles" Party this Thursday, June 28th!

Don't miss the Art Farm's "Save Trestles" Art Auction closing party, this Thursday, June 28th at the Ocean Avenue Brewing Company in Laguna Beach. And no, you don't have to be good looking to get in ...but it helps!

Click here for event details

Save Trestles campaign update - * SPECIAL FOOT IN MOUTH EDITION *

gaffe – (gaf)
n.
1. A clumsy social error; a faux pas.
2. A blatant mistake or misjudgment.

In the mad scramble to find new spin on a bad project, local TCA supporters seem to be clamoring to make any argument – no matter how far fetched – to scare, confuse or otherwise bamboozle the public into supporting the proposed 241 extension. However, the problem with “making it up as you go along” is that…well….you’re making it up!

Not since Dan Quayle’s famous “potatoe” incident have we seen a foot (or in this case feet) wedged so deeply into one’s own mouth. Here are just a few gaffes we’ve seen over the last month:




In a recent letter to the Capistrano Valley News, entitled “Examine the facts, not falsehoods” San Juan Capistrano Mayor Sam Allevato wrote:

“Don’t be fooled by environmental groups and legislators from outside our county like the Surfrider Foundation...”

Actually Sam, the Surfrider Foundation has been based in Orange County for the last 20 years. In fact, our global headquarters are located in San Clemente, just a couple of freeway exits down from your office.




Next on the list is San Clemente Mayor Jim Dahl. In an OpEd published in the May 31st edition of the San Clemente Times, Mr. Dahl writes:

“Today there is one way in and out of South Orange County—Interstate 5. From a public safety perspective, that is a disaster waiting to happen. If there were an earthquake or other disaster that required a mass exodus, a secondary route would be vital.”

Yikes - Not only has Mayor Dahl apparently forgotten about the existence of Pacific Coast Highway, he also seems to have forgotten that it is listed as an official EVACUATION ROUTE on the City of San Clemente’s website!





Not to be outdone, in the May issue of her OC Lite newsletter, Dana Point Mayor Diane Harkey railed against the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board’s efforts to protect San Mateo Creek, offering up this gem of a quote:

“Should all beaches be required to attain a goal of “shellfish” quality purification, or should human health standards rule the day? …Hopefully people of goodwill can work toward our mutual goal of ensuring that our watersheds are improved and our beaches are safe for “human” recreation. I’m not sure it would ever be possible (considering the bird sanctuaries) nor would we really want shellfish to flourish along many of our favorite swim or surf spots ¬- could be tough on the toes!”

Yes heaven forbid we let nature get in the way of us enjoying the beach…

I can almost picture Mayor Harkey walking along the beach at Salt Creek, wishing she could replace the sand with something a little less...sandy!






Proving that gaffes are not limited to the political arena, Mission Hospital CEO Peter Bastone gets in on the action, demonstrating his gift for exaggeration in a May 19th letter to the Editors of the Los Angeles Times:

“Mission Hospital is the only trauma center in south Orange County. If there is an accident or emergency that shuts down Interstate 5, there is no other way for anyone to get to our hospital.”

Sorry Peter… We checked with the Community Relations Department of the Orange County Fire Authority, and they assured us that in the event that the I-5 freeway were closed in both directions, there are ample alternate routes to access the facilities at Mission Hospital, and that emergency response personnel were trained to deal with such a crisis.

Is anyone else somewhat surprised that the CEO for one of the county’s largest medical centers doesn’t know the contingency plans for his own facility?





And finally – in a vitriolic outburst that Mel Gibson would’ve been proud of – in an article that appeared in this week’s Orange County Weekly, TCA geologist David Skelly shared what he thought about the save trestles campaign and its supporters:

“It appeals to the stupid. It appeals to the lemmings of the world.”

Gee, I know I didn’t graduate from Harvard but…

Perhaps Mr. Skelly was referring to California Attorney Generals Bill Lockyer and Jerry Brown…

or Congresswomen Loretta Sanchez and Susan Davis…

or Volcom and Billabong CEO’s Richard Wolcott and Paul Naude…

or all the Council representatives for the cities of San Francisco, Berkeley, Santa Cruz, San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Aliso Viejo, Laguna Beach, Oceanside, Del Mar and Imperial Beach…


…or Clint Eastwood?








I’d like to see David Skelly call Dirty Harry stupid to his face! Go ahead, Dave… Make my day!

State Senator Christine Kehoe speaks up for San Onofre

Sacrificing parklands for more roads

By Christine Kehoe
June 6, 2007
Last month, the U.S. House of Representatives took the first step in leveling the playing field in the growing debate over a six-lane highway coming out of Orange County that would bisect San Onofre State Beach in northern San Diego County.

Led by Reps. Susan Davis, D-San Diego, and Loretta Sanchez, D-Garden Grove, the House-passed Defense Authorization bill reverses prior federal legislation that exempts the toll-road project from state law. The prior act was a largely unnoticed and unprecedented end run around the California Coastal Act and other state laws enacted to protect California's natural, historical and cultural resources.

Exemptions that circumvent the rule of California law make bad policy, especially when, as in this case, the exempted project has generated considerable public opposition. This project should be subject to the same analysis and environmental review that any other project in the state would receive.

The proposed Foothill-South Toll Road would traverse San Onofre State Beach from top to bottom...

More after the jump

The Ghost of Ronald Reagan says...

"I firmly believe one of the greatest legacies we can leave to future generations is the heritage of our land. This expanse of acreage, San Onofre Bluffs State Beach, now has it's future guaranteed as an official state park."

-Governor Ronald Reagan, in establishing the State Park at San Onofre, April 3, 1971

OC Register Online Covers Trestles

OC Beaches interactive piece by the Register.

If you click on San Clemente it brings you to a page with a few photos of SC beaches and a great video completely focused on San Onofre, Trestles and the threats of the toll road. Rich Rozzelle does his usual great job describing the park and the potential impacts. Here’s the direct link to the SC piece.

California Coast & Ocean Story on Toll Road

California Coast & Ocean provides a very thorough article on Trestles, San Onofre and the threats from the toll road.



Driving north from San Diego along the coast on Interstate 5, a traveler passes mile after mile of houses, malls, businesses, and roadways. Every now and then you glimpse the ocean off in the distance or see a grassy hillside, but otherwise you are confined to a virtual corridor of development.

Then suddenly, just north of Oceanside, the landscape opens up. To the west is the ocean, while to the east flatlands and rolling hills covered with coastal sage scrub extend as far as the eye can see, with only here and there a building or a road. Along this stretch of highway you might actually spot a hawk circling overhead, hunting for its meal among the abundant little critters in the underbrush, or perched atop a telephone pole. This is coastal southern California as it used to look before sprawl took over, and it's still here because you're in Camp Pendleton. Like many military reservations in California, this 125,000-acre Marine Corps base, owned by the Department of the Navy, contains some of the last wild land in its region; this area would likely have been developed years ago if not for the base. San Mateo Creek, one of the last coastal streams in southern California that has no dams or other man-made barriers, flows from its headwaters in the Cleveland National Forest through Camp Pendleton to meet the ocean. Southern steelhead were thought to be extinct south of Malibu Creek until they were found in San Mateo Creek in 1999.

Lots more at the site...

Cool Video by Bob Torrez

Bob created this short film as part of the International Documentary Challenge 2007. "I had 5 days to come up with a project, shoot, edit,
make music and complete a dvd ready for broadcast, I did not win but it was a great
challenge for a good cause and I met some great people on the way."

Big News Today!!

Late Wednesday night the House Armed Services Committee passed an amendment to the National Defense Act that included language which now forces the TCA to comply with the same California state laws as other developers in obtaining approval to construct the proposed toll road. The amendment, which was submitted by Rep. Susan Davis of San Diego and supported by Rep. Loretta Sanchez of Orange County, was needed to counter several exemptions from state and federal environmental laws which the TCA had secretively garnered over the past several years.

"With these exemptions, the TCA thought they had a trump card in their back pocket, which they could have used to avoid full compliance with environmental laws," said Surfrider Foundation Assistant Environmental Director, Mark Rauscher. "This vote is a victory for protecting park lands everywhere and upholding state laws."

Surfrider Foundation and its partners applaud Davis' efforts to level the playing field and we encourage you to let her know your appreciation by sending her a note by clicking here.


In other good news word came down late Thursday morning that the California District Court of Appeals had sided with the Surfrider Foundation and other environmental organizations and ruled that a suit filed by the Save Trestles/San Onofre coalition against the TCA for violating the California Environmental Quality Act must be heard in San Diego County (the TCA of course wanted the case to be tried in Orange County).

"The ruling by the 4th District Court of Appeals is a clear sign that this issue impacts more than just the residents of South Orange County," said Surfrider Foundation's Matt McClain. "If completed as planned, this toll road project will have direct and adverse impact on San Diegans, and very likely destroy precious resources that belong to the public at large."

While these two decisions do not yet represent the final nail in the coffin for the proposed toll road extension, they are two big steps towards that direction!

Some Good News and Some Bad News

First, this past weekend the CA Democratic Party passed a resolution opposing the toll road through San Onofre State Beach!! This is huge and sets the stage going forward in Sacramento and DC. More details on this later..


CA Assemblymember Huffman from Marin attempted to move a bill that would limit the construction of roads through state parks throughout California. Makes sense right? Well the labor unions came out strong against this saying it would cut into their jobs. Huffman didn't think he had the votes so he pulled the bill and will bring it back at a later date. Here's an article on AB 1457

Surfrider vs. TCA on the radio

KPBS > Radio, 89.5 FM San Diego > These Days

Our own Matt McClain took on the TCA spin masters during a recent episode of Theese Days on the San Diego NPR station. They're clearly sensitive to the Most Endangered River designation.

San Mateo Creek - Endangered River

San Mateo Creek (which empties into and forms Trestles) is listed as the second most threatened waterway in America by the national environmental group American Rivers in their 2007 Most Endangered Rivers report released today. You can see the report and the specifics on the rivers at their site.

Toll Road on the Cover of San Clemente Times

San Clemente Times - The Toll Road: Fact or Fiction?

Wading through fact and fiction about the proposed extension of the Foothill-South (241) Toll Road is reminiscent of debating whether the glass is half empty or half full. In many instances, toll road advocates and opponents alike have pored through the same reports, relied on the same experts and studied the same history. At times, they even acknowledge the other side isn’t completely wrong. But that’s a long way from saying they might be right...

Lots more at the link

Save Trestles Yard Signs are Available

Come by the Surfrider HQ in San Clemente to get your sign and show your support for Trestles and San Onofre State Beach!!

Surfline Covers the TCA delay

The future of Trestles is not concrete yet. And for now, its defenders can find strange solace in that uncertainty. It is better news, after all, than most could have foreseen a year ago.
In a recent committee meeting, the Transportation Corridor Agency (TCA) announced an unexpected change in plans -- the targeted start date for the 241-Toll Road extension has been postponed from 2008 to 2010, at the earliest. William Woollett, the agency's CEO, explained that the decision was made in light of expected delays in obtaining permits from the US Fish & Wildlife Service and the California Coastal Commission.

More at Surfline

If TCA designed miniature golf courses

A Whale of a Day for Trestles

http://www.surfrider.org/blogger/2007/03/whale-of-day-for-trestles.asp

TCA gets a taste of Chinese Democracy

Big news came down yesterday…

THE TCA ANNOUNCED THAT IT IS POSTPONING THEIR TARGETED START DATE FOR THE 241 TOLL ROAD FROM 2008 TO AT LEAST 2010 !!!

The surprise announcement was made at the end of the TCA’s Operation and Budget Committee meeting by the TCA’s CEO himself, William Woollett.

Woollett, along with the TCA’s Deputy Director of Environment and Planning, Macie Cleary Milan cited several reasons for the postponement – notably the three outstanding lawsuits that have been filed by the California Attorney General’s Office, Native American Heritage Foundation, and of course the Surfrider Foundation and it’s coalition partners! Cleary Milan also noted that the agency is expecting delays in receiving permits from both the US Fish & Wildlife Service and the California Coastal Commission.

I need not tell you that this is OUTSTANDING NEWS for the SAVE TRESTLES campaign! The longer this campaign drags out, the closer we get to the TCA’s non-compete agreement with Cal Trans running out!!

Now the big question is: Which is more likely…the TCA winning approval for the 241 Toll Road anytime before 2020 or Guns n’ Roses actually deciding to release Chinese Democracy?

“Toll roads are essential – blah, blah, blah!” - William Woollett


VS.

“This album will blow away ‘Appetite For Destruction’ – blah, blah, blah!” – Axl Rose

Be sure stay tuned to www.savetrestles.org to find out more about this and other breaking news (including possible legislation being introduced prohibiting roads through California State Parks!!)

Until next time,

Your pals at the Surfrider Foundation

PS – Big shout out to our friends at Dragon Alliance (yeah Checky!) and Ocean Minded (yeah Gary!) for supporting Surfrider Foundation’s SAVE TRESTLES campaign!! Thanks to them, we have brand new Save Trestles yard signs available. Stop by the office and pick one up!!

Save Trestles for the Whales

Attention All Surfrider Activists and Suporters!

The South OC Surfrider Chapter will be participating in the March 3,
2007 Festival of Whales Parade in Dana Point. We need YOU! to come out and join our parade group so we have a huge showing of all ages!

Special guest Pro surfer Pat O'Connell will be leading our group!

Attendees need to be at the Strands Beach Parking Lot at the corner of Selva Road and PCH in Dana Point by 8am sharp. Please register prior with Rick Erkeneff, rickerk@cox.net .

"Save Trestles for the Whales" special edition tees will be distributed free of charge to the first 250 people prior to the parade which is scheduled to start promptly at 9am.

Join our group after the parade at Henessey's Dana Point at La Plaza Park, one block north of Street of the Golden Lantern. Food and beverages
are ala carte.

*City shuttle service will be available at the disband area to transport participants back to the staging area at the end of the parade if you are not joining our Surfrider group at Henessey's.

The Toll Road will be Good for the Park??

At least according to local Assemblywoman Mimi Walters. Here's her quote from a recent news story: "Gina Zari, spokeswoman for Assemblywoman Mimi Walters, R-Laguna Niguel, said the representative for coastal areas of southern Orange County and northern San Diego County backs the toll road and believes it actually will help the park, by providing money for improvements."

In reality construction of the 241 Toll Road Extension will destroy hundreds of acres of the park and close the scenic San Mateo Campground.

I suggest you write her an email and let her know how much you think the San Onofre State Beach and Trestles will benefit from a 6 lane toll highway. Here's her online comment Form

Toll Road Radio Debate

Back in February '06 our own Matt McClain and NRDC Attorney James Birkelund took on reps from the TCA live on the local radio show Air Talk

Click Here to listen to the RealAudio recording of the show.

Groms love Trestles

Grant Cota (Left)
Age 7
Q: Why do you love the oceans, waves and beaches?
A: I like Surfing

Kayl Cota (Right)
Age 9
Q: Why do you love the oceans, waves and beaches?
A: I get to surf

These two brothers raised $110.00 for the Save Trestles Campaign by collecting cans and bottles from Jan. '07 to mid Feb. '07. They came by the Surfrider Foundation National office on Feb. 22 to drop off their donation.

Rock on!!!

Surfrider's Matt McClain talks about the Toll Road on Transworld Surf

Trestles support from DC

Musician Brett Dennan recently put on a show in DC where the Capitol Chapter was able to talk about Surfrider and raise awareness about the Save Trestles Campaign.

Thanks to Brett, the band and the chapter..

Boost to Save Trestles

Local film makers Michael Spencer Taylor and Joe Cheshire are soon to release "Boost to Save Trestles" a documentary on the break and threats from the toll road. Check out his site to see the trailer..

Trestles Artwork on Fins

More Cool Art supporting Trestles


And Pictures from the event

Oceanside Supports the TollRoad?? I think not...

February 2, San Diego North County Times

Oceanside's Feller wrong to seek toll-road reversal

By: FRED M. ROBERTS JR. - Commentary

In "Feller seeks city support for toll road" (North County Times, Jan. 27), Oceanside Councilman Jack Feller would like the city of Oceanside to reconsider its vote to oppose the proposed path of the Orange County Southern Foothill Toll Road. This proposed toll road would run through the Donna O'Neill Land Conservancy and San Onofre State Park to link up with Interstate 5.

The city was right to oppose this toll road path and should let the vote stand. While the state park is outside of the city's jurisdiction, it is available to all the people of Oceanside as a marvelous recreation opportunity for swimming, surfing, hiking and camping.

Each of us has some responsibility if we want to keep our state parks intact. The state did not set aside this land for future road alignments; it was designated for recreation and conservation. The Orange County Transportation Corridor Agency (TCA) was arrogant to assume that these open lands were set aside for their road. What we would lose is irreplaceable, and there is some debate whether the toll road would actually produce the traffic relief TCA claims, and for how long, given the area's plan for 14,000 new homes.

Recreation sites are becoming fewer and more crowded as California's population grows. Reducing opportunities in neighboring areas will only hurt the city's citizens. TCA had alignment alternatives that could have been adopted. TCA has used agreements with the county to block competition or other roads that would have alleviated freeway congestion.

The state park is the wrong place for the toll road. State parks are not road easements. The TCA spokesperson tells us the road would be 400 feet from the campsites. That certainly would detract from the nature experience and eliminate any sense of getting away from it all.

TCA also points out few people use the backcountry the road would ruin. However, the backcountry is the center piece of park conservation, with nearly a dozen endangered species. The toll road would have far-reaching implications on conservation elsewhere.

In the case of Oceanside, we have significant populations of thread-leaved brodiaea, a state and federally listed plant. Part of current statewide conservation strategy assumes the populations in San Onofre State Park are protected. If they are not, the conservation status of this species would have to be re-examined in Oceanside. Likely more would have to be done to protect Oceanside's plants, which would mean less flexibility in planning and development.

This argument would apply in many places where rare plants and animals rely, at least in part, on occurrences already "protected" in San Onofre State Park. We can't both use them as shiny examples of conservation and drive over them. I hope Councilman Feller visits the park and reconsiders his position. Maybe then he would see that the TCA is trying to rob present and future Californians of a valuable piece of the state's natural heritage.

Oceanside resident Fred Roberts is the rare plant coordinator for the San Diego chapter of the California Native Plant Society.

Cool Video as High School Project

Trestles and San Mateo Creek from the Air

Thanks to Neonsurfer

San Diego Chapter talks about Trestles and the Toll Road

This is a recording from the San Diego Chapter's meeting in July 2006. Here, Todd Cardiff of the Coast Law Group gives background on the toll road, the TCA and why you should lend a hand to save Trestles.



And here Brian "Woody" Woodward describes in detail the environmental affects of the toll road at Trestles.



-Mark

Sediment Flow

Kiwi singer/songwriter and Surfrider Foundation member Daniel Gannaway has written a song to support Trestles.

"Daniel has offered the song free for download via his Myspace page and his comment at his website is to 'Share it with your friends,sing along, and figure out how you too can help preserve one of the
remaining jewels of the Southern California Coast...'"

Here are the lyrics:

Sediment Flow [Save Trestles]
Music & Lyrics by Daniel Gannaway/APRA (c) 2006

We all love to go left
We love to go right
I've dreamt of surfing Lower Trestles
Since I saw Kelly Slater in black and white

TCA don't build your toll road
You're gonna change the sediment flow

Some say why go there 'cause it's so
crowded crowded crowded crowded
& getting there ain't easy 'cause you cant
drive up drive up drive up drive up
Well if I thought like that
I'd never leave my drive thru doorstep
But my dream of Trestles is world class
and I'm happy to walk through nature for it

TCA don't build your toll road
You're gonna change the sediment flow
Sediment flow
Sediment flow
Sediment flow
Sediment flow

We all love to go left
We love to go right
We got to Save Trestles
Keep nature in sight

TCA don't build your toll road
You're gonna change the sediment flow
Sediment flow
Sediment flow
Sediment flow
Sediment flow
Sediment

Artistic Web Project

Jaime Reveles, a local musician and artist, created this really cool free-form multi-media website to support Trestles and inform others of the beauty to be found there. Check it out and start clicking away, there's many pages to explore and almost everything is clickable.

Save Trestles by CJ Jones and Margaret Lee

Video created by Trestles supporters in the Malibu area.

Welcome to the Surfrider Foundation Save Trestles Blog

We're gonna try to keep you up to date and informed on what's happening with the Save Trestles Campaign. We expect lots to happen in the coming year where you'll have the opportunity to voice your opinion on the Toll Road with various government agencies including the CA Coastal Commission, the Regional Water Quality Control Board and the Federal Highways Admin. We'll be looking to get large turnouts at public hearings, so you'll get plenty of notice in case you want to take the day off to attend. Expect to see legislation in Sacramento where we'll ask you to contact your state representative to get them to vote to protect Trestles and San Onofre.

I'll also be posting videos and artwork created by our supporters. To get started, check out this cool piece below.




If you've created something about Trestles, just send it my way and we'll get it up here.

-Mark