Dunes Off-Roading Permit Excuses Harm to Rare Species
Published Date: 11/24/2025
Notice
Summary
The California Department of Parks and Recreation wants permission to continue activities at Oceano Dunes and Pismo State Beach that might accidentally affect some endangered species. They’ve shared a plan and environmental report for public review and are asking for comments by January 23, 2026. This process helps protect wildlife while allowing fun and lawful use of these popular outdoor spots.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Permit would allow continued park activities
The California Department of Parks and Recreation applied for an incidental take permit (ITP) that would authorize take of certain listed animals incidental to lawful activities on 5,005 acres at Pismo State Beach and Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area in San Luis Obispo County, California. If issued, the ITP would allow CDPR to continue the covered public use, recreation management, and park and beach management activities described in the draft HCP.
HCP requires habitat and user-management measures
The draft habitat conservation plan includes measures CDPR will implement to avoid and minimize impacts, such as managing habitat to benefit covered species, minimizing human alteration or disturbance of native habitats, reducing conflicts between covered species and park users, restoring native habitats, and monitoring results. These management measures could change how CDPR operates the parks and how visitors are allowed to use certain areas.
Possible reduction of southern protected area
One draft EA alternative would allow the ITP while reducing the existing protected area boundary (the "southern exclosure") for the California least tern and western snowy plover if those species meet biological targets. That alternative could change which areas of the park are open to public use depending on species recovery metrics.
Alternative could impose year-round exclosures
The draft EA also considers an alternative in which issuance of an ITP would be conditioned on year-round exclosures, which would keep some areas closed to public use throughout the year. That alternative would change access to parts of Pismo State Beach and Oceano Dunes.
Public can review and comment by Jan 23, 2026
The draft HCP and draft environmental assessment are available for public review at Docket No. FWS-R8-ES-2025-0143 on https://www.regulations.gov, and the Service requests written comments by January 23, 2026. Comments and submitted materials will be made publicly available through that docket.
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