January-February Wave Newsletter

On a Clear Day, You Can See Catalina
Editor's Introduction

by Janet Carle, WAVE Editor

I was able to visit the southern Orange Coast District parks on the Friday after Thanksgiving. An incredible view of Catalina off-shore, looking close enough to touch, greeted us from Pelican Point at Crystal Cove SP. My husband Dave, who grew up in Orange County, told me that he only remembered seeing Catalina a few times in his entire childhood. I felt privileged to be there on such a day.

Crystal Cove was a revelation. Being in DPR as long as I have, I have heard about the Cove many times over the years-about the cottages and trying to evict people, about the problems with the trailer park, about the intense development pressure in the surrounding area. But I was unprepared for the exquisite beauty of the place. How wonderful that the public can enjoy the beach now, and it is no longer off limits as it was during Dave's childhood. The cottages of the old beach colony each have their own personality. The long range plan is to renovate some of them to rent out at reasonable rates to the public.

We drove down the coast just a bit to the El Moro "backcountry" area of Crystal Cove, which is a mecca for hikers and mountain bikers. Over 2000 acres of coastal hills provide much-needed open space for the millions of residents of the area, soon to be joined by 12,000 more neighbors immediately adjacent to the park as a new, luxury sub-division goes in next-door. This is also the location of the infamous trailer park, where the effort continues to end the lease and re-claim the land for a campground and public use.

On a behind-the-scenes tour of the Doheny aquarium plumbing and filters
Brian Lane risked his fingers to show us a lobster.

Next stop was at Doheny SB , where Jim Serpa and Brian Lane gave us a behind-the-scenes tour of the wonderful tidepool exhibit and aquarium tanks. Brian risked his fingers to get the picture with the lobster. Knowing how challenging it is to keep Mono Lake brine shrimp alive in a tank (which is relatively easy) I appreciated what goes into keeping such fascinating exhibit creatures healthy and happy. It was great to see what an active interpretive program is going on throughout the District, contrary to what a lot of our perceptions are from beach "war stories" heard over the years.

Scenic bluffs at San Onofre SB abruptly end at looming nuclear power plants

Then it was on to San Onofre SB, where Dave worked as a Park Aide in 1974. I finally got to see the towering bluffs and hidden canyons (see Dick Troy's article, page 9). As we turned away from looming nuclear power plants and walked back in the rain to the south, I could almost imagine that I was up on the Lost Coast in northern California, miles away from anyone. No noise but the waves, no people but a few surfers far out in the swells, just the bluffs and the sea. To me, that's what parks are all about-protecting places and experiences like these.

Thanks to all the people that guided us during our visit and answered our questions: Park Aides Mark Hill and Terry Hupfer, Security Guard Patricia Ryan, Lifeguard Jon Hernandez, Supervising Rangers Mike Eaton and Jim Serpa, Ranger Brian Kummer, and Senior Park Aide/Aquarium Specialist Brian Lane.