January-February Wave Newsletter

A Slice of the Orange Coast ~ An Introduction

by Michael Tope, Superintendent, Orange Coast District

Visitation on the Rise
As in previous years, visitation at the Orange Coast District continues to rise. This year, 11,338,095 visitors came to the parks. This is a 1.3 million person increase over last year

The fleet

Visitor Center Nears Completion
The San Clemente State Beach Cottage has been transformed from a run-down residence to a sparkling new visitor center and special events facility. The last pieces of the puzzle (interpretive exhibits) are currently being constructed in Reno, Nevada.

Doheny Halloween Haunt
The Orange Coast District conducts special events and interpretive programs of all shapes and sizes. This particular event is very special due to its longevity and effect on the community. Started way back in 1993, the "Haunt" is a great way for the community to come in and learn about some scary (we prefer calling them misunderstood) animals. Besides the interpretive booths on snakes, nocturnal animals, dangerous marine life and other similar animals there is a spooky venue for children of all ages with a ghastly ghoul walk, face painting, ghostly games with prizes, free cookies, lemonade and the ever popular talking magic mirror. Admission to "the Haunt" is a can or box of non-perishable food that is donated to a local charity. In the last 10 years Doheny State Beach has donated several thousand cans of food for local food banks at a time when they are always in need.

CalPals

2002 Beach Play Day
Orange Coast District again hosted the 5th Annual Beach Play Day at Huntington State Beach on July 31, 2002. This event, which is available to groups from the California Police Athletic League (CAL-PAL), drew 489 participants (including staff), 373 who were PAL youths. There were 15 PAL groups represented coming from places as far away as Martinez, Monterey County, Stanislaus, Los Banos, El Centro and Blythe. The others were from Southern California locations. For many of the youth in attendance, this was their first experience at a beach and in the ocean.

Whale watching

Planning Activities
Due to the high visitation to Orange Coast District park units, the lack of local, regional and state parkland, the sensitivity of the resources we are mandated to protect and affluence of our park neighbors, the Orange Coast District Planning Section works within a public arena which is filled with passion, statewide attention, legal challenges, high media exposure and precedent setting decision making.

Crystal Cove Cottages

Crystal Cove Interpretation
To have a presence in the Historic District, two 4-hour training sessions for new volunteers instructed them on everything from dolphin birthing, to a cottage update, to state park rules and regulations. Twenty-five new recruits staff the Historic District Visitor Center on the weekends during the off-season and throughout the week as well during the summer.

El Moro Visitor Center
After many years of attempting to raise money to redesign the El Moro Visitor Center, Crystal Cove was allocated funds from the American Oil Trader Spill judgment. The redesign committee, including Interpreter II Karen Beery, then completed a document detailing themes, goals, and objectives for interpretive design. A contract was signed with a company, Exhibit Innovations, located in San Diego.

New Campfire Centers
This was a good year for campfire centers at the Orange Coast District. San Clemente got a brand new one and Doheny's well used campfire center received a much needed facelift. San Clemente State Beach Campfire Center was put up over a couple of months and was the product of the cooperation of the San Clemente maintenance staff and the Direct Construction Unit through General Services. Doheny's makeover was in the style of an early surf camp. It would make the Big Kahuna proud with palm fronds, bright paint and even a gray whale weathervane. The work was done by rangers, office assistants, camp hosts and volunteers.

Nearly 5000 coastal sage scrub seedlings were planted at Crystal Cove coastal terrace
between Pelican and Reef Point. Photo by Ken Kramer

Resource Activities
The Crystal Cove Resource Management team focused mainly on weed abatement this season due to severe drought conditions in Southern California. One of our most tenacious weeds, artichoke thistle, was treated with a new formulation using Transline herbicide, sprayed in the plant's early growth stages. More than 75% of 350 acres of artichoke infestation were successfully treated.
Black mustard was also aggressively combated with repeated mowing to prevent seed production. Arundo, castor bean, tree tobacco, fennel, and veldt grass were among other weeds that were sought out in the park. Continuous efforts are underway year-round in order to control the pernicious exotics.
Weed abatement at San Mateo brought forth a controversy with the local people as 300 non-native palm trees spreading in the Trestles wetlands were injected with herbicide and eradicated. The locals argued that since the trees had been there so long, they were part of the "natural" habitat and should be saved. Two other invasive exotic plant species were treated at Trestles: sea fig, and arundo. Native willows were planted in their place at the mouth of San Mateo Creek to protec endangered Steelhead Trout and the Tide Water Goby. Foredune plants, beach evening primrose and sand verbena, were also planted to replace the previous sea fig that dominated the area.
Nearly 5000 coastal sage scrub seedlings were planted at Crystal Cove coastal terrace between Pelican and Reef Point. Also, close to 3000 native bunchgrasses were planted in meadows adjacent to park headquarters. Salvaged local soil, from previously high quality coastal sage scrub lost to construction, was placed on restoration sites to introduce healthy soil microbiota. At San Clemente State Park, nearly 1000 plants were planted to stabilize eroding bluffs.
The Resource Management team was also involved with survey of park trails at Crystal Cove, focusing on illegal mountain bike trails that accelerate erosion and fragment sensitive habitat. Interpretive and regulatory signs, as well as fencing, were placed at frequented trailheads.
The 2001-02 season was a challenging one in terms of dry climatic conditions; a challenge which we turned to our advantage by adjusting our restoration goals to conform to environmental limitations. Overall, we controlled approximately 80% of exotic seed production, and managed to put 9000 plants in the ground.

Training

Bolsa Chica Update
The Bolsa Chica project was funded at approximately 12.5 million dollars using three funding sources deferred maintenance monies, bond monies and American Trader oil spill mitigation monies. This project spans approximately three miles of the beach and includes 14 restrooms, four concession stands and picnic areas, two kiosks, a maintenance shop and warehouse. The largest structure by far is the combined sector headquarters and visitor center. All visitor use areas focus on providing shelter from both the sun and wind while still maintaining views of the beach and wetlands
In mid- August, potable water and sewer lift stations were restored throughout the park. This was a significant milestone in the project as it allowed us to take possession of restrooms, cold showers, and the dump station. Having these critical services in place, the campground was opened to reservations. Visitors, as well as employees, were no longer required to use chemical toilets.
In an effort to provide the best possible public service, restrooms were the first structures completed. Although this project faced many obstacles and took much longer than expected, the final results look great. The design is anything but "cookie cutter" type buildings, with diverse architecture and bold tile work color schemes and concrete treatments.