OCEANO DUNES SETTLEMENT S.S.

THE STATE HAS SETTLED A LAWSUIT THAT WAS FILED BY THE SIERRA CLUB. THE SUIT CLAIMED THAT CALIFORNIA PARKS DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS (AT THE OCEANO DUNES VEHICULAR PARK, IN THE CITY OCEANO) PUT 3 SPECIES AT RISK, INCLUDING THE THREATENED WESTERN SNOWY PLOVER. AS PART OF YESTERDAY?S FINAL DEAL, THE STATE WILL PROVIDE NEARLY HALF A MILLION DOLLARS TO PROTECT THE SHORE BIRD, (AND A HALF-MILE STRETCH OF BEACH AT OCEANO DUNES WILL BE CLOSED TO OFF-ROAD ENTHUSIASTS DURING THE MARCH-TO-OCTOBER SNOWY PLOVER BREEDING SEASON). THE SIERRA CLUB ALLEGED THAT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT MANAGEMENT AT OCEANO DUNES PUT THE SNOWY PLOVER, THE CALIFORNIA LEAST TERN, AND THE STEELHEAD TROUT AT RISK.

THE PACIFIC COAST POPULATION OF SNOWY PLOVERS IS CURRENTLY LISTED AS THREATENED UNDER THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT.