-June 28,2023-
The Los Osos Advisory Committee (LOCAC) has unanimously backed historical use by equestrians to the east-west trail system at the edge of the Morro Bay Dunes Ecological Preserve for horse riding. The preserve is just south of Highland in Los Osos near Broderson Ave which becomes a walking trail as it climbs into the preserve.
LOCAC members were advised of the issue last week with a power point presentation by former Cayucos science teacher Lisa Shinn representing the local equestrian community and stables. Riders use the trial system to connect to Montana de Oro State Park.
Montana de Oro has been long used by equestrians with the park offering some 61 miles of horse trails and a permanent Horse Camp that draws visitors from all over the west looking to recreate along the seashore. Shinn notes the visitors have a beneficial impact on the local economy.In the state park riders share the use of trails with hikers and bike riders.
The ecological preserve, founded in 1983, is overseen by the state Fish and Wildlife Dept(CDFW). On the agency’s website they say equestrians are not allowed within the preserve.Indeed in the past year the agency posted a “Horses Prohibited ” sign at one entrance to the trail system.The whole trail system passes through multiple jurisdictions from private lands, BLM managed land, the Fish and Wildlife Preserve and state park land.Much of the familiar foothill landscape the rises south of Los Osos is under BLM jurisdiction which has no horse use restrictions.
Shinn argues that Fish and Wildlife put up the signs while offering no public hearing or notice. The horse community hopes to continue to access the corridor connecting the eastern horse stables to Montana de Oro without being “pushed onto the streets.”
CDFW Lands Program Manager Bob Stafford explains their position.
“CDFW doesn’t allow horses on Morro Dunes Ecological Reserve because of negative impacts to habitat and wildlife species such as the federally endangered Morro shoulderband snail. The reserve is on a stabilized dune system which is especially susceptible to disturbance, particularly by horses and mountain bikes which are both prohibited. Historically, some horseback riders have created new trails on the property which also causes environmental damage. The property that CDFW manages is 250 acres and restoring its trails is the primary mitigation measure listed in the Los Osos Habitat Conservation Plan. Horses have always been prohibited on the property but dogs on leash are allowed.”
The horse riders point out they have used the connecting trail that crosses the Broderson hiking trail for the past 50 years.
The group argues that Fish and Wildlife can offer some restrictive use as they do in 10 state-run ecological preserves in California where horses are allowed.
Shinn adds that the horse community offers trail maintenance crews in MDO. They ride alongside hikers, some with dogs on leashes where allowed, and share the trails. They have a courteous relationship for the most part.Dogs are not prohibited within the ecological preserve itself but they are banned in MDO.
In the Fish & Wildlife preserve placement of no horses signs has caused confusion and “friction with hikers.”
Shinn presented a map of the trail system that runs from the polo field east of town, then east of the Baywood Heights area before reaching the 183 acre ecological preserve. When it reaches the preserves it skirts the edge behind Highland Ave homes before it exits the preserve heading west. With no lifting of the restrictions – the corridor is blocked
Shinn called for the public hearing to clear up the rules.
What appears to be an issue is the soon-to-be adopted Habitat Conservation Plan for Los Osos where community input may offer some more public discussion.
Last year the Tribune reported regarding the shoulderband snail: “A snail found only in a small area of San Luis Obispo County is on the slow but steady road to recovery after being considered close to extinction for nearly 30 years. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has reclassified the Morro shoulderband snail, which lives solely in the Morro Bay and Los Osos area, from endangered to threatened.”
John Lindt is editor of the news service Sierra2thesea.net and a member of the Los Osos Advisory Committee(LOCAC)
The Los Osos horse riding community wants to use their historical riding trail that skirts the outer edge of the preserve just south of homes along Highland.
map: Preserve is only a part of the dune land south of Los Osos next to multiple jurisdictions and private holdings.
map shows trail system horse riders hope to continue using skirting the edge of preserve