COMMISSION

The park’s unique riding substrate is constantly moving and changing. The natural dune
field is historically an open sand sheet with pockets of vegetation. Vegetation in the dunes
provides habitat as well as a means to secure the
sand sheets and slow wind-driven sand migration.
Historic photography (taken prior to vehicular
disturbance to dunes) documents the area as
being primarily open sand sheets with scattered
vegetation islands providing for habitat and cover
for many endemic dune species.
The riding areas are located on large moving sand
sheets that shift and migrate, driven by prevailing
easterly winds coming from the ocean. Staff is currently investigating the relationship
between moving sands and downwind movement of dust containing Particulate Matter of
10 micron or less in size (PM10). Ongoing monitoring will help determine BMPs to reduce
PM10 emanating from the dune system.
Habitats within the park include coastal foredune, dune scrub, bare sand sheets, dune slack
wetlands, coastal estuary, riparian, and freshwater lakes. The SVRA provides habitat for
numerous special-status plant and animal species, including valuable nesting habitat for
state and federally listed endangered California least terns and federally threatened western
snowy plover. Oceano Dunes SVRA provides critical habitat for birds traveling along the
Pacific Coast Flyway to rest and feed.
Oso Flaco Lake and the associated habitats
are among the park’s most important ecological
features. The lake is one of the few remaining
freshwater dune lakes in Central and Southern
California, providing important waterfowl habitat
on the Pacific Flyway, and supporting a thriving
avian community. The lake provides critical primary
feeding habitat for the California least tern. The
Oso Flaco Lake
lake is also home to Gambell’s watercress and the
marsh sandwort, two endangered plant species
that are so restricted they occur naturally in just two locations in the world. Numerous other
areas provide regionally important habitat, including the dune system south of Oso Flaco
Lake and the vegetated islands located within the motorized recreation and camping area.
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California State Parks, Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission