COMMISSION

In addition to periodic field monitoring,
State Parks recognizes the relevance of the
landmark 2014 Sustainable Groundwater
Management Act (SGMA) to water supply
issues at Arroyo Grande Creek. While this
watershed is partially within the greater Santa
Maria Valley groundwater basin, officially an
“adjudicated” watershed within only limited
jurisdiction of the requirements of SGMA,
Oceano Dunes District and OHMVR Division
staff have become involved as stakeholders
as the process of groundwater sustainability
planning in this area moves forward.
Fish survey
Ocotillo Wells SVRA
Restoration work is completed by the Ocotillo Wells resource crew, which includes three
environmental scientists and many seasonal staff.
Trail proliferation leads to the destruction of soils and vegetative cover. By removing
volunteer trails, native habitat is able to reestablish. Only trails in sensitive habitats are
closed and disguised. Restoration efforts focus on protecting the habitat with vertical
mulching. Vertical mulching is disguising the volunteer trail by clearing the unwanted vehicle
tracks and strategically placing vegetation in its place.
The resource crew use rakes, brooms, and shovels to scrub the trail clean. After vehicle
tracks have been removed, vertical mulch (dead vegetative material planted upright like
dormant plants) and plants from the SVRA’s native vegetation nursery are scattered
throughout the site to break the line-of-sight from approved trails. This technique will
encourage the desert in returning to its undisturbed state.
Unwanted vehicle tracks on a volunteer trail
Vertical mulch used to disguise volunteer trail
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California State Parks, Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission