(Please see above map for details.)
CLC was recently notified that it will receive a $1,500,000 State grant to be used on Phase 2 of the Toro Coast Preserve Project. The goal of the 3-phase Project, begun in 2016, is to preserve approximately 1,400 acres of the Chevron property between Cayucos and Morro Bay. The conserved land will be used for hiking and other recreation, with low-cost camping and access to the beach. CLC and its conservation partner, the Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County are working cooperatively with Chevron to make this landmark conservation goal a reality.
Phase 1 (see accompanying map) includes the beach between Cayucos and Morro Bay (dog beach) and the inland parcels between Toro Creek and the edge of Cayucos. Phase 1 is currently about 3/4 completed. The parcels, in light green at the bottom of the map, are now either part of the SLO County Parks system or a Morro Bay City Park, – ensuring future public access to “dog beach”. The remaining triangular parcels, in purple, which are currently owned by the Cayucos Sanitary District (CSD), may close by the end of the year as the CSD is currently completing its planned improvements.
Phase 2 focuses on the southern-most Chevron parcels – generally running east along Alva Paul Creek from Del Mar Park in north Morro Bay. The $1.5M State grant will be used to purchase the broad valley which runs west to east from Del Mar Park. The valley will become a SLO County Park and will include a trail system. This Phase is anticipated to close by the end of 2022 as well.
Phase 3, the final Phase of this multi-year effort will geographically connect Phases 1 & 2. It will also become a part of the County Park system and will provide low-cost camping facilities and public access. It will include Chevron’s former facility headquarters and the ridge running above and to the south of the headquarters. Discussions with Chevron about Phase 3 are ongoing and the completion of the conservation deal is several years in the future.
CLC is very grateful for the grant which will allow us to make great progress on the Toro Coast Preserve Project. We will continue to provide updates as the project moves forward.
Background of the Toro Coast Preserve Project
The Cayucos Land Conservancy, the Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County and the Trust for Public Land, together with the County of San Luis Obispo and the City of Morro Bay, began working in 2015 to find a conservation solution for much of the coastal sections of Chevron’s former oil facility between Cayucos and Morro Bay.
Below are the goals that have driven this conservation effort:
Photo by Rocki deLlamas.
cover photo by Susan Lyon.
