Los Osos Oaks State Natural Reserve
Los Osos Oaks State Natural Reserve | |
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![]() Coyotebrush (Baccharis pilularis) in Los Osos Oaks State Natural Reserve. | |
Location | San Luis Obispo County, California, USA |
Nearest city | Los Osos, California |
Coordinates | 35°18′23″N 120°48′49″W / 35.30639°N 120.81361°W |
Area | 85 acres (34 ha) |
Established | 1972 |
Governing body | California Department of Parks and Recreation |
Los Osos Oaks State Natural Reserve is a California State Park in western San Luis Obispo County, in the Central Coast of California region. It preserves centuries-old coast live oaks (Quercus agrifolia) growing atop relict sand dunes.[1] It is located in the Los Osos Valley between San Luis Obispo and Baywood Park-Los Osos, just outside the town of Los Osos. The 85-acre (34 ha) park was established in 1972.[2]
Area history
There are several prehistoric sites in the proximate vicinity of the Los Osos Oaks State Natural Reserve, in addition to archaeological recovery within the reserve itself. A significant-sized Chumash site, Los Osos Back Bay, has been partially excavated on a stabilized sand dune slightly to the north of the reserve dating to at least as early as 1200 CE.[3]
Proposed for closure
The reserve was one of several state parks threatened with closure in 2008. After the 2009 California state special elections, in which voters turned down a package of propositions dealing with California budget crisis, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger proposed the temporary closure (for at least 2 years) of 220 parks.[4] The closures were ultimately avoided by cutting hours and maintenance system-wide.[5]
See also
- California oak woodland
- Elfin Forest Natural Area — in Baywood-Los Osos.
- List of California state parks
- Protected areas of San Luis Obispo County, California
References
- ^ "Los Osos Oaks SNR". California State Parks. Retrieved 2012-06-02.
- ^ "California State Park System Statistical Report: Fiscal Year 2009/10" (PDF). California State Parks: 30. Retrieved 2012-06-02.
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(help) - ^ Hogan, C. Michael (2008-02-08). "Los Osos Back Bay". Megalithic Portal.
- ^ Moore, Michael (2009-05-29). "Henry Coe on governor's list of parks to close". The Gilroy Dispatch. Gilroy, Calif. Retrieved 2012-03-28.
- ^ McGreevy, Patrick; Louis Sahagun (2009-09-26). "State parks to stay open, but with cuts in hours, staffing". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, Calif. Retrieved 2011-12-30.
External links
- California State Parks: official Los Osos Oaks State Natural Reserve website
- Hikespeak Blog: Los Osos Oaks State Natural Reserve — images, info, map.
Media related to Los Osos Oaks State Natural Reserve at Wikimedia Commons