HomeMy WebLinkAbout1/16/2018 Item 9, McLean
From:
To:E-mail Council Website; CityClerk
Cc:Harmon, Heidi; Pease, Andy; Gomez, Aaron; Christianson, Carlyn; Rivoire, Dan; Hill,
Robert
Subject:Jan. 16, 2018 Council mtg. item #9: Cerro San Luis
PLEASE PLACE WITH AGENDA CORRESPONDENCE ITEM 9. Thank you.
January 15, 2018
To: San Luis Obispo Mayor and City Council:
Cerro San Luis is one of the most spectacular and precious natural features of San Luis Obispo. As
we are growing the pressures on the Cerro San Luis Natural Reserve are increasing and the wildlife
and habitat are comparable to those on a small island with no other place to move on to adjacent to
their habitat. Those of us who live close to the mountain see less wildlife as the years pass. Cerro
San Luis is already being loved to death.
Where there used to be one long trail winding to the top of Cerro San Luis with narrow cattle trails
here and there the City has allowed 36 NAMED trails to be established on Cerro San Luis. The result
during last year's heavy rains was a very muddy seasonal creek (which since 1974 has run with clear
water) the muddy water dumps into Old Garden Creek (between Broad and Chorro) where it impacts
the Steelhead; this environmental impact was not evaluated in the EIR. Cerro San Luis is suffering
this erosion due to overuse and there are lights visible up there every night.
The present hours for mountain biking and hiking on Cerro San Luis are more than generous. As you
know the primary purpose of the Natural Reserve is clearly stated in our General Plan as Wildlife and
wildlife habitat protection..Please consider Species Equity in your deliberations. The wildlife and their
habitat on Cerro San Luis are already being negatively impacted by human activity, including LED
lights, clanging bells (also not evaluated in the EIR) and off-trail use in the Natural Reserve. They
need uninterrupted time in their habitat for survival without human interference.
The existing hours of use of the mountain are already detrimental to the the wildlife and their
habitat. They unfortunately have no voice with which to speak on this issue. Natural Reserves are
not parks. There are large State and County Parks in our area which allow biking and hiking until 10
p.m. Poly Canyon, Los Padres National Forest have unlimited hours for use.
The Land Conservancy's property, The Pismo Preserve,will be fully open very soon and their time
frame for public access will be from dawn to dusk, year round and restricted to certain days. Their
biologists have chosen to respect and protect wildlife and their habitat in the preserve. Additional
tourists and other users can easily come to Cerro San Luis Natural Reserve to continue their
mountain biking after that time.
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In addition, please consider the new nighttime conflicts this will create with the adjacent residential
neighborhoods as many using the mountain access it through unauthorized streets and private
property surrounding the mountain. The mountain is like a sieve with people accessing at Fernandez
(the official trailhead), the end of Hill St., the top of Serrano Dr., Hermosa, La Entrada, Tassajara,
Mountain View, Luneta and countless yards. There is no way to regulate the number of users since
so many enter through Cerro San Luis' adjacent residential neighborhoods and not the Fernandez
Rd. official entrance.
Please do not degrade the wildlife of Cerro San Luis and do not weaken this longstanding Open
Space Protection.
Cheryl McLean
Anholm, San Luis Obispo
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