The Truth About Trestles

Opponents to the completion of the 241 Toll Road have long claimed that building this 16 mile roadway would impact the waves at Trestles.  Of course, they offer no science to back up those claims, but couch their warning by saying that as long as we are unsure of the impacts, nothing should be done.

Problem is, scientific studies show that the 241 completion will not impact the waves or the water quality at Trestles.  Dave Skelly, a coastal engineer (and one of the founding members of Surfrider) studied the impact of the 241 on Trestles and concluded that the waves will continue to roll in just like they've always done, even if the 241 connects to the I-5 a half-mile away. 

Turns out, it's not the sand and sediment that make the "world-class surf break" at Trestles, it's the football sized rocks known as "cobbles" that do.  The road doesn't go anywhere near these cobbles that come down from the Cleveland National Forest.  And as for the sediment and sand?  On average, surfers rinse out more sand from  their wetsuit than the 241 prevent from reaching the coastline.  The San Mateo Creek doesn't even reach the coastline except for once every couple of years during an exceptional rain event.  In this YouTube video, Skelly explains how the waves at Trestles are formed and why the 241 is irrelevant to that process.

By the way, I love the irony that Trestles is named for the train tracks that run just a few hundred yards from the coastline.  This hasn't impacted the waves coming in, yet a road EAST of the I-5 freeway will?

Comments

Matt,
The studies that are done in these types of situations can and often are skewed towards the viewpoint of the one who is paying for the study. That being said, I believe that a majority of the arguement on effects to the waves at Trestles has centered mainly on water quality and not sediment transport.
Sediment transport has been touted as an negative impact on Trestles by opponents of the toll road but I believe that a majority of the negative impacts have been identified as water quality impacts from urban runoff produced by the toll road.

Me and you have gone head to head on this issue in the past. As you know I am opposed to the Toll road for the stated puropses and releif that will be created by this road. But what is often never said by propoonents is that the relief willbe needed by the demand created by the razing of the last remaing piece of open space in South County.

What I suggest you incorporate into your arguement is that the demand will be created by Rancho Mission Viejo and the thousands of homes that are slated to be built on that project.

That would lessen the allergic reaction I get to BS when I read the stated purposes for this road by the proponents of this road and add some validity to your arguement.

Paul Lucas

[Jubal]

Paul:

FYI, I didn't write this post, although I agree with it.

Sorry Matt,
I didnt lookat the author i assumed it was you. My bad.
Paul