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Save the Trestles


Some of the rarest habitat in the world exists in South Orange County and North San Diego County. This open space is headwaters for one of Southern California’s cleanest remaining watersheds and harbors numerous endangered and threatened species. One of California’s greatest surfing beaches, Trestles, depends on unspoiled the San Mateo Creek. San Onofre State Beach, one of California’s most popular state parks, provides affordable camping within walking distance of Trestles beach. The communities of San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano and Dana Point enjoy the amenities and economic benefits provided by this open space, including clean beaches and clean air. The extension of the 241 Foothill South Toll Road should not be completed.
A proposed toll road and large residential and commercial development threaten to degrade the natural and human environment of South Orange County. The Foothill-South toll road would be a 16-mile extension of the controversial Orange County toll road system. “..would ruin the environment and compromise the state park and the famed Trestles surf spot.” (5) The $900 million project would cut through the middle of the 23,000 acre Rancho Mission Viejo, the bulk of the last unprotected open space in South Orange County. The road would also run through the inland portion of San Onofre State Beach, forcing its abandonment. Also, this project would “…harm habitats, threaten an endangered mouse and even worsen global warming.” (2) The financially risky, bond-funded road depends on controversial non-competition agreements with the state of California that impede improvement of state highways and freeways in the area. The Rancho Mission Viejo company has proposed the construction of 14,000 houses and more than 5 million square feet of office and retail space on its 23,000 acres—the same land threatened by the Foothill-South toll road. “..the Coastal Commission’s finding that the toll road...