Los Osos Oaks State Natural Reserve

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. It is located in the Los Osos Valley between San Luis Obispo and Baywood Park-Los Osos, just outside the town of Los Osos. It is also the only place the critically endangered Splitting Yarn or Iron Maiden's Hair lichen Sulcaria isidiifera can be found. The park was established in 1972.

WWW parks.ca.gov/?page_id=597

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.

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 of 220 parks. The closures were ultimately avoided by cutting hours and maintenance system-wide.