Beach camping in Monterey causing problem for native plants
With the forecast predicting above average temperatures more people will head to the beach. Law enforcement and the non-profit group ‘Return of the Natives’ will also be there with two different goals in mind, yet both benefiting the general public.
‘Return of the Natives’ main objective is to plant species that have been damaged by illegal beach camping and off road driving. While the Monterey Police do frequent sweeps of the shore looking for those breaking the law.
“Usually when the weather is nicer we will see an increase of activity on the beach,” said Monterey Police Sergeant Ethan Andrews.
According to Sergeant Ethan Andrews there’s no legal beach camping in the City of Monterey.
“To define beach camping it’s between the hours of 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM. So if you have a tent set up before ten that’s fine, if it’s after then that could be considered camping,” said Andrews.
The uptick of camping not only has police out on the beach but also the volunteers from the non-profit Return of the Natives.
“What they’re doing is healing habitats that human beings destroyed in a minute,” said Return of Natives Director Laura Lee Lienk.
The group plants around 30,000 native species all around the peninsula each year.
“One of the most probably is our dune buckwheat, that’s a particular plant for the smith dunes butterfly, which is an endangered species. It is a teeny tiny butterfly that can only live on the buckwheat,” said Return of the Natives Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator Lauren Krohmer.
The plants also help prevent erosion.
“We have to be very cautious about protecting our dunes which in truth are protecting our roadways, and in truth holding back the ocean,” said Lienk.
The Veteran’s Memorial Campground is the only place in Monterey to legally camp.
“We patrol the beach regularly, not only for things like camping violations but also it’s unlawful to have alcohol on the beach after hours, campfires, things like that,” said Sergeant Andrews.
