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Legal Authorizations

We already have a legislative mandate for the Coastal Trail. In 1972 the Coastal Initiative was passed. This led to the enactments of the Coastal Act of 1976. These laws created both the California Coastal Commission and the State Coastal Conservancy. In 1979 the Coastal Public Access Program was legislated, calling for "a trail route linking state parks, federal recreation areas, and other areas of .... significance located in coastal areas." One of the priorities of both the Commission and Conservancy has been to ensure public access to the shoreline.

Feasibility

The second part of our foundation is the fact that the public already owns about half of the coastline. Also, the public owns the tidelands to the mean high tide line. Some parts of the trail could conceivably traverse tideland whereas other trails exist on federal, state and local lands and would become part of the coastal trail system. They are as varied as the multi-use trail through the city of Monterey to the 50-mile King Range/Sinkyone backpacking trail.

Public Demand

The third part of the foundation is that the public will increase demand for the use of the coast. Polls have shown that Californians strongly agree that protection of the natural environment is important regarding outdoor recreation.

Comprehensive Plan

With such a strong foundation, the question is, "Why isn't the trail in place?"   Of course, it is a huge task, given the length of the coast and the multitude of interests involved.  However, the answer is that there is no comprehensive plan, and in spite of legislative and public calls for the trail, funding has not been provided for planning or implementation.  There is hope however.  ACR20 and SB908, both passed in 2001 by the State Legislature, call first for resolve towards finishing the Coastal Trail, and second, provide a mandate for preparation of a map of the trail and an estimate of the costs of its completion: The Coastal Trail Project.