Los Osos Oaks State Natural Reserve facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Los Osos Oaks State Natural Reserve |
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IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape)
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Coyotebrush (Baccharis pilularis) in Los Osos Oaks State Natural Reserve.
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 Los Osos Oaks State Natural Reserve
Location in California
Los Osos Oaks State Natural Reserve
Location in the United States
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| Location | San Luis Obispo County, California, USA |
| Nearest city | Los Osos, California |
| Area | 85 acres (34 ha) |
| Established | 1972 |
| Governing body | California Department of Parks and Recreation |
The Los Osos Oaks State Natural Reserve is a special park in California. It is located in San Luis Obispo County, California, along the Central Coast. This park protects very old coast live oak trees. These trees grow on top of ancient sand dunes.
The reserve is found in the Los Osos Valley. It is between the cities of San Luis Obispo and Baywood Park-Los Osos. The town of Los Osos is very close by. This park covers about 85-acre (34 ha) of land. It was first opened in 1972.
A Look Back in Time
This area has a long history. Many very old sites have been found near the Los Osos Oaks State Natural Reserve. Some archaeological discoveries were even made inside the reserve itself.
One important site is called Los Osos Back Bay. It is on a stable sand dune just north of the reserve. This site shows that the Chumash people, a Native American group, lived here. They were here at least as far back as the year 1200 CE.
Saving Our Parks
In 2008, the Los Osos Oaks State Natural Reserve faced a challenge. It was one of many state parks that might have closed down. California was having money problems at the time.
After some special elections in 2009, the state's money issues continued. The Governor at the time, Arnold Schwarzenegger, suggested closing many parks. About 220 parks were at risk of closing for at least two years.
Luckily, the parks were saved! Instead of closing, the state found other ways to save money. They cut down on park hours and changed how maintenance was done. This helped keep the parks open for everyone to enjoy.
