Marin Residents Rally to Keep Muir Beach Dog Friendly

MARIN RESIDENTS RALLY TO
KEEP MUIR BEACH DOG FRIENDLY
New Group Launches Website and Plans Response to GGNRA Proposal to Prohibit Dogs at Muir Beach

Muir Beach -- In response to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area’s (GGNRA) recently released Dog Management Plan, which shows their “preferred alternative” of prohibiting all dogs from the historically-dog friendly Muir Beach and nearby Coastal Trail, Marin residents are banning together to offer solutions that would help maintain the original multi-use recreational mandate of the GGNRA and keep the historic character of Muir Beach intact. The group Keep Muir Beach Dog Friendly (KMBDF) has launched a new website KeepMuirBeachDogFriendly.com, where concerned beach goers can go to find out information and engage in a community response.

“We hope everyone who enjoys Muir Beach will take the time to comment on the proposed plan and, hopefully, change the direction of the plan. We believe that, with proper enforcement of existing laws, public education and better signage at Muir Beach, dog lovers and non-dog lovers can coexist on one of Marin County’s most beautiful beaches,” said Muir Beach resident Joanie Wynn.

“We are certain that the GGNRA will view the collaborative and positive suggestions being submitted by concerned Muir Beach and other Marin County residents as a basis to reassess and refocus their current stated preference of prohibiting all dogs at Muir Beach to that of maintaining the valued historic character of Muir Beach with responsible off leash rights properly balanced with the ecological and other considerations which we all support and cherish,” said Levon Sagatelyan a member of the Negotiated Rulemaking Advisory Committee for Dog Management at GGNRA appointed in 2006 by Marin County Supervisor Steve Kinsey to represent the Muir Beach community on this initial advisory group to the GGNRA.

On January 14, 2011 the National Park Service released the Draft Plan/Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Plan/DEIS) for Dog Management in the GGNRA and opened a 90-day public comment period, which ends on April 14, 2011. The DEIS evaluates the impacts of six alternatives for dog management in 21 areas of GGNRA. Their preferred plan for Muir Beach is to restrict dogs entirely from the beach except for on-leash in the parking lot. Keep Muir Beach Dog Friendly encourages concerned beach goers to review the plan and comment through the proper channels before April 14.

BACKGROUND

Muir Beach was established in the 1920’s as a residential community, 50 years before the stewardship of the National Park Service. Marinites, Bay Area residents and people from all over the world have been enjoying this land for recreation with their families and pets for almost a century. Historically, Muir Beach has always been a dog-friendly beach and a beloved destination for dog lovers throughout the Bay Area.

Congress created the GGNRA in 1972 to: "to provide public access along the waterfront and to expand the maximum extent possible the outdoor recreation opportunities available to the region." The proposed dog ban in Muir Beach appears to be in direct opposition to that mandate.

The GGNRA cites the recent restoration of nearby Redwood Creek as the reason to leash dogs at Muir Beach. Keep Muir Beach Dog Friendly recognizes and supports the protection of Muir Beach’s newly restored Redwood Creek and lagoon areas with its sensitive habitat and wildlife. In fact, many of our original members supported the restoration through volunteering and contributions. Enforcing leash laws at Muir Beach and other beaches in the GGNRA will cost more than $1 million. KMBDF proposes instead stepping up educational efforts and increasing signage and boundary markings for all visitors.

The GGNRA’s “preferred plan” for Muir Beach states, "off-leash dog walking can occur at a small beach area on county property adjacent to the NPS beach." The area they refer to is called "Little Beach" and it is not accessible without crossing the main beach or driving along narrow neighborhood private roads. Most of the time, the rocks are impassible because of surf and tides. The "social trail" from Pacific Way to the north end of Big Beach is a steep, hazardous, rocky cliff, with no handrails. There is no public parking, and extra and illegally parked cars would create a hazard for the surrounding community. For those who would arrive on foot via the road, there are no amenities or services for Little Beach: no trash cans, no toilets. Sometimes, Little Beach has no beach at all during the winter or extreme high tides. Squeezing people over to that beach for use with their dogs is not a reasonable alternative. Formally stating and implementing such a plan should have required appropriate impact studies as well as input from the surrounding community.

And for those who desire a "dog-free" experience on local beaches and trails, that option is already available with the larger public beach at Stinson and many of the surrounding GGNRA trails already dog free.

For more information on the proposed dog ban, contact information for public comment, dates and times of the GGNRA’s public meetings and more, please visit KeepMuirBeachDogFriendly.com.