The legendary surf spot at Trestles beach in San Onofre State Park should be designated a historic location and saved. The 3-mile stretch of coastline near Camp Pendleton deserves a place on the National Register of Historic Places, according to Surfrider Foundation. The San Clemente-based clean-water non-profit group proposes to have Trestles declared a California Historical Landmark and keep it off-limits to developers and those who would seek to put a toll road right through it.

In a letter sent to Surfrider members, the non-profit is looking for supporters to sign a petition to save Trestles once and for all. "San Onofre and Trestles have been synonymous with California surfing since the 1930s. The area is world-renowned for its consistent, near perfect waves. Trestles provides some of the best year-round surfing waves in California, an area with the greatest concentration of surfers in the world. We now have the opportunity to have it recognized for its historical contributions by being listed in the National Register of Historic Places."(http://action.surfrider.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=7082)

However, up in Orange County, the County Board of Supervisors has come out against the historical designation. "Chair John Moorlach says not only could it interfere with the Marines' training, but he says Trestles is no more important to surf history than other places like Huntington Beach," said a local ABC News station story. Additionally, Moorlach, in a post on his blog site said, "his "cynical side" informs him the Surfrider proposal is not really aimed at glorifying the famous surf breaks and nearby lovely terrain but a "cute move" to further thwart the 241 toll road extension the board chairman and much of Orange County's establishment wants to carve into the Trestles area and the San Diego County border area."

Camp Pendleton is officially the owner of the Trestles beach area and the Navy leases it to the state. Camp Pendleton has remained above the fracas so far and the Marine brass is said to be mulling over the pros and cons of having the area placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The California Historical Resources Commission will hear the merits of the case in a meeting scheduled for Feb. 8, 2013 in Sacramento.

photo credit: Jeff Divine Surf Photography