| Refugio State Beach | |
|---|---|
Refugio State Beach in January 2013 | |
| Location | Santa Barbara, California, United States |
| Nearest city | Goleta |
| Coordinates | 34°27′44″N120°4′21″W / 34.46222°N 120.07250°W /34.46222; -120.07250[1] |
| Area | 20 acres (8.1 ha) |
| Established | 1950[2] |
| Governing body | California Department of Parks and Recreation |
Refugio State Beach (Chumash:Qasil, "Beautiful"[3]) is a protected statebeach park inCalifornia, United States, approximately 20 miles (32 km) west ofSanta Barbara.[4] One of three state parks along theGaviota Coast, it is 2.5 miles (4.0 km) west ofEl Capitán State Beach.
TheRefugio oil spill occurred just north of the park in 2015 when a pipeline carryingcrude oil ruptured. The spill went into a culvert that ran underUS 101 and into the ocean. The spill spread over 7 miles (11 km) of coastline, including Refugio and El Capitán state beaches. The parks were closed during the clean-up, including during the typically busyMemorial Day weekend. The pipeline which caused the disaster is no longer in service.[5]
An update to the 1979 General Plan which included an inventory of wildlife, historic, and archeological assets and an outline of issues and concerns was started in 2024. El Capitán State Beach andGaviota State Park will be included in the recommendations for modernizing the infrastructure, adapting toclimate change impacts and providing sustainable recreational opportunities.[6]
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