Refugio State Beach (
Chumash: Qasil, "Beautiful"[2]) is a protected state
beach park in
California, United States, approximately 20 miles (32 km) west of
Santa Barbara.[3] One of three state parks along the
Gaviota Coast, it is 2.5 miles (4.0 km) west of
El Capitán State Beach. During the summer months, the Junior Life Guard program resides at the beach during the day.
The
Refugio oil spill occurred just north of the park in 2015 when a pipeline carrying
crude oil ruptured. The spill went into a culvert that ran under
US 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 busy
Memorial Day weekend. The pipeline which caused the disaster is no longer in service.[4]
Refugio State Beach (
Chumash: Qasil, "Beautiful"[2]) is a protected state
beach park in
California, United States, approximately 20 miles (32 km) west of
Santa Barbara.[3] One of three state parks along the
Gaviota Coast, it is 2.5 miles (4.0 km) west of
El Capitán State Beach. During the summer months, the Junior Life Guard program resides at the beach during the day.
The
Refugio oil spill occurred just north of the park in 2015 when a pipeline carrying
crude oil ruptured. The spill went into a culvert that ran under
US 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 busy
Memorial Day weekend. The pipeline which caused the disaster is no longer in service.[4]