Where research indicates that the public use is substantial enough to create potential prescriptive rights, the Attorney General's Office has the authority to proceed with the legal action necessary to protect those areas. For a fuller description see Some Facts About Public Prescriptive Rights . A prescriptive rights investigation includes documentary searches, on-site inspections and questionnaires and interviews. The most important source of evidence is from the public, persons familiar with the past and current uses of the property. The loss of historical access and recreational sites funnels a growing population into fewer and fewer areas and can reduce the range of uses as well.
Public participation is critical to establishing the right to continued public use.
You can help in our research by reviewing the following list of access locations currently under study by the Commission. Please click to link to the graphics and questionnaires for individual sites. Including Tunitas Creek Beach and trails down the bluff or through the creek corridor from Highway 1. Between Red, White and Blue Beach and Laguna Creek Beach. Proposed development concepts are under review by Santa Cruz County.