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Elfin Forest natural area on Morro Bay turns 20 this Saturday

Flickr member Kevin Cole

San Luis Obispo County's Elfin Forest natural area will celebrate its 20 year anniversary on Saturday, September 27.

The 90 acres of preserved land sits on the southeastern shore of Morro Bay adjacent to Los Osos and Morro Bay State Park. It was created by the local group Small Wilderness Area Preservation (SWAP) and now includes a combination of County and State park lands.

SWAP's chair, Ron Rasmussen, says the natural area got its name based on oddly-shaped native trees.

"These are California coastal live oaks that grow in the Elfin Forest in certain areas and they don't grow up, they grow sideways because of the prevailing northwest wind and this gives them an odd appearance," said Rasmussen. "People who first visited the Elfin Forest [said] 'well they look like elfin oaks' and so that's where the name comes from."

Rasmussen says the biggest maintenance challenge his group faces is keeping the land free of invasive plants.

SWAP Annual Celebration:

  • Saturday, September 27 - noon to 2:30 p.m.
  • Morro Shores Mobile Home Park Community Room, 633 Ramona Ave., Los Osos, Calif.
  • Speaker: Rouvaishyana, Morro Bay Museum Manager

A light lunch, including a birthday cake for the Elfin Forest, will be provided for all those attending. There is no charge for this event, according to the organizers.

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