How long has the oil production saga in the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes lasted?

The oil production saga in the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes has lasted for nearly 80 years, beginning in 1947 and continuing until 1994.

What kind of environmental damage did the oil production cause in the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes?

The oil production caused extensive environmental damage, including contaminating the groundwater and a nearby beach with up to 10 million gallons of kerosene-like oil.

Home / Environment / Chevron Donates 2,700 Acres of Restored California Dunes to Wildlife Service

Chevron Donates 2,700 Acres of Restored California Dunes to Wildlife Service

Q: What is Chevron donating to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service?

Chevron is donating 2,700 acres of the restored Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes in California to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

14 Nov

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Summary

Chevron to donate 2,700 acres of restored Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Oil production in the area began in 1947 and continued until 1994, causing extensive environmental damage
30-year cleanup process included excavating contaminated soil, building a landfill, and restoring the habitat

Chevron Donates 2,700 Acres of Restored California Dunes to Wildlife Service

As of November 2025, Chevron is set to donate 2,700 acres of the restored Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes in California to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This marks the culmination of a nearly 80-year saga that began with oil production in the area starting in 1947 and continuing until 1994.

The oil operations, initially conducted by Union Oil Co. (Unocal), had a devastating impact on the environment. During thinning, Unocal pumped up to 10 million gallons of kerosene-like oil into the wells, eventually contaminating the groundwater and a nearby beach. By 1994, the U.S. Coast Guard had had enough and ordered Unocal to undergo a massive cleanup.