Big Sur Information

Header Photo by bigsurkate

IMPORTANT, READ THIS POST FIRST FOR INFORMATION ABOUT VISITING BIG SUR!!

For the most thorough and complete guide to Big Sur on the internet see:

Big Sur Visitor’s Guide

TAKE THE BIG SUR PLEDGE!

From http://Bigsurpledge.org

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Interactive Highway Map with Mile Markers and slide names is to the right, under “Pages” first one *Big Sur Interactive Maps... if the following link doesn’t work. *Big Sur Interactive Slide Maps will answer any questions you may have about where something is in relation to something else.

MY DIRECT EMAIL IS: kwnovoa@mac.com

(Size for any header photos you may wish to submit it is 760×151 pixels.)

Overnight Closure of Highway One, 12/19

HIGHWAY 1 FULL OVERNIGHT CLOSURE NORTH OF RAGGED POINT NEXT WEEK

MONTEREY COUNTY – A full closure of Highway 1 in both directions approximately two miles north (typo, it is at Polar Star which is SOUTH) of Ragged Point in southern Monterey County will take place onThursday, Dec. 19 during the overnight hours from 9 pm until 5 am, weather permitting. 

This closure will extend from the traffic signals which maintain 24/7 traffic control north and south of the project area between the San Carpoforo Creek Bridge and Ragged Point. 

Local resident’s will be able to proceed through the closed area when heavy equipment is not on the highway.  Delays are anticipated not to exceed one hour.Electronic message boards will be posted to alert the public.

This full highway closure is necessary so that Caltrans can install pre-cast beams as part of a project to construct a viaduct and retaining wall along this portion of Highway 1. 

This $4.1 million project is Souza Engineering of San Luis Obispo, CA.  It’s scheduled to be complete by Spring of 2020.

December’s Full Moon

Traditionally called the “Cold Moon” or “Long Nights Moon” by Native Americans, December’s full moon is named appropriately, as it foreshadows the coldest and longest nights of the year.

Ancient European pagans called it the “Moon Before Yule,” in honor of the Yuletide festival celebrating the return of the sun heralded by the year’s longest night on December 21, Winter Solstice.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac says the timing of this year’s Cold Moon is a  good omen.

According to NASA, it will reach its peak fullness at 12:12 a.m. on the 12th day of the 12th month.

(Thanks to Lois DeFord and to see the rest of this go to: http://Returntothenow.net)

Coastal Commission 5-year Plan, Public Comment


California Coastal CommissionPublic Review Draft Strategic Plan PUBLIC COMMENT OPPORTUNITY
The Commission has released the 2020 – 2025 Public Review Draft Strategic Plan and is now seeking public input on the draft plan through February 14, 2020.
The Commission has released the Public Review Draft of the 2020-2025 California Coastal Commission Strategic Plan. The Draft Strategic Plan provides a framework of goals, objectives, and actions to set priorities and guide the agency’s performance for the next five years. It can be viewed at: https://www.coastal.ca.gov/strategicplan/spindex-2.htmlThe Draft Strategic Plan identifies 189 priority action items intended to be undertaken in the next five years, organized under 9 separate goals related to: Internal Agency Capacity and Effectiveness; Public Access; Coastal Resources; Climate Change and Sea Level Rise; Environmental Justice, Diversity, and Tribal Relations; Coastal Planning and Permitting; Enforcement; Public Presence and Partnerships; and Information Management and E-Government.The public is invited to provide comments on the Draft Strategic Plan in writing or verbally at the Commission’s December 2019 or February 2020 meetings. Written comments must be received by February 14, 2020.
Comments can be mailed to:
California Coastal Commission   Executive Division45 Fremont Street, Suite 2000San Francisco, CA 94105
Or sent via email to:StrategicPlanComments@coastal.ca.govA final plan is anticipated to be adopted by the Commission in April or May 2020.
California Coastal Commission | 45 Fremont St, Suite 2000, San Francisco, CA 94105

Watch for Slides, Sat. 12/7

UPDATE: 12:22 PM10[19] 1039 FISH AND GAME ETO APPROX 1 MORE HOUR / FULL CLOSURE NB AND SB

From this photo, it would appear this is the south end of Rain Rocks, south of the Rock Shed, the area that always goes!

Noon: This happened a couple hours ago, but as it has continued raining down here, and even if cleared, is subject to go again. I am guessing this is Chimney Slide, south of Limekiln, but I have no information re exact location.

Special Screening — short film on Big Sur, responsibility, and tourism

The screening will begin at 7:30 sharp. 
The film is about twenty minutes long. 

Directly following the screening will be a public Q&A session with the film makers along with a panel of selected community members –about the film, the future of Big Sur, the interaction with visitors, responsible travel and more!

*This is a FREE screening*

The event starts at 7pm
The screening starts at 7:30
Come as you are. 
Tea, coffee, and light snacks will be provided 

Tonight & Tomorrow’s Storm

Not as heavy as last weekend…coming in tonight..

Fun little graph of the expected lightning storm on Saturday, 12/7:

A strong jet streak will develop over Central California on Saturday, putting interior NorCal a favorable zone for strong thunderstorm development. (tropicaltidbits.com)

Looks like we might get a sprinkling of thunderstorms, but Yosemite and that area? What fun!

To read the analysis by Daniel Swain of Weather West see: https://weatherwest.com/archives/7020

Chualar Flooding of up to 4 ft causing evacuations

4:30 pm — 101 still closed, in fact a number of places in the area are closed. Look at this CHP log:

A levee broke near Chualar Union School causing flooding in the area. MCSO is currently evacuating some portions of Chualar. The current storm is not helping.

This whole area is a mess with the flooding, people stuck on top of vehicles that are flooded. There are at least 4-5 CHP incidents in this area. Here is one re 101 which is closed both NB and SB near Chualar under 3 ft of water:

Incident: 00248 Type: Roadway Flooding Location: Us101 N / Esperanza Rd Loc Desc: NB AND SB Lat/Lon: 36.595968 -121.545822 

Detail Information
3:32 PM12[21] CPD SNCR WILL NEED TO CLOSE SPENCE X OS, SPENCE X 101
3:31 PM11[20] 1039 MTRY CONFIRMED SO STARTED A BREAK
3:31 PM10[19] A27-012 12 IS 97 TRAFFIC BACKED UP SB 2 MILES OF TRAFFIC BEHIND 12
3:29 PM9[18] OS X 101 IS CLOSED, DETOUR IS RIVER RD
3:26 PM8[16] 12 INQ WHERE SO IS DIVERTING TRAFFIC
3:24 PM7[15] SO CREATED A BREAK DIVERTING VEHS – CPY SCNR
3:19 PM6[14] STARTING A TRAFFIC BREAK SB F/AIRPORT
3:16 PM5[11] [Notification] [CHP]-[10] PER DIST 5 / CANT RESPOND / THEY ARE STUCK IN CHUALAR / THEY DO HAVE A CREW ON ESPERANZA BUT CANT DO ANYTHING /. TOO MUCH WANTER
3:16 PM4[10] PER DIST 5 / CANT RESPOND / THEY ARE STUCK IN CHUALAR / THEY DO HAVE A CREW ON ESPERANZA BUT CANT DO ANYTHING /. TOO MUCH WANTER
3:11 PM3[6] [Notification] [CHP]-MONT SO 1097, NEED TO CLOSE NB AND SB 101 JSO CHUALAR UNDER 3 FT OF WATER
2:57 PM2[4] 1039 CALTRANS DISPATCH
2:55 PM1[2] AFFECTING NB 101 #2 LANE

Mud Creek to open at 1 pm & Paul’s Slide at 5 pm today

MMEDIATE RELEASE

**UPDATE #1–TRAFFIC ADVISORY**

HWY. 1 AT MUD CREEK TO RE-OPEN AT 1 PM TODAY AND PAUL’S SLIDE TO RE-OPEN BY 5 PM TODAY; RAIN FORECAST IN THE COMING DAYS

MONTEREY COUNTY — Caltrans has received confirmation from the National Weather Service (NWS) data that the significant storms have passed in the areas of Mud Creek (PM 8.9) and Paul’s Slide (PM 21.6) on State Route 1 in the Big Sur area.

In addition, Caltrans Geotech, Design and Maintenance crews assessed all road areas within the closure limits again earlier today. Our crews have been busy clearing debris/slide material at both locations, including our contractor at Paul’s Slide, to make it traversable for public traffic. As a result, Highway 1 at Mud Creek will re-open at 1 pm today, Tuesday, Dec. 3 and Paul’s Slide will re-open today by 5 pm. (See photo below).

NOTE: Our maintenance crews will continue to monitor this location over the next few days and weekend and notify us if ground movement accelerates or site conditions change as more rain is in the forecast. In which case, an update will be provided.

As always, thanks to the Big Sur community and coastal travelers for their cooperation and patience.

Paul’s Slide with additional debris/slide material removal necessary for today’s 5 pm opening