Month: September 2012

Bicycle accident at Mud Creek

9/14 5 pm update – see the comments below for an update on the bicyclist’s condition. Thank you, April, and please keep us posted!

2:30 pm update – the man was airlifted to the trauma center, where he is presumably being treated. The 37-year-old man was from Southern California. He was wearing a helmet, and one witness said it probably saved his life.

Noon – about an hour or more ago, there was a serious bicycle accident near mud creek, just north of Sea View ranch. Witnesses to the crash said the bicyclist, a 37-year old volunteer firefighter (not one of ours) seized up, just before the crash. He suffered serious head injuries. No vehicle was involved. Rescuers were hoping to have him air-lifted to the trauma center in San Jose. I did see a helicopter heading north, flying low over me that I suspect was transporting the victim. People who stopped to help included an RN, a pediatrician, and a CT worker who was able to use the satellite phone to contact 911, as there is no cell phone service in much of the south coast highway segment. Also stopping to help was our own local Elaine Peltier, who has had some training and always carries a space blanket and surgical gloves in her vehicle.

Rocky Creek Closures meeting

Hi Everyone.

Please join us at the Big Sur Lodge at 10:00 AM this Friday to discuss traffic management on the Rocky Creek Viaduct project. The main speaker for Caltrans will be the District 5 Chief of Maintenance and Operations, Steve Price,

Possible topics for discussion, listed below, are based on questions I’ve been receiving from the Big Sur community over the last few days.
Why does the highway need to be closed?
Can the start time of the closure be moved to later in the evening?
Can the highway be opened up for a limited amount of time during the night to allow passage?
Did Caltrans notify the community of the need for these closures?
Other questions.

I’m looking forward to meeting you all. There will be hot coffee and tea waiting for you when you arrive.

Thank you,

Ken Dostalek
Caltrans District 5
Project Management
(805) 549-3133

No one died party

For the last year or so, there hasn’t been a South Coast for-no-reason party. There always seem to be get togethers to celebrate the life of one of our members who has gone on to the next adventure, and there have been a lot lately. Now, Guy decided we needed a “no one died” party. So, that is what we are doing … This Saturday – BYOB, a dish to share, DRUMS (please?) and join us for the afternoon. Write me at kwnovoa@mac.com, or call me at 831-818-8026 if you haven’t gotten the word thru the grapevine and need or want additional information.

Shall we celebrate the lives of those of us who are still here? And another summer successfully concluded? I’m ready!

Airplane crash off the South Coast of Big Sur

UPDATE 9 pm – The SLO Tribune is reporting that 2 people were rescued from this crash.

My son reported from the hermitage that he heard sirens and something that sounded like a loud shot from the direction of Lucia around 4:45 pm. Another reader reported that he saw the last of an airplane crash into the ocean from his position at Gorda Mountain. He witnessed the last 15 minutes or so, before the plane sank. The Coast Guard were on the scene. These two reportings may have been related.

John Galuszka sent me these photos of the incident:

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Profile, Willow Springs Supervisor

Recently, a new face came to the South Coast, at the Willow Springs Maintenance Yard. His name is Greg DeAlba. He is the new supervisor. He came to us from Santa Barbara where he was a lead worker, which sometimes entails acting as supervisor. He has six years experience with Cal Trans, although his father has over 30 years.

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He oversees a crew of six. Currently, he has only four on his crew, including himself. One of his crew, another Greg, also comes to us from Santa Barbara, and has only been here a short time. The other, Joel, comes from the Cambria station, and has been here a few months longer. When I asked him what he thought the major difference between the Santa Barbara station and this one is, he replied: “The quiet. You can go out on the road first thing in the morning and not see another car.” He recently hiked a couple miles up the back country behind the Willow Springs Yard, and is completely taken with the beauty of his new home.

He acknowledges that keeping the road clear this first winter will be his biggest challenge, but he is enthusiastic, and says he, Greg, and Joel all love to work, and are looking forward to and are up for the challenge.

Greg is married with three children, the oldest of which just started second grade at Pacific Valley School.

Vandalism on the South Coast

It is hard to fathom what kind of mentality finds it necessary to deface our beautiful coast, but there are those for whom the natural beauty of this place is not sacred.This type of person, and thankfully there are few, must create what can only be considered an abomination – an affront to Our Mother and her spectacular beauty.

Wally Barnick of Coast Ridge Outfitters, Big Sur (next to Fernwood) sent me this photo yesterday.

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So, I contacted the new supervisor of Willow Springs, Greg DeAlba, (look for a profile of our new supervisor in the next few days), and asked him about Cal Trans plans for dealing with this vandalism on their retaining wall. He informed me there was currently a discussion going on about painting or staining this wall so that it blended in with it’s surroundings. He said he would keep me informed about the outcome of this discussion, and I will be following up to make sure this shameful affront to our coast is eradicated as soon as possible.

Today, I got to witness this for myself. I am befuddled by the idea that anyone could be so insensitive to the remarkable beauty of this place to do something like this. What will it take for all our visitors to be respectful of this place we call home and which we share with MILLIONS of visitors every year? What will it take?

Fire Weather

5:00 pm – red flag warning in effect throughout the evening in the Monterey NWS area. While I can see build up of clouds to the north and to the east, I have sunshine and no thunder here. Even my dog Dakota’s keen hearing is picking up nothing. She ALWAYS hears it long before me, and tries to crawl under whatever she can. My other three are not bothered, so I always keep an eye on her whenever there is a chance of lightning, no matter how remote.

8:30 am – This afternoon through tomorrow, very unstable weather, with possibility of lightning strikes. Wet or dry strikes (and models are unclear if the rain will hit the ground, but San Jose already experiencing rain this morning) brings serious threats of fire starts in Monterey County and the greater Bay area, even if rain accompanies the strikes, as fuel levels are extremely dry.

So keep an eye out, report any down strikes you see on land, if possible. I have to do a quick yo-yo south, but will be watching this closely through tomorrow.

Fraking, Gasland, and AB 972

I just finished watching Gasland, a documentary I have been wanting to see for some time. I highly recommend it. Of course, the many personal stories are distressing, but the bigger picture Josh Fox presents is worth being a witness to the distress presented. It behooves us to become educated, and to see that regulations are put into effect. Currently, these activities are exempt from the Clean Water Act of 1972, and yet, it destroys water supplies and rivers.

Here, in southern Monterey County, BLM has allowed fraking to take place on several of the parcels it holds in trust for us. According to one news source, faking has been taking place at all oil wells in California, at some point. Last week, two environmental groups, Center for Biological Diversity and the Sierra Club filed a 60-day notice of intent to sue the US Dept of the Interior and the BLM.

Part of the letter or notice of intent to sue states: “A congressional report sampling incomplete industry self-reports found that “[t]he oil and gas service companies used hydraulic fracturing products containing 29 chemicals that are (1) known or possible human carcinogens, (2) regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act for their risks to human health, or (3) listed as hazardous air pollutants under the Clean Air Act.” Recently published scientific papers also describe the harmfulness of the chemicals often in fracking fluid. One study reviewed a list of 944 fracking fluid products containing 632 chemicals, 353 of which could be identified with Chemical Abstract Service numbers. The study concluded that more than 75 percent of the chemicals could affect the skin, eyes, and other sensory organs, and the respiratory and gastrointestinal systems; approximately 40 to 50 percent could affect the brain/nervous system, immune, and cardiovascular systems, and the kidneys; 37 percent could affect the endocrine system; and 25 percent could cause cancer and mutations. Another study reviewed exposures to fracking chemicals and noted that trimethylbenzenes are among the largest contributors to non-cancer threats for people living within a half mile of a well, while benzene is the largest contributor to cumulative cancer risk for people, regardless of the distance from the wells. (footnotes omitted.)”

The rest of the letter and supporting sources can be found here:
biological diversity intent to sue

From our Assemblymember, Bill Monning: “Assembly Bill (AB) 972, authored by Assemblymember Butler, would prohibit the Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR) from approving a notice to commence drilling of an oil or natural gas well for which hydraulic fracturing will be used, until DOGGR has adopted regulations governing hydraulic fracturing. Unfortunately, AB 972 was held on the Senate Committee on Appropriations suspense file due to unaddressed fiscal concerns but I am going to continue to work with my colleagues to address this issue.”

Like one rancher said in the movie, we all need to come together and speak with one voice that we will not let these assholes get away with destroying our water, our wildlife, and our homes. Regulations must be put into effect that will protect all. I will be watching this lawsuit with interest.

Vehicle over the edge, north of Bixby Bridge

As of 5:30 this evening, CHP is reporting a vehicle over the edge, 70 feet down, just north of Bixby Bridge. One reporting party seems to indicate the parties were out of the vehicle, and seemed okay. NOTE the comments below re another incident at Sycamore Canyon re a roll-over, so very unclear at the moment.