Month: May 2014

El Niño Pedictions

From NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center:

The model predictions of ENSO (El Niño/Southern Oscillation) for this summer and beyond are indicating an increased likelihood of El Niño compared with those from last month. Most of the models indicate that ENSO-neutral (Niño-3.4 index between -0.5oC and 0.5oC) will persist through part of the remainder of the Northern Hemisphere spring 2014 (Fig. 6), most likely transitioning to El Niño during the summer. There remains uncertainty as to exactly when El Niño will develop and an even greater uncertainty as to how strong it may become. This uncertainty is related to the inherently lower forecast skill of the models for forecasts made in the spring. While ENSO-neutral is favored for Northern Hemisphere spring, the chance of El Niño increases during the remainder of the year, exceeding 65% during the summer (click CPC/IRI consensus forecast for the chance of each outcome).

And on another note:

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Bath with a view

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Yes, that is a copper tub, and yes, this is my view from the tub, which is why I often take my bath before and during sunset.

Big Creek Reserve Open House

Open House, May 10, 2014

UC Santa Cruz and the UC Natural Reserve System invite you to the Landels-Hill Big Creek Reserve

Saturday, May 10, 2014 9am-4pm

Open House is the only day of the year that the Reserve is open to the general public. You are welcome to visit, learn what we are all about, meet the staff and tour the Reserve. We’ll have folks at the main entrance who can share their experience and knowledge with you about lots of topics. Bring hiking shoes and a sack lunch. Driving tours will not be available this year. Parking is limited to the pullout just south of the reserve gates. Park on the highway pullout and walk down to the gatehouse from there. Watch for signs out on the highway. Please carpool if possible. Click here for driving directions. http://bigcreek.ucnrs.org/roads/index.html

We are currently looking for volunteers to help get the trails ready or even on the day of the open house itself. Read about our Volunteer Stewardship Program for more info. http://bigcreek.ucnrs.org/volunteers/index.html

For more information, call or email
the reserve director, Mark Readdie.
(831) 667-2543 bigcreek@ucsc.edu

CT Project at Cow Cliffs

Today’s Date: Friday, May 2, 2014
District: 05 – Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz Counties
Contact: Jim Shivers or Colin Jones
Phone: (805) 549-3237 or 549-3189

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PUBLIC COMMENT BEGINS TODAY ON HIGHWAY 1 VIADUCT PROJECT

MONTEREY COUNTY – The public may review an Initial Study with a Proposed Negative Declaration for a project to construct a 175-foot long viaduct along Hwy. 1 in Monterey County, just north of the Big Creek Bridge at the following locations:

· Caltrans District 5 Office, 50 Higuera Street in San Luis Obispo weekdays from 8 am until 4:30 pm.

· Cambria Library, 900 Main Street in Cambria.

· The Henry Miller Memorial Library, 48603 Highway 1, Big Sur.

· http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist05/projects

This project would include a viaduct that would span a damaged section of the embankment of Hwy. 1. The public may submit written comments until May 21 to Matt Fowler, Senior Environmental Planner, California Department of Transportation, 50 Higuera Street, San Luis Obispo, CA. 93401 or email to Matt.C.Fowler@dot.ca.gov .

Caltrans reminds motorists to move over and slow down when driving through highway construction zones.

For traffic updates on other state highway projects in Monterey County, motorists can call Caltrans District 5 Public Affairs at 805-568-0858 or visit the District 5 website at: http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist05/road_information.htm

Condor Release

Hi Everyone,
Yesterday’s (Wednesday’s) Big Sur releases (the final two of four for 2014) went incredibly well. Both 650 and 652 stuck around the release site after being released and mingled/fed with the other condors in the flock. We had a Golden Eagle show up at the release site after they were out, which was a bit concerning, but fortunately the Golden just came in, fed, then bailed. That Golden is probably feeding chicks right now, so didn’t stick around to harass our newbees.

Anyway, one of our twitter followers recorded our condor cam video stream of 650’s release and posted it to youtube. Pretty spectacular clip, he flew right at the camera…check it out! (bsk note: I tried to get the link on YouTube, but couldn’t’)

Condor 650 Release 30 April 2014

*************
Joe Burnett
Big Sur Condor Project Coordinator
Ventana Wildlife Society
19045 Portola Dr. Ste. F-1
Salinas, CA. 93908
(Office) 831-455-9514
http://www.ventanaws.org http://www.mycondor.org
Live streaming Condor Cam

MoCo Planning Commission recommends a 2 year Moratorium on Fracking

Yesterday, April 30, the MoCo Planning Commission, in a 7-0 vote recommended a two-year moratorium on the controversial Fracking development proposed for underground gas removal from the Monterey Shale.

Commissioner Keith Vandevere seconded the motion made by Commissioner Martha Diehl to recommend the ordinance and moratorium. He said holding off on permits for fracking and other methods will allow time to fully explore the details and ramifications of a permanent ordinance and for further development of state regulations governing oil and gas mining methods under recently approved state legislation.

Currently, no permits are required so this regulation had to be fast tracked to prevent further, unregulated development.