Los Padres signs Big Sur Community Fuelbreak Record of Decision
GOLETA, Calif.— Los Padres National Forest Supervisor Kevin Elliott signed a Record of Decision on Nov. 13 for the Strategic Community Fuelbreak Improvement project Environmental Impact Statement. The project is on the Monterey Ranger District near the communities of Big Sur, Palo Colorado, Cachagua, and Jamesburg.
The purpose of the Strategic Community Fuelbreak Improvement project is to re-establish and maintain a series of fuelbreaks to enhance protection for at-risk communities and firefighting resources, preserve wilderness character, and reduce suppression costs. These historically-used and effective strategic fuelbreaks extend in and out of the Ventana Wilderness.
This project is a result of collaborative engagement at the community level and will improve effectiveness and efficiency in protecting communities from wildfire. The project will also minimize future impacts to wilderness. Wilderness character is diminished when fuelbreaks are re-opened by bulldozers during emergency suppression of wildfires. By proactively designing and establishing strategic fuelbreaks during a non-emergency environment, the Forest Service can reduce the reliance on mechanized equipment and subsequently reduce the adverse fire suppression impacts on the wilderness landscape.
A notice of intent to prepare an EIS was published in the Federal Register on December 28, 2012. Public scoping and an “analysis of comments” was completed. A Draft EIS was then prepared and scoped for public comment in January 2017 and two public open houses were held in February 2017.
CALTRANS RE-OPENS TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF HWY. 1 AT MUD CREEK AND PAUL’S SLIDE
MONTEREY COUNTY —After two days of significant storm activity, Caltrans’ Geotechnical Design, Construction and Maintenance staff investigated site conditions this morning. Although crews are still working, the plan is to reopen the road 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 by 12 noon today, Friday, Nov. 30.
Caltrans’ Geotech, Maintenance and Construction units will continue to be on call and prepared to inspect/clean up during the daylight hours following each storm when it is safe to be onsite again. Caltrans’ intent is to open the roadway as quickly and safely as possible and our staff remains on-call 24/7.
Reminder: When significant storms are forecasted by NOAA, the continuing protocol will be to send a 48-hour traffic advisory for the public to be ready in case the roadway needs to close due to an expected significant storm. This will allow time for the public to prepare for the closure, stock up on necessary supplies and make plans. At the 24-hour mark, we will send a traffic advisory either confirming the full closure or providing additional information. These 48 and 24-hour notices apply only to Paul’s Slide and Mud Creek—each closure will be treated separately (two separate closures, one may open, the other may not, depending on assessment).
Big Sur residents and those living between the Paul’s Slide and Mud Creek closures: please be aware that there is a tree down on Nacimiento Fergusson Rd near Coast Ridge road. County Public Works crews stationed in San Ardo are mobilizing tonight to clear the road and will make every effort as long as it is safe to do so.
TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF HWY. 1 AT MUD CREEK AND PAUL’S SLIDE CONTINUES THROUGH TOMORROW MORNING, FRIDAY, NOV. 30 WHEN IT WILL BE ASSESSED
MONTEREY COUNTY — The National Weather Service (NOAA) has informed Caltrans of more significant rain forecast for today and into tonight. Caltrans has determined that tomorrow morning, Nov. 30, will be the first time it will be safe for Geotechnical Design, Construction and Maintenance staff to investigate site conditions and formulate a plan to reopen the road 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.
Nacimiento-Fergusson Road (PM 18.9) is the alternate route to reach Hwy. 1 between Mud Creek and Paul’s Slide. However, there is a 12-foot height restriction at one of the bridges (green) along this route. Please check with Fort Hunter-Liggett for more updated information on their road at: https://www.facebook.com/FortHunterLiggett.
Caltrans’ Geotech, Maintenance and Construction units are on call and prepared to inspect/clean up during the daylight hours following each storm when it is safe to be onsite again; this will take place tomorrow morning, Friday, Nov. 30. Caltrans’ intent is to open the roadway as quickly and safely as possible and our staff remains on-call 24/7.
The gates on either side of Mud Creek and Paul’s Slide will be key locked. These gates will not be manned when the highway is closed and there will be no access to anyone, including Emergency Services or Caltrans employees until a proper assessment can be made and any necessary cleanup has been completed.
NOTE: This advisory applies only to the Mud Creek and Paul’s Slide areas with each closure being treated separately—both are closing today. Please stay tuned for additional information when the roadway opens again. SEE ATTACHED CLOSURE MAP.
9 am – I am hearing some grumbling from locals on Caltrans’s decision to close the road. I get it, I do, but things have changed. Conditions are not like they used to be where it was understood that we locals took our chances. Now, we have clueless tourists who would also “take their chances” and then ask to be rescued and/or sue if they were injured or their vehicle was damaged. I do have concerns about even emergency vehicles not being able to get through, but I do understand the concerns of Caltrans. Safety first. Always.
UPDATE: This is the rather impressive storm coming in from the GOES Satellite, and the expected rainfall amounts through tomorrow at 4 am. (Scroll down for Highway closure update.)
TRAFFIC ADVISORY**
CALTRANS ANNOUNCES TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF HWY. 1 AT MUD CREEK/PAUL’S SLIDE
MONTEREY COUNTY — Caltrans has received confirmation from the National Weather Service (NOAA) that a significant storm has reached the areas of Mud Creek (PM 8.9) and Paul’s Slide (PM 21.6) on State Route 1 in the Big Sur area and will close Highway 1at Mud Creek and Paul’s Slideon Wednesday, Nov. 28 at 12 noon until further notice.
The closure initiation process will begin at 10 am with Electronic Message Signs activated and both sets of gates (Mud Creek and Paul’s Slide) closed by noon. Storm activity is forecast through tomorrow, Thursday, Nov. 29.
Nacimiento-Fergusson Rd. (PM 18.9) is the alternate route to reach Hwy. 1 between Mud Creek and Paul’s Slide. However, there is a 12-foot height restriction at one of the bridges along this route. Please feel free to check with Fort Hunter-Liggett for more updated information on their road at: https://www.facebook.com/FortHunterLiggett.
Caltrans’ Geotech, Maintenance and Construction units are on call and prepared to inspect/clean up when the storm ends during the daylight hours and it is safe to be onsite again—we anticipate this to be Friday morning, Nov. 30. Caltrans’ goal is to open the roadway as quickly and safely as possible and our staff remains on-call 24/7.
The gates on either side of Mud Creek and Paul’s Slide will be key locked. These gates will not be manned when the highway is closed and there will be no access to anyone, including Emergency Services or Caltrans employees until a proper assessment can be made and any necessary cleanup has been completed.
NOTE: This advisory applies only to the Mud Creek and Paul’s Slide areas with each closure being treated separately—both are closing today. Please stay tuned for additional information when the roadway opens again. SEE ATTACHED CLOSURE MAP.
Note from bigsurkate: We are in the bull’s eye for a storm to begin somewhere around 5 am tomorrow morning, which will last for 2 days, and then a second on Saturday, so expect the closure to last for a few day, and perhaps until Sunday. That’s not official, that is my opinion, based on what I have observed.
24-HOUR TRAFFIC ADVISORY**
OF TEMPORARY CLOSURE HIGHWAY 1 AT MUD CREEK/PAUL’S SLIDE
Monterey County — Caltrans has received confirmation from the National Weather Service (NOAA) that a significant storm is in the forecast to begin in approximately the next 24-hours for the areas of Mud Creek (PM 8.9) and Paul’s Slide (PM 21.6) on State Route 1 in the Big Sur area.
This advisory is to inform the public to be prepared for closure of the roadway tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 28mid-morning due to a significant storm. A final notice will be sent when the roadway closes. Caltrans will have our Geotech, Maintenance and Construction units on call and prepared to inspect/clean up during daylight hours when the storm ends and it is safe to be onsite again.
The gates on either side of Mud Creek and Paul’s Slide will be key locked. These gates will not be manned when the highway is closed. No one, including Emergency Services or Caltrans employees will be allowed access until a proper assessment can be made and any necessary cleanup has been completed.
NOTE: These advisories apply only to the Mud Creek and Paul’s Slide areas with each closure being treated separately–both locations will close tomorrow, Nov. 28. Please stand by for additional information within the next 24 hours.
I urge everyone who cares about our natural places, including Big Sur, to read the entire article. I offer a few tidbits to entice you to do so:
“Social media is the number one driver,” said Maschelle Zia, who manages Horseshoe Bend for the Glen Canyon national recreation area. “People don’t come here for solitude. They are looking for the iconic photo.” Advertising is no longer needed. The visitors do it on instagram, twitter, facebook, and other social media, and yet organizations continue to spend huge sums to advertise places that are already overcrowded.
Big Sur is not the only natural landscape suffering, but it is one with unique challenges. One of many issues that Big Sur faces is that there are many agencies responsible for Big Sur: USFS, State Parks, County Parks, UCSC, a few non-profits, businesses and private landowners. Like-wise, there are several entities who are responsible for exploiting Big Sur: Visit California, See California, Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau and the California Film Commission and Monterey County Film Commission and others. These entities spend tens of millions of dollars each year on advertising Big Sur to bring in revenue for their member businesses, the organizations, and themselves. This is money that could be better spent on working together with residents to find the balance that protects the environment, the community, the local businesses, AND the visitors. It is time to preserve the area before it is completely destroyed.
From MCCVB’s Chief Marketing Officer, Rob O’Keefe on Monterey County as a travel destination: “It’s smaller, it’s more intimate, it’s authentic,” O’Keefe says. “You come to Monterey County and you feel like an invited guest.” (As quoted in the SFChron, 11/21/18.)
I looked around the downtown area of Monterey from the 2nd floor of the Conference Center a few months back, and saw the double parking garages, the commercialization specifically geared toward bringing in more and more visitors. Maybe because I remember it from 35 years ago, but I do not find this “authentic.” I noted the Custom House Plaza, the walkways. It is not natural, it is not authentic. The culture of the working wharf, working people and the fishermen has been lost. Is this what we want for Big Sur? I ask, because that is where we are headed. The more visitors we bring in, the more we have to alter the natural environment to accommodate them. We need only look to my last article on Horseshoe Bend.
“Across America, national parks and public lands are facing a crisis of popularity. Technology, successful marketing, and international tourism have brought a surge in visitation unlike anything seen before. In 2016 and 2017, the national parks saw an unprecedented 330.9 million visitors, the highest ever recorded. That’s not far off the US population itself. (This bears repeating, the National Parks in 2016 and 2017 brought in almost the same number of visitors as the population of the ENTIRE United States.)
Backcountry trails are clogging up, mountain roads are thickening with traffic, picturesque vistas are morphing into selfie-taking scrums. And in the process, what is most loved about them risks being lost.”
“Dealing with human waste has become a herculean undertaking for parks, one that is often hidden from view. In Zion, two outhouses near Angel’s Landing that were described by one writer as reminiscent of “an open sewer”have to be emptied by helicopter at a cost of $20,000 annually. In Colorado, Rocky Mountain national park churns through more than 1,800 miles of toilet paper a year. Yellowstone spent $28,000 on hand sanitizer last summer alone, according to a park official.
As waste mounts, finding someone to take care of it becomes more difficult.”
Big Sur cannot continue on its current path, or it too, risks losing what is most loved about this area. We must find ways to work with those who would exploit us, so that we can achieve the balance which we must. Watch for a notice of The Big Sur Pledge, modeled on the one Kauai instituted. It is long past time we pledge to honor and protect our home and help our visitors to do the same. It will take all of us.
