Day: June 3, 2019

USFS Invasive Species Removal

Public comments sought on draft Environmental

Analysis for Invasive Plant Treatment Program

GOLETA, Calif. – Los Padres National Forest officials today announced the release of a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for a proposed Forest-wide Invasive Plant Treatment Program. Interested members of the public are encouraged to submit written comments on the draft EA by June 27.

CORRECTION – Los Padres National Forest News Release – We regret the mistake of providing the wrong due date for public written comments – correct date is June 19, 2019

The draft EA evaluates the environmental impacts of implementing a program to control non-native and invasive plants using a combination of mechanical, manual, livestock and chemical treatment methods. With limited capacity to control or eradicate these non-native populations, the Invasive Plant Treatment Program provides necessary tools for improving and restoring native ecosystems and habitat.

Exotic invasive species create a host of environmental effects, including displacement of native plants, loss of habitat and forage, potential loss of soil productivity and reduction in water quantity, as well as a potential increase in the intensity and frequency of wildfires. The program would provide for the aggressive treatment of existing infestations of invasive plants, and would encourage rapid containment or eradication of new infestations before they can become established.

The program is designed with resource protection measures to reduce or eliminate potential impacts to natural resources and the human environment. Following these treatments, restoration actions may be needed to stabilize the area and prevent re-colonization of invasive plants. More information on the Invasive Plant Treatment Program is available on the Los Padres National Forest website at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=51845.

Written comments may be mailed to the Los Padres National Forest Supervisor’s Office, Attention: Kyle Kinports, 6750 Navigator Way, Suite 150, Goleta, CA 93117; or hand delivered to the Supervisor’s Office at the address shown above during business hours (M-F 8:00 am to 4:30 pm); or submitted by FAX to 805-961-5729. Electronic comments may be submitted to comments-pacificsouthwest-los-padres@fs.fed.us.

Public Meeting June 6th at 10 am at MAF re use of the old Naval Facility

The Monterey District of California State Parks will hold a public meeting on June 6, 2019 to present its’ plan for initial public tours of the Point Sur Naval Facility located within Point Sur State Historic Park.

The purpose of the meeting is to disseminate information and gather public input prior to offering the initial public tours of the facility. The meeting will be held at 10 a.m. at the Big Sur Station, Multi-Agency Facility, 47555 Highway 1, Big Sur.

Questions, inquiries and comments (for those unable to attend) may be directed to State Parks’ Supervising Ranger D.L. Kraft at dkraft@parks.ca.gov.

Mary Trotter sent me this. It was supposed to be noticed in several local media, but she was unable to locate it, so be sure to share this far and wide. Post to FB, twitter, and/or instagram so we can get the word out.

Naval Facility as seen from the Ocean.

June 6th at 10 am at the MAF Facility (Big Sur Station next to Cal Trans yard.)

“This will be your chance to ask questions and make comments about viewshed issues.  Eleven point 4 million dollars of the Prop 72 money went to preserve the viewshed surrounding this facility.  It is therefore important that everything be done to prevent the eye being drawn to the blot in the landscape through parking lots, reflections off of cars, crowds of people milling around, additional signs and night lighting.
Self directed tours are being planned, and they speak of a visitor center. Is this what Big Sur needs now in this period of over-crowding, over-use.  New easements and new roads are planned – once again in the viewshed. No water is available.  Will the new ADA bathroom also be in the viewshed? Please come and get your questions answered.” Mary Trotter