For Immediate Release

November 30, 2023      

Los Padres begins implementing prescribed fire activities

SOLVANG, Calif.— Los Padres National Forest officials today announced plans to begin implementing their annual prescribed burning operations. When favorable weather conditions are present, specific project locations and dates will be posted on the Forest’s Facebook and X/Twitter accounts.

The objectives of the projects are to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire to people and communities, create conditions which offer a safer and more effective wildfire response, foster more resilient ecosystems, and minimize the effects of large wildfires on the landscape.

When implementing these projects, fire managers follow a burn plan that outlines the “prescription” or environmental conditions such as temperature, wind, fuel moisture, ventilation and relative humidity that need to be present before the project begins. When the criteria are met, crews will implement, monitor, and patrol each burn project to ensure it meets the goals and objectives outlined by managers. The prescribed fire program will continue through the winter and spring months as permitted by weather and other environmental factors.

Prescribed fires including both understory and pile burning are intended to reduce the amount of vegetation, such as needles, small plants, brush, and small trees which can carry fire from the forest floor into the treetops. Studies and experience have shown that prescribed fires stimulate the growth of grasses, forbs and shrubs that provide food for deer, mountain quail and other wildlife.

The ignition of all prescribed burns is dependent on the availability of personnel, equipment, and conducive weather conditions. Prescribed burn planning and execution are closely coordinated with the National Weather Service and Air Quality Management Districts to manage smoke production and minimize impacts as much as possible. When these burns occur, information signs will be posted along adjacent roadways to alert the public to the burn projects and visible smoke in the area.

As a reminder, campfires are currently permitted only in developed recreation sites. Fire managers will evaluate conditions over the coming weeks and lift the campfire restrictions when the wildfire risk has moderated. The Santa Barbara Frontcountry fire ban will remain in effect year round.

For questions on the Los Padres National Forest prescribed fire program, please contact Rodolfo Uribe at (805) 694-6953. For additional information, please visit the Forest website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/lpnf. 

Work set to resume on Strategic Community Fuelbreak

SOLVANG, Calif.— The next phase of the Strategic Community Fuelbreak Improvement project on the Monterey Ranger District within the Ventana Wilderness is scheduled to begin as early as this week. This phase of the project focuses on the fuelbreak that runs along the coastal ridgeline atop Skinner Ridge, Mount Manuel, and Post Summit from Botchers Gap to the Big Sur River.

The project is on Forest Service lands and will include areas both inside and outside the Ventana Wilderness. Work will be performed by Los Padres fire employees and OC Forestry, an Oregon-based contractor, in coordination with the Resource Conservation District of Monterey County. Using chainsaws, weed eaters and other motorized hand tools, crews will thin and reduce the brush along designated ridgelines. The cut material will be piled for future burning, or chipped and spread.

This project underwent public scoping in 2017 and a Record of Decision was signed in November 2018 authorizing the work on 10.4 miles of historically used fuelbreaks in the Ventana Wilderness and 13.6 miles of fuelbreaks outside of the wilderness. The project was designed to reduce the likelihood that a wildfire burning within Los Padres will spread into the wildland-urban interface and enable fire crews to safely conduct fire suppression operations. 

“This important work is the culmination of years of collaboration with stakeholders and cooperating state and local agencies,” said Monterey District Ranger Fin Eifert. “Improving these historically used fuelbreaks both within and outside the Ventana Wilderness will allow for a more robust response on initial attack.” 

Work in the Chews Ridge area outside wilderness began October 25. This next phase of the project is estimated to take between two and three weeks to complete, barring potential delays such as significant weather events. The expected project completion date is December 21, 2023.

I want to take this moment in time to wish all of you a blessed Thanksgiving Day. May it be filled with love, joy, friends and family. Take a few moments each day to fill your soul with the gratitude you truly feel. Blessed be.

Hello,

Please see the attached notice for the Garrapata Creek Bridge item scheduled for the Board of Supervisors on December 6, 2023, at 1:30 pm.

Caltrans also has a Big Sur and Garrapata Creek Bridge Rail Replacement Project webpage. Big Sur and Garrapata Creek Bridge Rail Replacement Project | Caltrans

This appeal will occur before the December 6th Big Sur Byways Organization meeting.

Thanks,

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
COUNTY OF MONTEREY
Appeal by the California Department of Transportation (“Caltrans”) from a decision of the
Monterey County Planning Commission denying a Combined Development Permit.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Monterey County Board of Supervisors will hold a
public hearing on Wednesday, December 6, 2023 at 1:30 p.m., to consider an appeal by
Caltrans, of the March 8, 2023 decision of the Monterey County Planning Commission to deny a
Combined Development Permit for the demolition and replacement of bridge rails on the
Garrapata Creek Bridge in Big Sur. The Planning Commission denied the project finding the
project inconsistent with the Big Sur Coast Land Use Plan. In denying the Combined
Development Permit, the Planning Commission found that its disapproval of the project is
statutorily exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) per its Guidelines
section 15270. The applicant is asking the Board of Supervisors to grant the appeal and approve the project as described below.

Project Description: Demolition and replacement of bridge rails on the Garrapata Creek Bridge.
Project is within 100 feet of environmentally sensitive habitat area, is within the Big Sur Critical
Viewshed, is within 750 feet of archaeological resources, and includes alternations to a historic
structure. The project is located at the Garrapata Creek Bridge near post mile 63.0 on Highway 1, Big Sur, Big Sure Coast Land Use Plan. The proposed actions under CEQA are to consider the
Environmental Impact Report Certified by Caltrans for the Garrapata Creek Bridge rail
replacement project (SCH#2020049027).

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the Monterey County Board of Supervisors will hold a
public hearing to consider the project and appeal described above. The hearing will be held on
Wednesday, December 6, 2023 at 1:30 p.m.
The agenda for the Board of Supervisors’ meeting will explain how the public may observe and
provide testimony telephonically, electronically, or in person, at the Monterey County Board of
Supervisors’ Chambers, Government Center, 168 W. Alisal St, Salinas, CA, 93901. At least 72
hours ahead of the Board meeting, the agenda will be posted at 168 W. Alisal Street, Salinas,
CA, and on the County website at:
https://www.co.monterey.ca.us/government/departments-a-h/clerk-of-the-board
If you challenge this matter in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues raised in
testimony at the public hearing described in this notice or raised in written correspondence
delivered to the Board of Supervisors at or prior to the public hearing.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT:
Philip Angelo, Associate Planner
County of Monterey Housing and Community Development
1441 Schilling Place – South, 2nd Floor, Salinas CA, 93901
(831) 784-5731 or Angelop@co.monterey.ca.us

I found these hanging in the hallway of the VA Hospital in Palo Alto, CA. To illustrate the extent of Rock Knocker’s TBI/dementia, I stopped at the Pacific Valley Center photo and asked him if he recognized it. No, he did not. When I told him where it was, he said, okay, now I recognize it.

Hello,

The County of Monterey is releasing the draft Big Sur Coast Land Use Plan with edits, updates, and a letter from the Planning Commission Ad Hoc Committee. There is a tentative Planning Commission workshop scheduled for December 13, 2023. 

These documents can be found on the County of Monterey webpage for the Big Sur Coast Land Use Plan updates: https://www.co.monterey.ca.us/government/departments-a-h/housing-community-development/planning-services/advance-planning/ordinances-plans-under-development/big-sur-coast-land-use-plan-update-ref-210024-lrpwp-task-no-21-08. Please read the letter from the Planning Commission Ad Hoc Committee and the Big Sur Coast Land Use Plan with edits and updates, as both documents need to be considered in their entirety.

The County plans to release the updated Big Sur Coast Land Use Plan Table 1 shortly; a separate email will be sent out when released.

Thanks,

Armida R. EstradaCounty of Monterey Housing  & Community Development1441 Schilling Place, South 2nd. Floor