Entangled Whale

From Monterey Bay Marine Life Studies

Expected along the Big Sur coastline this evening and tomorrow morning!

***ALERT:
An entangled gray whale that has a metal frame on its head was re-sighted off of Piedras Blancas, at 3:30pm today. We expect the whale to be off Pt. Pinos anytime from 3:15 pm on Thursday (4/6/17) through 3:15 am on Friday (4/7/17). It could be in Monterey Bay during the morning hours of Friday, 4/7/17 depending if it just crosses the canyon or if it hugs the shoreline in Monterey Bay. Please be on the lookout and share this post.

If you see this whale, DO NOT approach or try to disentangle it. DO stay with it: take photos and video, and note the location of the whale, the travel direction, whether it is solitary or with others, and its behavior (whether it is surfacing or diving, and the length of dive times) – and immediately call NOAA Entangled Whale Hotline 1-877-SOS-WHALE or hail USCG on CH 16.

Let us know if you are willing to stand by along the coast and search with binoculars. It could be off Pt. Lobos as early as 12:30 pm. Thursday, 4/6/17.
Photo courtesy of Michael White.

NOAA Entangled Whale Hotline 1-877-767-9425

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Cars South of Bridge MUST be moved

From CPOA:

Hello Everyone,

If you are parked at the turn out opposite 3 acres on the south side of Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge, please move your vehicle today. Driller’s are moving in tomorrow, Thursday, in order to continue their efforts to understand the underlying geology within the Cal Trans right of way. Thanks!

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Trailer Hitch through Windshield

Yesterday on the 101. I was taken to the SJ Regional Center – Trauma Center. The 10-20# trailer hitch hit me in the shoulder. Amazingly, I only have lacerations, bruising, and a whole lot of pain…..but I am okay. 6″ further toward the driver, and I would be dead. My poor angels have always had to work overtime. I am truly blessed. Rock Knocker is with me, and the RV is at the windshield place.

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Highway Closure Update, 4/3/17

Pfeiffer Cyn Bridge (PM 45.52)–contractor continues to remove structure debris from canyon and bore soil for temporary foundation analysis.

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*Same information as last Wednesday*

SR-1 Full Closure—Ragged Pt (SLO PM 72.87) to the Multi-Agency Facility “MAF”(MON PM 46.35). Recent rains did not change the status.
· Nacimiento-Fergusson Road is now open to the public.
· Public access on Highway 1, using Nacimiento-Fergusson, will be to Gorda (PM 10) to the south, and to Limekiln State Park (PM 20) to the north.
· Friday deliveries: Residents and deliveries will be allowed through at Paul’s Slide and Mud Creek once per week on Fridays between 5:30am – 9:00am, and 5:00pm – 7:30pm. Delivery vehicles are limited to 30 feet in length and up to 50,000 pounds.
· Residents will have access between Ragged Point and Limekiln State Park and from north of Paul’s Slide to just south of Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge between 5:30 am and 7:30 pm. Four gates are closing the roadway overnight at the following locations: 1) south end of Mud Creek (PM 8.8); 2) north end of Mud Creek (PM 8.9); 3) North end of Limekiln Creek Bridge (PM 21.07) and 4) north end of Hermitage wall (PM 22.42).
o Emergency services will have overnight access to the locked gates.

Mud Creek (PM 8.9):
· The roadway continues to deteriorate as slide activity continues daily. Further updates about the ability to pass through this section will be provided as the slide stabilizes.
· For now, resident access will continue to be allowed daily between 5:30 am and 7:30 pm once they are in between the gated areas of Paul’s and Mud Creek.

Paul’s Slide (PM 21.6):
· As of March 22nd , there is limited access due to major excavation above the roadway; access is limited to 5:30am – 6:00am and 7:00pm – 7:30pm. This will be for a minimum of four to six weeks and we will continually evaluate for opportunities to improve local resident access.
· For the Friday opportunities to resupply, access is limited to vehicles weighing 50,000 lbs., with a maximum vehicle length of 30 feet.
· Work will performed 24/7 as conditions allow, and updates will continue to be provided.

IMPORTANT NOTE – CALTRANS PFEIFFER CYN. BRIDGE (PM 45.5):
· Demolition of the bridge is complete: The final span (span 1) came down Wednesday, March 22. Bridge debris clearing from the canyon continues. Please stay clear of the area for your own safety and to allow the construction team to work on re-building this vital part of the road.

All business north of the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge closure are open to the public.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:
· Due to the nature of the construction activities, access will be subject to change on a regular basis.

· Another update regarding the Highway 1 Big Sur Coast will be provided mid-day on Friday, April 7 or sooner if conditions change.

· NOTE: For information on emergency services only (not Caltrans inquiries) for the Big Sur Coast, you may contact Gerry Malais, Mon. Co. OES via email at: malaisg@co.monterey.ca.us or Maia Carroll, Mon. Co. OES PIO at carrollm@co.monterey.ca.us .

Upcoming weather

From NOAA: “High pressure will then nose in over the region behind the Monday shortwave. This will keep dry and seasonable spring time weather in place for the Bay Area and much of northern California. First front will knock into the ridge by about next Thursday with only a
chance of some north bay light rain, mainly by Thursday night. Then the models do show a potentially stronger front bringing moderate rain to the region by Friday with cool and showery weather possible for next weekend behind the front.

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Deetjen’s Pop Up Dinner Fundraiser

5 Course–Pop Up Collaboration with Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn and Cultura-Carmel.

Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn doors are temporarily closed but we hope to re-open in the next few months, and rebuild as soon as possible. Deetjen’s Chef Domingo Santamaria, hails from the Yucatán and will be joining sauce pans and knives with Chef Michelle Estigoy of Cultura melding her Oaxaca influences together to celebrate Big Sur and support Deetjen’s rebuild and the survival of it’s endeared employees. There will be numerous Silent Auction items too!!

Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn Preservation Foundation, Inc. is a 501c3 non profit in the national registry of historic places and contributions are tax deductible.

More information coming soon!!

To purchase tickets–
http://helprebuilddeetjensbigsurinn.brownpapertickets.com


Jeanne Crowley
Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn
http://www.deetjens.com
http://www.gofundme.com/help-save-deetjens-big-sur-inn
http://www.facebook.com/DeetjensBigSurInn

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Highway Closure Update, 3/29/17

Photos from Top to bottom: 1) Aerial of Paul’s Slide (PM 21.6); 2) Beautiful flowers and coastal view—courtesy of Hermitage (PM 22.12); 3) Continues debris removal of old Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge (PM 45.52)

*Same information as last Monday* – which was the same information as last Friday, so not repeating it, yet again. Will add photos.

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One can see the road to the Hermitage above the slide removal work in this photo.

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From the Hermitage Road, above the slide area.

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Debris clean up – a big job.

Kyle Evans created a compilation video of the demolition of this bridge which can be found here:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7uKrimYMwHA

 

Clarification – Bridge Completion Date

Just to be clear, the date was changed AFTER I uploaded my initial map and completion date to the new one of 9/30/17. I felt it better to repost this updated completion date, again, in case anyone missed my comment on the last post which made this clarification.

Susana says: “… we have a new target date for the new Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge to allow “public access” (not necessarily fully completed) of six months—taking us to “mid-to-late” September.” Not sure what this means, but I suppose it is possible that there could be one-lane flagging traffic by then.

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Pfeiffer Trail Update

Pfeiffer Trail Information 3/27/17

The Pfeiffer access trail is complete and open for use.

The trail will be open from a half hour before sunrise and a half hour after sunset. Use of the trail is limited to local residents, school children and service workers who work in businesses south of the demolished Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge.

State Parks is issuing waivers and passes to use the trail. Those needing a pass can get one at the Big Sur Multi Agency Facility which is open daily from 9 am to 4 pm. Businesses can send a list of their employees to State Parks, which will provide signed passes and waivers which can be filled out at the worksite and sent back. Employers can email their list of employees to bigsurstation@gmail.com.

To make it easier for those on the south side of the bridge, State Parks will be on hand at the Big Sur Deli this week to issue passes. Here are the times, please share widely:

Tuesday, March 28th 1-5pm
Wednesday, March 29th 7-11 am

Those signing up for waivers or passes at the Deli or at the MAF need to be sure to bring valid ID.

Brent Marshall, Martha Karstens, Gerry Malais – Unified Command

Highway Closure Update, 3/27/17

Photos of Paul’s Slide (PM 21.6)—working on the slope cut at Paul’s Slide.

*Same information as last Friday*

Important Note: All vehicles on the south side of PM 45.2 (PCB southern turn out), across from the Rancho Rico driveway need to clear out of this area by Friday, March 31:

1. This turn out location is South of Abutment 1, nearly across the street from the Rancho Rico driveway.
2. We need vehicles to clear out by Friday, March 31, 2017 (no cars in turn out area); PG & E will require access
to re-set poles and wires prior to drilling.

SR-1 Full Closure—Ragged Pt (SLO PM 72.87) to the Multi-Agency Facility “MAF”(MON PM 46.35). Recent rains did not change the status.
· Nacimiento-Fergusson Road is now open to the public.
· Public access on Highway 1, using Nacimiento-Fergusson, will be to Gorda (PM 10) to the south, and to Limekiln State Park (PM 20) to the north.
· Friday deliveries: Residents and deliveries will be allowed through at Paul’s Slide and Mud Creek once per week on Fridays between 5:30am – 9:00am, and 5:00pm – 7:30pm. Delivery vehicles are limited to 30 feet in length and up to 50,000 pounds.
· Residents will have access between Ragged Point and Limekiln State Park and from north of Paul’s Slide to just south of Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge between 5:30 am and 7:30 pm. Four gates are closing the roadway overnight at the following locations: 1) south end of Mud Creek (PM 8.8); 2) north end of Mud Creek (PM 8.9); 3) North end of Limekiln Creek Bridge (PM 21.07) and 4) north end of Hermitage wall (PM 22.42).
o Emergency services will have overnight access to the locked gates.

Mud Creek (PM 8.9):
· The roadway continues to deteriorate as slide activity continues daily. Further updates about the ability to pass through this section will be provided as the slide stabilizes.
· For now, resident access will continue to be allowed daily between 5:30 am and 7:30 pm once they are in between the gated areas of Paul’s and Mud Creek.

Paul’s Slide (PM 21.6):
· As of March 22nd , there is limited access due to major excavation above the roadway; access is limited to 5:30am – 6:00am and 7:00pm – 7:30pm. This will be for a minimum of four to six weeks and we will continually evaluate for opportunities to improve local resident access.
· For the Friday opportunities to resupply, access is limited to vehicles weighing 50,000 lbs., with a maximum vehicle length of 30 feet.
· Work will performed 24/7 as conditions allow, and updates will continue to be provided.

IMPORTANT NOTE – CALTRANS PFEIFFER CYN. BRIDGE (PM 45.5):
· Demolition of the bridge is complete: Span 1 came down Wednesday, March 22. Bridge debris clearing from the canyon continues, as the rain allows. Please stay clear of the area for your own safety and to allow the construction team to work on re-building this vital part of the road.

All business north of the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge closure are open to the public.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:
· Due to the nature of the construction activities, access will be subject to change on a regular basis.

· Another update regarding the Highway 1 Big Sur Coast will be provided mid-day on Wednesday, March 29 or sooner if conditions change.

· NOTE: For information on emergency services only (not Caltrans inquiries) for the Big Sur Coast, you may contact Gerry Malais, Mon. Co. OES via email at: malaisg@co.monterey.ca.us or Maia Carroll, Mon. Co. OES PIO at carrollm@co.monterey.ca.us .
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