Do you remember the wonderful mission bells or chocolate bells? Frittilaria biflora.
Anyway, the ONE meadow they grow in had become absolutely over run with campers, and more came every weekend. Well, look what the PV Station of the USFS DID!
They fenced it off! Yeah, yeah! Thank you E17!
One car, right around Plaskett Ridge Rd. managed to get itself stuck up an embankment, partially blocking southbound lane.
Detail Information
4:32 PM 12 [27] A27-014 1148 2 MALES 1 X TO LOS PADRES FIRE PACIFIC VALLEY BM 138 WILL 1021 HERTZ F/ANOTHER RENTAL
4:19 PM 11 [26] 1039 CAMBRIA 1020
3:41 PM 10 [20] 1039 CAMBRIA ETA 90 MINS
3:38 PM 9 [18] [Rotation Request Comment] 1039 CAMBRIA TOW 805-927-4357
3:37 PM 8 [17] PARTIALLY BLOCKING SB LANE
3:36 PM 7 [16] [Notification] [CHP]-[15] CKING FOR 1185 W/LOS PADRES FIRE
3:36 PM 6 [15] CKING FOR 1185 W/LOS PADRES FIRE
3:36 PM 5 [14] 14 CPZ ALL 1185
3:35 PM 4 [12] 14 INQ IF EQUIP STILL ROLLING AND WILL 1185 BE NEEDED
3:35 PM 3 [11] [Notification] [CHP]-[10] FIRE 1097 / 1182 / BLOCKING
3:35 PM 2 [10] FIRE 1097 / 1182 / BLOCKING
3:31 PM 1 [5] [Notification] [CHP]-MTY COMM TOOK ANOTHER CALL ADVS 1182 30 MILES JNO HEARST CASTLE SIL SUV STUCK ON EMBANKMENT NEAR TREE
WildCAD says this is by Plaskett Ridge Rd. LPNF sure has been busy this afternoon!
I sent out this letter to the USFS re public comment for their plan. I am reproducing it here. Today was the last day for comment, but there will be another one later, and I will keep all informed here at that time.
I am writing in response to your letter dated November 20, 2012, ref no. 1950-3, soliciting public comments.
First, I would like to offer that I support the comments made by the Monterey Firesafe Council.
Second, I am distressed to note that NONE of the South Coast of Big Sur is included in your proposal. I see none of the traditional, and long standing firebreaks on the South Coast, south of Anderson Peak are included in your plan, either in the writing, or in the map, including Big Creek Reserve, Lucia Lodge, the Hermitage, Cone Peak, South Coast Ridge Rd, Plaskett Ridge Rd, and Willow Creek Rd, as well as Home Ridge, which helps to protect your own Pacific Valley Station and our local school. All of these areas were threatened in 2008.
I had been going to write specifically about Plaskett Ridge Rd, which has not been maintained since 2000, and which is in such dismal shape that your own fire trucks could not get up it for the last fire of thankfully only 12 acres, about 3 years ago, and which necessitated taking a much longer route, which doubled your response time. Instead, I find myself writing in defense of an entire community which is not addressed in this plan. We are part of the Monterey District of the Los Padres National Forest, and yet never see the attention and consideration afforded the rest of Big Sur. If there is a totally separate plan, businesses, homeowners, and residents should be informed of this. If not, why are we not included? We are a part of Big Sur and the Monterey District.
After the Basin Fire of 2008, you may recall, came the Chalk Fire in October of that year. Many homes and businesses were threatened, and yet I see no indication of any plan to provide “Strategic Community Firebreak Improvement” down here. Yes, we have the Silver Peak Wilderness Area down here, but there is much of our area that is not within the Wilderness, and for which a strategic plan can and should be developed.
Now that I have realized that we are not even a part of this plan, I will be contacting others in my community, businesses and homeowners so that we can find out why, what the USFS has planned for us, and what we can do to facilitate a plan such as the one put forth for the rest of Big Sur.
I would greatly appreciate any plans the USFS has for this area, so I can pass it along through my blog (http://bigsurkate.wordpress.com) and emails to other residents who will be interested.
Kathleen Woods Novoa
Law Office of KWNovoa
HC67 #1794
Big Sur, CA 93920
(831)818-8026
kwnovoa@mac.com
A couple weeks ago, the USFS sent out a press release regarding Kirk Creek Campground becoming a dry camp. I posted a notice here: USFS announcement
I have received a number of reports that Plaskett Creek campground was going to be dry. Apparently, this error began in the Pine Cone, and spread. My comment was always that I got the notice re the Kirk Creek campground, but not Plaskett. I have now confirmed with Bob, the mgr at Plaskett for Park Management, that it is in fact Kirk Creek, not Plaskett which is now a dry camp. He informed me he would be asking the Pine Cone to print a correction.
Date: January 18, 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Andrew Madsen (805) 961-5759
Lynn Olson (831) 385-5434
Los Padres National Forest
6755 Hollister Ave. #150
Goleta, CA 93117
http://www.fs.usda.gov/lpnf
Water Shut Off at Kirk Creek Campground
GOLETA, CA…Los Padres National Forest officials have announced that Kirk Creek Campground on the Monterey Ranger District will convert to a dry campground effective today. Visitors to the camp site are encouraged to bring an adequate amount of water for use during their stay.
Over the years, the Forest Service has taken a number of steps to upgrade Kirk Creek’s water treatment system in order to meet the State of California’s water quality standards. When these efforts failed to improve water quality, the decision was made to shut down the Kirk Creek water system to reduce the potential for public healthy and safety issues.
Two new vault toilets were installed to replace the antiquated, flush-toilet restrooms in anticipation of the water shut-off.
“After exploring our options and assessing the impacts, we have determined the best course of action is to shut off the water as a precaution,” said Monterey District Ranger Tim Short. “While I understand this will inconvenience our visitors, the public safety aspect simply outweighs the alternative.”
Kirk Creek Campground was originally constructed in the early 1960s to provide year-round, single-family vehicle camping along the Monterey County coast. The campground includes thirty-three campsites configured around two intersecting loops. Over time, several of the sites were modified to allow for recreation vehicle and multi-family camping.
For more information, please contact the Monterey Ranger District at (831) 385-5434, or on-line at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/lpnf.
Dear All-
The USFS will be conducting a scoping meeting to gather public input on proposed actions in the Monterey District of the Los Padres National Forest. The proposed action, known as the “Strategic Community Fuel Break Improvement Project” is entering the first phase of the NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) process towards implementation. Although there are some specifics as to the geographical area to be treated and some basic ideas of how the proposed work may be executed, this meeting will allow interested parties the opportunity to weigh in with their support or concern and to offer up specific recommendations to USFS representatives in context with this project.
The Strategic Community Fuel Break Improvement Project is the product of a collaborative process that invited stakeholders from the environmental / wilderness community, biologists, fire science professionals, Native Americans, Agency land managers and resident Property Owners in an effort to protect and enhance the natural, precious world we live in while at the same time, engaging in sensible, wildfire pre-suppression treatments using an “all lands” approach. This process was sponsored by the USFS and facilitated by the Nature Conservancy utilizing the Open Standards for Conservation guide. This guide stresses the importance of a results oriented, adaptive strategy for managing lands on a “landscape wide level”.
Please make some time to drop by the Big Sur Multi Agency Facility conference room from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM on Thursday, December 6th and express your opinion on the proposed actions.
Click on Scoping Document and Project Vicinity Map to download these documents that you should read prior to the meeting.
Sincerely,
Butch
Butch Kronlund
CPOA
Date: July 3, 2012 Los Padres National Forest
6755 Hollister Ave. #150
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Goleta, CA 93117
CONTACT: Andrew Madsen (805) 961-5759 http://www.fs.usda.gov/lpnf
Fire Restrictions in Los Padres Take Effect July 3
GOLETA, CA…In response to the increasing potential for a wildland fire start, Los Padres National Forest officials announced that Level 2 fire restrictions will be implemented throughout the forest beginning July 3, 2012. These restrictions will affect the use of campfires, stoves, smoking materials and internal combustion engines, and will remain in effect until the end of fire season in late autumn.
Beginning July 3, 2012, the following restrictions will be in effect:
· No open fires, campfires or charcoal fires will be permitted outside of developed recreation sites or designated Campfire Use Sites (LIST ATTACHED), even with a valid California Campfire Permit. Lanterns and portable stoves using gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel will be permitted, but only with a valid California Campfire Permit (available free-of-charge at any Forest Service office). Forest visitors must clear all flammable material for five feet in all directions from their camp stove, have a shovel available, and ensure that a responsible person attends the stove at all times during use.
· Smoking is prohibited, except within an enclosed vehicle, building, or designated Campfire Use Site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material.
· Internal combustion engines may be operated only on roads or designated trails. This restriction is in effect year-round. Please make sure your engine is tuned, operating properly, and has an approved spark arrester.
“The moisture levels are at a critical threshold. Combine that with warm temperatures and high winds and we all the ingredients for fire starts,” Los Padres Forest Fire Management Officer Anthony Escobar said. “The most important thing is for forest visitors to be vigilant when conditions are bone-dry like this.”
For a list of Developed Recreation Sites and Campfire Use Sites in Los Padres National Forest, or further information regarding Fire-Safe Camping, visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/lpnf or contact the Forest Service district office nearest you.
Date: June 26, 2012 Los Padres National Forest
6755 Hollister Ave. #150
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Goleta, CA 93117
CONTACT: Andrew Madsen (805) 961-5759 http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/lospadres
Los Padres National Forest Announces New Monterey District Ranger
GOLETA, CA….Los Padres National Forest officials today announced the selection of Tim Short as the new Monterey District Ranger. Short is currently the North Kaibab District Ranger on the Kaibab National Forest in Arizona.
Short replaces Sherry Tune, who became Forest Supervisor of the Mendocino National Forest earlier this year.
“Tim has a solid background in natural resources and wilderness management, and will play a pivotal role in the community,” said Los Padres Forest Supervisor Peggy Hernandez. “He’s worked as a district ranger for nearly a decade, and his experience will be instrumental in his new position.”
Short is a native of Spokane, Washington, and began working with the U.S. Forest Service as a seasonal employee on the Umatilla and Okanogan National Forests in Oregon in 1979. He graduated from Oregon State University in 1985 with a degree in Forest Management. From 1986 to 1988 he served as a community forester with the Peace Corps in Nepal. Short worked as a forester on the Tonto National Forest in Arizona following his stint with the Peace Corps before accepting a district recreation officer position in 1992 on what was then the Las Vegas Ranger District of the Toiyabe National Forest along the California-Nevada border. This area was subsequently redesignated as the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area.
From 1999-2004, Short served as Deputy District Ranger on the Jackson and Buffalo Ranger Districts of the Bridger-Teton National Forest before returning to the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area as District Ranger. He has worked since 2007 in his current position as District Ranger on the Kaibab National Forest.
“This is an exciting time to be a part of public stewardship along this magnificent stretch of coastline,” Short said. “I’m looking forward to engaging with local stakeholders and the many visitors who come to enjoy these incredible recreation opportunities.”
Short reports for duty July 30.
Guess it is time to change over from my winter weather watch to summer fire watch links on the right. Will try to get to that ASAP, but hard to think fire at the moment, unless it is a fire in my wood stove! (It was in the 30’s last night)
Date: May 23, 2012 Los Padres National Forest
6755 Hollister Ave. #150
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Goleta, CA 93117
CONTACT: Andrew Madsen (805) 961-5759 http://www.fs.usda.gov/lpnf
Los Padres Implements High Response for Declared Fire Season
GOLETA, CA…Los Padres National Forest officials announced that wildland firefighters will transition into a “high response” posture beginning May 25 in conjunction with the declared start to fire season. This action is based on low plant moisture levels and increasingly dry conditions across the Central Coast and inland regions. The Forest Service is adopting this heightened posture along with fire departments throughout the local area.
“This past winter and spring saw below average rainfall, and with a hot summer ahead of us we need to take precautions against wildfire starts,” said Los Padres Forest Supervisor Peggy Hernandez. “Our fire staff is shifting to high response and we’ll be prepared for whatever the (fire) season brings.”
As seasonal fire staff report for duty, suppression resources will reach full capacity. The Reload Base at Santa Maria Airport will have full-time staffing throughout fire season. Although Santa Maria is not a Tanker Base, the Forest Service will request air tanker support through national federal emergency managers in the event of a large fire. Full staffing at the Reload Base will ensure that whenever national or Cal Fire air assets are available, the Forest Service will ensure retardant is efficiently reloaded onto the aircraft.
“The Reload Base at Santa Maria is a force multiplier for the Forest and the community,” said Los Padres Fire & Aviation Chief Anthony Escobar. “The retardant loading operation is based on a quick turnaround. It’s ready to go whenever it’s needed and tankers are on-site.”
Forest officials estimate that Level II fire restrictions will take effect next month, and visitors are reminded to exercise caution when enjoying recreation activities in Los Padres.
For more information, visit the Forest website at http://www.usda.gov/lpnf.
Last week, Sherry Tune started making personal phone calls to let individuals she had worked closely with know that she would be departing the LPNF Ranger District. This morning she had this message distributed for public information.
” I want to thank the Communities I’ve served for making my short tenure here on the Monterey Ranger District as the District Ranger very exciting, special and memorable. I am transitioning to a Forest Supervisor position on the Mendocino National Forest. This promotion for me is bittersweet. I love my work and enjoy the people I work with.”
Sherry told me she would be starting her new position on Valentine’s Day. She made a lot of friends here in Big Sur, and was always accessible to us. Blessings to you, Sherry, on your new adventure.
