Something we can all agree on …
Category: Fire Season
Fracking in Monterey County – all eyes on us
Can Fracking Bans Succeed in Oil and Gas Country? All Eyes Are on Monterey – WSJ
From a constant reader in North Dakota: “Today’s WSJ article about fracking in Monterey County caught my eye. The Bakken oil play propelled ND to the country’s #2 oil producer, second only to Texas. The Bakken is so successful entirely because of fracking; without fracking, Bakken oil is not accessible economically. Yet even here in pro-oil country, fracking has become controversial because of its impact on water.
Each well uses over 1 million gallons of water to frack. The water has to come from somewhere economically accessible, and the oil industry has engaged in controversial, highly questionable practices to gain access to that much water, a scarce resource in this area. One practice has been to buy off ranchers, pitting neighbor against neighbor. Once fracked, the ‘brine’ residue then must be disposed. It is highly salty; and it and the filtering equipment used in the fracking process are contaminated with above legal levels of radioactive waste. Salt water disposal wells, the source of the alarming earthquake activity in Oklahoma, have sprung up around the area, themselves replete with problems ranging from contamination to leaks to bankruptcy, leaving county taxpayers holding the bag. Radioactive waste disposal has been a source of continual problems in ND, numerous incidents of illegal dumping, costing counties multi-millions in clean-up costs. The State has dealt with this problem by raising the level of acceptable contamination, making it easier to dispose of the radioactive waste. Further, issues abound about the impact on our aquifers created by fracking; a pattern has been established demonstrating drying up residential and stock wells.
Fracking creates so many issues. Like Monterey County, the Little Missouri National Grasslands, where I live, is one of this country’s true natural treasures. The impact on our lives, our lands, our water, from the oil industry’s activities is real. I hope Monterey County protects itself.”
Best regards,
81flatrock81@gmail.com
81flatrock81 adds this regarding where he/she lives and his/her understanding of the issue: “readers are welcome to contact me. [email is: 81flatrock81@gmail.com] My ranch is located on the fringe of the Bakken play. My county, McKenzie County, is ND’s #1 oil-producing county. I have personally experienced all sides of the oil issue, from local ranchers’ perspectives about the advantages as well as disadvantages from oil activity, to local and state politicians/regulators/employees, essentially apologists for the industry, to industry actions and practices. Generally speaking, it appears to me that the bottom line is short-term money making, an irresistible elixir erasing sound judgment and rational thinking.”
Andrew Molera hike in camping to reopen
Reopening of Andrew Molera State Park Trail Camp Campground
BIG SUR, CA: Trail Camp Campground at Andrew Molera State Park will be reopened on 11/3/2016. Trail Camp was closed to the public after the park was utilized as a Fire Camp during the Soberanes Wildfire. Rehabilitation efforts were needed before the campground could be opened. We are pleased to once again provide this camping opportunity for the enjoyment of the public.
Trail Camp consists of 24 tent only campsites. All campsites are available on a first come-first served basis and are walk in campsites, requiring a ¼ mile hike in from the parking lot. Occupancy for each campsite is limited to a maximum of 4 people.
We are making 3 campsites available for Hike and Bike camping due to the current closure of Hike and Bike camping at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. The sites will remain available until the facilities at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park are opened. Each of the 3 campsites will be available to those people not utilizing motor vehicles for transportation to the park (parking on the highway and walking in is not permitted). Campsites will be available on a first come-first served basis with a maximum of 4 occupants per campsite. Hike and Bike camping fees are $5/night/person and payment is required upon entry to the park.
For park information please call (831) 667-2315 or online at http://www.parks.ca.gov
VWS Stolen Truck Recovered
Some of you already know that on Thursday night at Andrew Molera, one of the condor trucks was stolen. It was recovered last night in SLO with major damage.Joe Burnett reminds us to be aware of any unusual or suspicious activity in our area, and don’t be afraid to report it.
MoCo OES Text Alerts
Waiting for the rain …
11:45 am – the rain has begun. I was at 4.31″ for October before it began. So far, it is gentle.
10:00 am – While waiting, here are a couple eye-openers for us. I get to watch peacefully from my perch, but hopefully, those of you in the threatened areas have all completed your sandbagging and any other last minute preps. Also hoping that this storm is milder than predicted… Keep us posted about conditions where you are in the comments below.
Flash Flood Watch
This is a notification from Alert Monterey County:
This is an informational message from Monterey County Office of Emergency Services.
A significant weather system is approaching the Central Coast. The National Weather Service has issued a FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR THE SOBERANES FIRE BURN SCAR AREA, starting Thursday 3 p.m. 10-27-2016 through Friday 7 a.m. 10-28-2016.
There is sufficient moisture with this system that may cause significant inconvenience, and if caution is not exercised, it could lead to situations that may threaten life and/or property.
We strongly suggest you take appropriate precautions or preparations to protect life and property.
For more information go to: https://inws.ncep.noaa.gov/a/a.php?i=6853847
From Dave Allen:
Storm Situation-Thursday to Friday
A potential big storm moving in heads up and plan for potential debris flow
Fire Chief Cheryl Goetz from Mid-Coast Fire Brigade · Palo Colorado Canyon
UPDATED INFORMATION
Showers end this morning in the North Bay. Next focus will be on storm due to arrive Thursday. More rain possible over the weekend.
IMPACTS
*Impact 1 (Moderate to heavy rain for burn scar areas) :
•Rain is expected to develop Thursday and may be heavy for a time Thursday evening over the Loma and Soberanes Fire burn scars.
•Rain total forecast (QPF) will be fine tuned over the next few days but potential for 1-4 inches of rain over the highest peaks.
•Persons with property impacted by the fires should take action now to protect against potential debris flows or flash floods.
*Impact 2 (Rain for much of the Bay Area and Central Coast)
· Confidence increasing for rain Thursday through Friday morning that will likely impact the Thursday afternoon commute.
*Impact 3 (South winds):
· South winds from 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 35 mph will be possible Thursday into early Friday ahead of the frontal passage.
*Current Watches/Warnings/Advisories:
· No watches/warnings/advisories in effect at this time. Latest Hazardous Weather
FORECAST CONFIDENCE
· High for rainfall but only low to moderate for exact amounts and locations of rain on Thursday.
TIMING
· Thursday afternoon into Thursday night for the heaviest rain turning to showers by Friday morning.
LOCATIONS
· Loma and Soberanes burn scars
Shared with Mid-Coast Fire Brigade in Crime & Safety
Special Events & the Planning Commission
The Monterey County Planning Commission will be having a discussion about special events this Wednesday morning. Attached is a copy of the staff report and the draft Director’s Interpretation.
Comments can be submitted to before Tuesday, 5:00 pm to Jacquelyn Nickerson at NickersonJ@co.monterey.ca.us and she will distribute to all the Planning Commissioners.
Kathleen Lee
Chief of Staff for
Supervisor Dave Potter
(831) 647-7755
Upcoming Storm
I’ve already got rain here, despite contrary predictions. Nice that everything is wet, and more seemed to be coming as dawn arrived, before I got enshrouded in clouds, but the big story is the storm this Thursday and Friday.
From NOAA NWS: “The trends seem to indicate that the heaviest rains with the late
week system will be focused somewhere between the Santa Cruz mtns and Santa Barbara county putting the central coast (i.e. Big Sur) potentially in the bullseye for an incoming southwest flow system. The ecmwf has been pretty consistent with this solution for days
now and the latest 06z gfs is more or less in line. Given the trajectory of the incoming low would expect the heavier rains with the late week system for the southern portions of the district most notably the Santa Cruz mtns and Big Sur hills where 1-4 inches may occur with the late week system Thursday into early Friday.”
And from my SLO forecaster: “In Northern California, a slow moving cold front associated
with this trough of low pressure will push southward today spreading rain as far south as Monterey Bay by tonight, before stalling over Big Sur and dissipating on Tuesday.”