From a friend: “Scanner just went off for a smoke investigation on the Nacimento/Coast Ridge Road.  Somebody from Lucia called it in– Nakarubi area.  Forest Service is investigating – non burn day.”

” Ok – Martha talked to the owner at the fire site – old stump from Chalk Fire flared up – sending pump truck.  Sounds like everything is under control.”

And FWIW, I cannot see ANY smoke from here, so whatever it is is very small.

Humidity rapidly dropping. Nepenthe is only 13%, Chew’s Ridge is 9%. I haven’t checked mine, but will post when I do. Winds still strong out of the east. Temperatures up in the 70’s already, in fact, the LOW at Nepenthe was in the 70’s. Dangerous combination here, folks. PLEASE be extra cautious, as no rain in the forecast.

This is from today’s NOAA forecast discussion: “NOT SEEING ANY RAIN IN THE FORECAST

 THROUGH JAN 23RD...WHICH IS STARTING TO GET WORRISOME." 

It has been very windy all day. At 7 pm at night, it is 60 degrees up here, humidity is 22%. And this from a reader: “It is currently 71 with 20% humidity at my house near Pfeiffer Beach and a wind out of the East. . . .  This is prime fire weather and so very dangerous.” 

I concur. No rain in the forecast for the next 10 days, either. It is only going to get worse. Personally, I think the USFS needs to rethink its campfire policy for the LPNF, and will be suggesting the same to Bradford.

I received the following this morning. You might want to make a note for future reference.

The Big Sur temporary NOAA Weather Radio broadcast is now operational.  It is broadcasting on a frequency of 162.475 MHz from Post Ranch Inn.  A permanent solution is in the works.  The temporary solution will be in place through at least May 15, 2009.  A formal announcement can be found at http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/mtr/versprod.php?pil=PNS&sid=MTR <http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/mtr/versprod.php?pil=PNS&sid=MTR>

This also received from CalTrans:

BIG SUR — The helicopter operation of the emergency contract to construct a rockfall drapery system to prevent landslides at various locations on both directions of Hwy. 1 just north of Torre Canyon Bridge has been postponed, Caltrans officials today announced. 

Work is now tentatively scheduled to occur on Tuesday, Jan. 20, and Wednesday, Jan. 21. Initially, work was scheduled to begin on Jan. 12. Construction hours are from 9 am to 4 pm on both days. Up to 45-minute traffic delays are expected for this operation.

NOTE: THE DATES HAVE BEEN CHANGED TO TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20-21ST~~

Today’s Date:Wednesday, January 7, 2009

District:            5 (Santa Barbara, SLO, Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties)

Contact:            Susana Z Cruz (español) or Colin Jones

Phone:            (805) 549-3138 or (805) 549-3189

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

HELICOPTER OPERATION FOR ROCKFALL DRAPERY PROJECT ON HWY 1 IN BIG SUR–NEXT WEEK FOR ONE TO TWO DAYS ONLY

 

BIG SUR—The helicopter operation of the emergency contract to construct a rockfall drapery system to prevent landslides at various locations on both directions of Hwy. 1 just north of Torre Canyon Bridge begins next week, Caltrans officials have announced.

Work is scheduled for two days from Monday, Jan. 12, to Tuesday, Jan. 13 but may be completed early due to factors such as weather, winds and visibility. Work hours are from 9 am to 4 pm both days. Up to 45-minute delays can be anticipated for this operation.

This work is part of the on-going emergency rockfall protection project resulting from the Basin Complex Fire. The rockfall drapery system will be used to prevent rockfall on this steep and denuded slope. Vegetation on the slope was lost as a result of the Basin Complex fire. The slope is now extremely prone to landslides. 

The contractor for this emergency project is AIS Construction Company of Ventura.

Caltrans reminds motorists that ‘we’re here to get you there’.

For traffic updates on other state highway projects in Monterey County, residents can call the District 5 toll free number at 1-831-372-0862 or can visit our website at www.dot.ca.gov/dist05/maint/road/upmon.htm

Everyone is out of the office for holiday, but the assistant resources officer. This is what she sent:

Hi Kathleen, 

I want to pass on some information related to the South Coast Ridge Road.  Per the Chalk BAER Report engineering recommendations, the District will be performing post-storm patrol and monitoring on the road after major storms to find and fix minor problems (minor rock fall, downed trees, etc.), and to document larger problems to pass on to the contractor.  As you already know, a contract is in place for any major work that may need to be performed.  In the event of an emergency (eg. the road becomes impassable), you should call 9-1-1 (primary dispatch).  Primary dispatch, in turn, will contact the Forest dispatch center who will follow the appropriate procedure to alert the contractor. 

As I mentioned in the voicemail message I left you earlier today, after today, I am planning be out of the office until next Monday.  If you have any additonal questions prior to then, the office, (831) 385-5434, will be open tomorrow and Friday from 0800 – 1630.  I hope this information is helpful and you will share it with your neighbors. 

Katherine Malengo
Assistant Resource Officer
Monterey District – Los Padres National Forest
406 South Mildred Avenue
King City, CA 93930
(831) 385-5434, ext. 219
kmalengo@fs.fed.us

Nothing in the forecast but beautiful weather until Sunday, so it will be a quiet week here on bigsurkate, which is a good thing, as I have lots of work to do, then lots of partying to do. Whoo hoo! I, for one, can not wait for 2008 to be over. It has not been an easy year for any of us, but we were given many opportunities to find out what we are made of, how strong our friendships are, and all the blessings that fill our lives. Thank you for being part of mine. Maybe a photo or two before we say good-bye to 2008.

I don’t see anything shaping up in the weather or news department, so I offer this photo of the cove just north of Ragged Point. Enjoy, and I have a few more recent Big Sur photos to post in the next few days, while we enjoy the respite and beautiful weather!

At the last BSMAAC meeting on 12/12 (sorry I haven’t posted the notes, yet – my bad), one of the issues I brought up was the South Coast Ridge Rd., particularly up Chalk Peak. I asked Bradford what was being done to mitigate the fire problems to PREVENT rock and mudslides. He answered about what the USFS would do  IF there were slides. Sam Farr called him on that, pointing out that Bradford was not answering my question. Bradford then said he would have to get back to me the following week. When Friday, the 19th arrived, and I still hadn’t heard from Bradford, I called him. This time, he said the “engineers” said there was nothing that could be done to mitigate the conditions, BUT that the USFS had hired a contractor to go out during storms and keep the road open. ALL storms, I asked? Yes, he said.

According to one neighbor who drives this road all the time, that is not happening. And, in fact, this resident is out every other day, clearing rocks off of the Chalk Peak portion of the road.  I sent Alec Arago, Sam Farr’s aide, an email about the above with a copy to Bradford. Let’s see how, or if, he responds.

BTW, the South Coast Ridge Rd. is *closed* between Nacimiento-Fergusson Summit and Prewitt Ridge Rd. — and clearly marked so. Due to damage being created by non-local tourist people going off-road, I have called USFS law enforcement, asking for additional patrol of this area. That should start today.

Created a new page to the right, called Big Sur Fires, 2008. I am in the process of gathering all posts and photos onto one page for ease in historical access. 

Woke to a light dusting of snow this morning. My deck is covered. So, it was a white Christmas, I just slept through most of it! LOL.

I was thinking this morning that in the past, the only one interested in my rain totals was Kimball. What a difference a fire makes, yes?