Category: Weather Conditions

Good news for the Big Sur State Park?

This press release issued this afternoon by the State Controller’s Office certainly makes it look like the money to finish the bridges in the State Park has been freed up.

SACRAMENTO – State Controller John Chiang today announced new cash figures show the State is currently positioned to finish out the fiscal year without having to borrow an additional $1.5 billion from Wall Street.

In a letter to State Treasurer Bill Lockyer, Chiang noted that Lockyer’s ability to secure a $500 million note from Golden 1 Credit Union, the Legislature’s passage of a bill last week providing $1.57 billion in federal stimulus funds in April, and higher-than-projected funds available for internal borrowing will allow the State to meet all of its payment obligations through June 30, 2009.

“Averting the need for additional borrowing in a still-tight market is great news and will save Californians about $15.4 million in high interest rates,” Chiang said. “With sufficient cash on hand, we will be able to meet all of our obligations in full and on time, including tax refunds to California taxpayers and payments to private businesses and local programs that provide needed services to our most vulnerable residents.”

After enactment of the latest budget bill in late February, the Controller had projected the State would dip to a low of -$636 million in April. However, because of additional revenue erosion and increased expenditures in March, the low point in April fell to -$1.9 billion. But three factors changed those cash flow projections, which now show a low point on April 1, when the State will have $1.1 billion in the Treasury:

• A bill signed Friday to change Medi-Cal reporting requirements will provide about $1.57 billion in federal stimulus funds in April;

• Special funds used for internal borrowing grew by $1.35 billion, largely because they were not tapped when the State stopped funding infrastructure projects during the cash crisis, and;

• The Treasurer was able to secure a $500 million short-term loan from Golden 1.

Big Sur State Park remains closed

“No timeline is in place to reopen the eastern part of Pfeiffer Big Sur Park and the site of the campground.” KSBW-TV reports tonight. 

This is a complex issue that is at the forefront of everyone’s mind in the Big Sur Valley, where businesses rely on the influx of campers to fuel its summer economy. It consumed much of the public discussion at the BSMAAC meeting on Friday, March 20, 2009. Many local business owners are thinking creatively to come up with solutions to reinstall the bridges needed to open the Park, and have recruited politicians Able Maldonado’s office, Sam Farr, and Dave Potter, among many others, to assist in this project.

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The state budget fiasco is a continuing problem and is behind the failure to open the State Park. The monies to fund the rebuilding and reinstallation of the two bridges are not available. The State Controller, John Chiang, continues to stop and start payments to independent contractors almost daily, based on the amount of money in the states’ treasury. The website for the Controller’s Office is: http://www.sco.ca.gov/ however, in reviewing it, the information does not appear as up-to-date as that provided, at least for those of us doing appointed indigent appeals,  to us on almost a weekly basis from the Administrative Office of the Courts. I have not found a source of similar information for the bridge contractors, although I am sure they have something similar.

As an independent contractor for the State of California, who provides a constitutionally-mandated service, I am only too aware of the lack of payments to people like myself, and those that have contracted to build and reinstall the bridges. If I could stop work when payments stop, I would. That is what the bridge contractors have done.

Based on all that I’ve read, unless Big Sur itself comes up with some very creative ideas, the park is not likely to open by the beginning of the summer tourist season on Memorial Day. And if the State of California does not come up with long-term budget solutions, quickly, there is no telling when the Big Sur State Park WILL reopen.

One thing that has become clear this Spring Break week, is that with the State Park closed, private campgrounds, as I predicted a month or two ago, are becoming crowded, and lodging here is becoming more and more difficult to find without prior reservations. I suggest anyone interested in visiting Big Sur make reservations far in advance. In fact, one might want to make reservations first, then plan the timing of your vacation here.

Good luck!

Grizzly



Grizzly, originally uploaded by wind_dancer.

Tomorrow, I will go out to the burn area here on the South Coast, looking for wild flower shots to post, but today, it is “kick-back” and unpack day here on the ranch. Gorgeous weather, too.

Utah Weather Alert

This is what is predicted for us tonight and tomorrow, as we are in the Southern Utah mountains! Oh, my!! I guess my trip to Zion National Park is out.

… WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 4 PM MDT THURSDAY…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SALT LAKE CITY HAS ISSUED A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW… WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 4 PM MDT THURSDAY. THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

THIS WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS FOR THE SOUTHERN MOUNTAINS OF UTAH.

SNOW IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ACROSS THE SOUTHERN MOUNTAINS THIS EVENING. THE HEAVIEST SNOWFALL WILL DEVELOP LATE TONIGHT… AND REMAIN HEAVY AT TIMES THROUGH EARLY THURSDAY AFTERNOON. THE SNOW WILL TURN SHOWERY LATER THURSDAY AFTERNOON… WITH ACCUMULATING SNOWS ENDING OVER MOST AREAS LATE IN THE DAY. STORM TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS OF 10 TO 18 INCHES ARE EXPECTED FROM THIS EVENT.

WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO BECOME STRONG AND GUSTY WITH THE PASSAGE OF THIS STORM SYSTEM. AREAS OF CONSIDERABLE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW ARE POSSIBLE THURSDAY.

And this is what we drove through on Vail Pass, CO yesterday, and the snow was primarily the day before and today. It did snow on us as we passed through, however, so this has definitely been an interesting trip.

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Storm Watch, 3/22/09

While we got approximate 1/2 inch of rain, snow flurries, and sleet, no real snow stuck around my place, my one and only neighbor tells me. Cone Peak is covered, however. I, on the other hand, just crossed the Rockies, and saw lots and lots of snow. More is coming in tomorrow on the Western Side of the Rockies, but is not expected on the Eastern Side. Good weather to follow for Big Sur, and the Rockies. I’ll go through my shots, and see what I have to share later tonight. Now, I am getting ready to go over to my daughter’s, visit with my grandkids, and cook them all these absolutely greasy spoon tacos my daughter loves so much! Back shortly.

Storm Watch, 3/21/09

This from this afternoon’s NOAA forecast discussion:

MODELS ARE STILL
 FORECASTING THIS TO PASS THROUGH THE NORTH BAY AROUND MIDNIGHT AND
 MOVE BRISKLY DOWN THE COAST AND BE SOUTH OF MONTEREY BY DAYBREAK.
 SNOW LEVELS WILL BE BETWEEN 3000 AND 2500 FT AFTER THE FRONT PASSES
 SO COULD SEE A DUSTING TO 1 OR 2 IN ABOVE THESE ALTITUDES BRIEFLY
 TOMORROW MORNING.  ALSO HAVE NOT RULED OUT THUNDERSTORMS WITH THE
 FRONT AS INSTABILITY WILL BE MODERATE AND AGAIN LOTS OF CONVECTION
 ALREADY SEEN WITH THE FRONT OFFSHORE. RAINFALL AMOUNTS WITH THIS
 SYSTEM SHOULD AVERAGE A QUARTER TO HALF INCH IN THE LOW LEVELS WITH
 UP TO 1 TO 2 IN IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS ESPECIALLY SANTA CRUZ AND
 SANTA LUCIA MTNS.

Sunset over the Clouds

Sunset over the Clouds, originally uploaded by wind_dancer.

Don’t forget the BSMAAC meeting this morning. I probably won’t be able to attend, due to a prior engagement. But I’ll get reports, I hope. The big topic for discussion will be, of course, the bridges for the State Park. PelicanNetwork sent out the article from the Pine Cone last night. Kirk, Dan, Stan, and Jack have been working tirelessly on communications with the state to make sure this project is fast-tracked, and funded.

Weekend Storm System

Saturday a quick-moving cold system is moving into the area, and it could drop snow levels down to 2000 ft. on Saturday night. Oh, boy, just what I need when I am trying to keep a 4-5 day-old kitten at the required 90 degrees!!

Sunday, 3/15 & Announcements

Too pretty to be blogging. I’m out taking photographs of Big Sur. Look for them in the coming days. Chance of rain (30%) for later today still in forecast, but I am seeing just a lot of blue sky, so I am really questioning that. Have a great Sunday, everyone!!

Also, just a reminder: BSMAAC meeting, Friday, March 20th at 10:oo am at the Conference Center; MoCo Community Wildfire Protection Plan (MCCWPP), Tuesday, March 24th at 7 pm, also at the Conference Center; and lastly, a benefit for Pacific Valley School at TreeBones on Sunday, March 29th at 6 pm. See announcement page for details on any of these upcoming events.

Weather Report, 3/10

Looks like sunshine for the entire week. However, it is mighty cold up here! Am about to turn on the heat and hope to thaw my popsicle hands. I’ll use this quiet time to upload some photographs of the Big Sur Coast throughout the week.