Prescribed Burn near Arroyo Seca

NEWS RELEASE

Los Padres National Forest
For Immediate Release
Contact: Andrew Madsen (805) 895-0841
Twitter: @LosPadresNF

Prescribed Burn Scheduled in Los Padres National Forest

GOLETA, CA, November 12, 2015…Los Padres National Forest officials announced today that fire crews plan to conduct a prescribed burn next week at the Abbott Lakes adjacent to the Arroyo Seco Administrative Area on the Monterey Ranger District. The 18-acre project area is approximately 25 miles west of King City.

The purpose of the burn is to use prescribed fire to consume the emergent vegetation of the lower Abbott Lake and increase its water storage capacity. This in turn would:

· Provide a reliable source of water for fire suppression activities in order to better protect Arroyo Seco Administrative Site facilities, the surrounding community of Fred’s Camp, and other residential and commercial structures from wildfires.
Reduce or prevent the amount of water needing to be drafted from the Arroyo Seco River during active wildfires because water drafting may exacerbate summertime stress in steelhead trout populations and other aquatic species.
Improve aquatic and wetland habitat of the lower lake by filling it in the late fall, winter and early spring months during high river flows so that the lake is as full as possible on a year-round basis.

If the fuel and weather conditions are safely within prescription, the project could begin as early as November 17. Smoke may be visible from several miles away and residual smoke could be present in the area for several days following the burn.

Forest visitors are advised to call the Arroyo Seco Station at (831) 674-2381 or the Monterey District Office at (831) 385-5434 to obtain current information during the burn operation.

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Thanks to all our veterans

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For all you veterans, the Monterey Bay Aquarium has free admission for all active, retired military and veterans with appropriate ID on Veterans Day.  Also, many places like Applebee’s are offering a free meal for all veterans. Thank our veterans and remember our fallen.

Culvert Repair, Carmel Highlands, Thursday, 11/12

MONTEREY COUNTY – An emergency culvert repair project will take place on Highway 1
at Highland Drive in Carmel Highlands for one day only on Thursday, Nov. 12, Caltrans
officials have announced.

Motorists will encounter one-way reversing traffic control with flagging on northbound Hwy.
1 at Highland Dr. from 9 am to 12 noon on Thursday, Nov. 12 only.

Motorists can expect a delay not to exceed 15 minutes.

This project will repair a deteriorated culvert to improve drainage in preparation for winter
rains.

Big Sur prepares for El Niño

There is a nice little video about 4 minutes long on KION featuring our Cal Trans worker Ray Ortega as well as Kirk Gafill of Nepenthe. I don’t post videos on my blog due to costs, and in this case, possible copyright infringement, but here is a link:

Big Sur Preps for El Nino

Often times these links only work for a few days, so look at it as soon as you can. Enjoy this very crisp, clear day. Frost advisories thru tomorrow morning. I woke to 38 degrees outside, and 52 in. Immediately built a fire, and now just trying to get warm!

Rain Report

My weather station reports .69″ for today. Got caught in a major downpour on the highway around 3:00. Dave Allen at the school told me their weather station reported .6″ during that 5 minute downpour, with a previous .3″ for a prior downpour.

Highway One in amazingly good shape today, as was Plaskett. Nice to be home. Yosemite is very beautiful, but so is home. Also, my dogs are here. 😘 Did have an amazing dinner, on the recommendation of Dan Danbom, at the Groveland Hotel. It is 160 year old Adobe. The most extensive wine list I have ever seen – a huge book of selections.

Foto Friday, Yosemite, 11/6/15

So gorgeous up here … Too bad I am in classes all day. Still managed a few shots. Maybe more tomorrow.

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Highway One Storm Repair near Piedras Blancas

Went thru this just after the storm, and waves were WAY up over the road. Had to time my travel across.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HIGHWAY 1 REPAIRS NEAR PIEDERAS BLANCAS NOW UNDERWAY

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY – An emergency project to repair storm-damaged sections of Highway 1 north of the Piedras Blancas lighthouse is now underway.

Motorists will encounter one-way reversing traffic control Monday through Friday from 7 am until 4 pm. Moderate delays of 10-15 minutes are expected.

These repairs to the rock slope and highway are necessary at six locations within the project limits due to erosion of the bluffs as a result of the recent wave surge onto the shoreline and the highway.

Electronic message boards will be activated to inform motorists of this project. The contractor for this $500,000 project is Papich Construction of Pismo Beach, CA. This project is expected to be completed by the end of the year, weather permitting.