Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District To Consider Specific SLV Rules for Outdoor Burns

The Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District will consider a staff recommendation to adopt revisions to District Rule 438 (Open Outdoor Fires)  that include changes specific to the San Lorenzo Valley at their meeting in Monterey on Aug 2nd.

The SLV specific rule changes include:

Creation of a Smoke Sensitive Area for the San Lorenzo Valley
Currently, Rule 438 describes a Monterey Peninsula/Carmel Valley Smoke Sensitive Area (SSA). The Rule 438 revisions create a new SSA for SLV. Figure 1 shows the SLV SSA boundary that was based on the County of Santa Cruz general plan map for SLV (map reference: Santa Cruz County GIS staff, numbered 180-07, dated November 2007). The SLV SSA excludes areas within the Scotts Valley Fire Protection District. 

Burning Limits based on Property Size 
The Rule modifications further restrict backyard burning in the SLV to parcels larger than one acre, except in areas where yard waste pick-up is not available. A waiver from the parcel size requirement for the SLV SSA can be granted at the discretion of the District following a site inspection.
Number of permitted burns per burn day 
The Rule modifications limit open burning within the SLV SSA to two per day per fire district, for a total not to exceed 10 permitted backyard burns per day. As stated above, the SLV SSA excludes areas within the Scotts Valley Fire Protection District so the daily permit restriction does not apply to areas under the jurisdiction of the Scotts Valley Fire Protection District.

The entire proposed rule changes can be seen here: http://www.mbuapcd.org/mbuapcd/pdf/Advisory_Reports/20120802/7.pdf

The meeting will be held next Thursday, August 2nd  at 1:30pm in the 3rd floor Board Room at 24580 Silver Cloud Court in Monterey. 

Collaborative Effort Among Major Conservation Groups to Protect Central Coast

A group of five leading conservation organizations are collaborating to achieve critical large-scale land protection goals in the heart of coastal California. The new effort, called the Living Landscape Initiative, includes the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County, The Nature Conservancy, Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST), Save the Redwoods League and empervirens Fund. Sacramento-based Resources Legacy Fund helped launch the effort using major support from the Gordon and BettyMoore Foundation and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation.

The goal of the Initiative is to preserve and protect 80,000 acres over the next 20 years in four key areas in and around Silicon Valley: Coastal Lands, the Redwood Heartland, the Pajaro River Corridor, and other Essential Links. To attract matching funds from both the public and private sectors, the Moore Foundation has put forth a $15 million 3-to-1 challenge grant for land acquisition and stewardship over the next three years.

“We’re at a critical time for translating scientific knowledge into impact at a strategic, regional scale—ensuring a human connection to our surroundings, creating linkages for wildlife, and conserving essential plant and animal habitats,” said Steve McCormick, president of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. “I am extremely pleased to direct the Foundation’s resources to this collaborative.”

"The time to act is now. We understand more than ever how important healthy living landscapes are to the social and economic future of the Bay Area,” said Julie Packard, trustee of the David and Lucile Packard Foundation and executive director of the Monterey Bay Aquarium. “Strategic, science-based and collaborative land conservation will let ecosystems as well as local communities thrive in a connected and sustainable manner. The Living Landscape Initiative provides a powerful model to make immediate and significant progress."

Read the full press release here:  http://www.livinglandscapeinitiative.org/news/2011-03-10-LLI-final.pdf or go to the website: http://www.livinglandscapeinitiative.org.

Lots To Do At Quail Hollow Ranch This Weekend

There's always a lot to do at Quail Hollow Ranch County Park in Ben Lomond and this weekend there are three organized activities to choose from:

Join with Friends of Quail Hollow Ranch and the Quail Hollow Nest Box Project as they get together to refurbish bird boxes for cavity nesting birds at the County Park on Saturday morning .   Help continue to provide habitat for birds at the ranch and learn a bit about the life cycle of these birds at the same time.  Volunteers will spend a morning of cleaning, repairing, and installing boxes.   For those interested in monitoring the nest boxes, information about upcoming training classes and volunteering to check boxes will be available.  Wear work clothes and shoes and bring something to drink and eat.  Open to anyone who can use a screwdriver and putty knife.

Also on Saturday you can join Phyllis Endicott, local after school science and cooking instructor, for an afternoon of learning to cook and prepare fresh pasta and Italian sodas in the Quail Hollow Ranch Sunset Kitchen. Each person will practice and learn a variety of techniques used in cooking and preparing meals. All ages are welcome, but children under 8 must be accompanied with an adult and registered as a team. A $15 materials fee is due to the instructor on the day of the class. Sign up at www.scparks.com or by calling 831-454-7941 by Friday.

On Sunday Feb. 6 from 1-3PM you can join herpetologist, Paul Haskins for a saunter along park trails in search of reptiles and amphibians. Peruse the pond and muse over the meadow while learning about the favorite hangouts and resting places of the indigenous critters that inhabit our neighborhood.  All ages are welcome.

Bird Box Work Party at Quail Hollow Ranch
Saturday, February 5, 9:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
For more information call 831-335-9348.

Cooking Pasta & Italian Sodas
Saturday, February 5, 1-3 p.m.
http://www.scparks.com/quail_hollow_activities.html

Reptiles and Amphibians at Quail Hollow
Sunday, February 6, 1 - 3 p.m.
http://www.scparks.com/quail_hollow_activities.html

Mountain Parks and Valley Women's Club Host Save The Frogs Director

"The Miracle of Frogs" 

Why We Need to Save Them

Dr. Kriger, Founder and Exectutive Director of Save the Frogs, will give a presentation called "The Miracle of Frogs" at the VWC Environmental Committee meeting on Saturday, Feb. 5th at 10:30 am at the Nature Center in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park.

Sponsored by the Environmental Committee of the Valley Women¹s Club, the presentation features remarkable photos and unique details about the colorful, local creatures. It is supported by Mountain Parks Foundation as well.

The presentation is suitable for all ages and is free. Entry to the state park costs $10.

Refreshments will be served outside after the program.  For more information about this program, please call the Environmental Committee at the Valley Women's Center  338-1728

Public Hearing on County Plastic Bag Ban

Supervisor Stone alerted us to a Public Information Meeting Wednesday Night (Jan 26) to obtain input on the County's proposal to adopt an ordinance regulating the use of single-use carry-out bags.  The County of Santa Cruz wishes to solicit comments from local retailers and other interested parties.

The meeting will be held at the Live Oak Community Center, Simpkins Swim Center, 979 17th Ave beginning at 6:30PM.

If the ordinance is adopted, all retail product stores would be prohibited from handing out plastic bags and would charge a $0.10 fee on each paper carry-out bag at point of sale.  The fees would remain with the retailer to offset the cost of single-use paper bags.

This ordinance would affect the unincorporated area of Santa Cruz County.

Monning To Discuss Environmental Issues in Felton

On Wednesday, October 27, 2010 from 6 to 8 pm, at the Felton Community Hall State Assembly Member, Bill Monning, will be the featured guest in a discussion with the public about environmental concerns in and beyond the San Lorenzo River Watershed. 

Monning will give a presentation about important issues affecting our local environment that are going through the Legislature or have recently passed or failed. He will address specific questions posed by the VWC, and finish with an open question and answer period. For over 33 years, the VWC’s Environmental Committee has promoted and supported the healthy stewardship of the San Lorenzo Watershed. This meeting is an excellent opportunity for community members to convey concerns and their vision of appropriate care of our local resources, including the San Lorenzo River and other surface waters, groundwater, forests, and our beaches and oceans. There will be displays highlighting the San Lorenzo Watershed and free information on environmental issues. Refreshments will be served. The Hall is at 6191 Hwy 9, in downtown Felton. For information call 338-1728.

The 23rd Annual River & Road Clean-up Saturday, September 19th

The Valley Women's Club Joining Forces with Save our Shores

In order to bring to public consciousness the tie between the SLV watershed and the health of the ocean, we are joining together to emphasize the importance of preventing SLV trash from washing down the River to the Bay.

VOLUNTEERING:Volunteers are invited to check in starting at 9 am at the Felton Covered Bridge Park, or on Hwy 9 at Fillmore St. in Ben Lomond, or at the SLV Redemption/Recycling Center behind the Village Wash & Dry in Boulder Creek, to help with the Cleanup. Volunteers are encouraged to come any time, all day from 9 to 3, to help, but after 12-noon in Felton, folks should come to Hihn St. by Rite Aid to sign in, to return trash, or to bring large items for transport, so the Park may be tidied up and returned to recreational use. The Ben Lomond and Boulder Creek sites will operate from 9 to 3 as usual, with the 9 to 12 effort tallied for SOS. VWC Board Member, Karen Burman will Captain for Ben Lomond. The morning effort at the Covered Bridge Park will be Captained by Beth Hollenbeck of CORE, whose enthusiastic volunteers did a powerful clean up job for last year’s SOS Clean-up and plan to do so again this year, with VWC volunteers joining in.

The River & Road Clean-up is again co-sponsored by the SLV Water District and the County of Santa Cruz. Both will provide dump trucks to haul recyclables and trash to the Ben Lomond Transfer Station, where the County will provide free disposal of trash. The VWC’s recycling centers will process the recyclable materials.

Volunteers are encouraged to bring cars and trucks to help transport materials to the three pick-up points. Bring gloves and wear sturdy shoes and readily visible clothing. The Valley Women’s Club will staff the sign-in tables/drop-off sites, provide trash bags and latex gloves, suggest cleanup locations, and offer free drinks, snacks and prizes for all volunteers.

For more information go the the VWC website.