A law has been introduced in the California State Assembly, written by the California Water Association, which would rewrite the state’s eminent domain laws to make it far more difficult for the public to take over private water systems, according to the Monterey Herald.

The CWA represents 42 private water companies in the California, including California American Water Co.  Cal-Am owns the water system in Felton, which a local group is trying to take over. It previously owned Montara’s water system, which was taken over by the Montara and Sanitary District.

"Who else but Cal Am would propose such a change?" asked Ron Weitzman, spokesman for Monterey Friends of Locally Owned Water (FLOW), a fledgling group examining the possibility of a public takeover of Cal Am’s Peninsula water district. "The bill would be a big blow to the condemnation efforts of our local FLOW and any other group working toward the same end."

The Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) has appointed two new members, Charlene C. Kabcenell of Portola Valley and Larry Jacobs of Pescadero, to its Board of Directors.

Charlene Kabcenell is a retired vice president of Oracle Corporation.

Larry Jacobs is president and CEO of Jacobs Farm/Del Cabo, Inc. Established in 1980 by Jacobs and his wife, Sandra, Jacobs Farm grows organic culinary herbs, edible flowers on 200 cultivated acres in San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties.

Click "read more" for press release.

This year, five of the eight Sustainable San Mateo County award recipients were on the Coastside. The annual Sustainable San Mateo County awards honor individuals and organizations demonstrating sustainability in action. The local winners were:

• Jacobs Ranch/Del Cabo, Inc.
• Pietro Parravano, Harbor Commissioner
• Surfrider Foundation San Mateo County
• Elkus Youth Ranch: Honorable Mention
• Hogg Residence, Half Moon Bay, Green Building Awards: Honorable Mention

From the Sustainable San Mateo press release:

Jacob’s Ranch/Del Cabo, Inc. began as organic herb farms in Pescadero. It has expanded into one of the largest organic herb farms in the country and was the inspiration for a venture into Mexico that has turned into an even bigger business. CEO Larry Jacobs and his wife Sandra Belin partnered with Mexican farmers, forming a coop of more than 200 small family farmers growing organically and selling worldwide.

Pietro Parravano, San Mateo County Harbor District Commissioner, has shown leadership at the local up to the international level working for permanent systemic change in the area of sustainable ocean resource use and protection. His work has included education, mobilization of stakeholders, policy change, and coordination and leadership on sustainable practices and programs.

Surfrider Foundation San Mateo County embodies the principles of sustainability in several ways: improving and sustaining environmental quality by recognizing that the diversity and ecological integrity of the coasts are necessary to the well being of the whole earth; promoting equal, free, and open access to County beaches for all people; educating the community about water quality, pollution, coastal ecology and biodiversity; and supporting businesses that embody sustainable practices in accordance with the CERES (formerly Valdez) Principles.

The Cargill South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project was hailed by environmentalists as the "holy grail." Senator Dianne Feinstein said, "Cargill is clearly doing a major public good and deserves deep appreciation." The project frees up 16,100 acres for use by local, state and federal wildlife agencies, increases Bay tidal wetlands by nearly 50 percent, and preserves 25 square miles of open space. It also improves water quality, flood control and provides crucial habitat for endangered species. At the same time Cargill’s investment in technology and productivity shrinks their industrial footprint by over 60% but preserves nearly 400 permanent, living wage jobs.

"Getting Green at Central" is a grass roots effort at Central Elementary School in Belmont that has inspired the whole school to recycle everything from aluminum to tennis shoes-and in the process saved enough money to build a new play structure. They have received worldwide recognition for their efforts, including the President’s Environmental Youth award, and they have inspired many other schools to follow their example.

Receiving honorable mention, Elkus Youth Ranch in Half Moon Bay for nearly a quarter century has been offering opportunities for students and teachers to experience environmental science, California history, animal care and agriculture programs. The ranch hosts about 9000 visitors annually-with a special welcome for urban, disabled and inner city youth.

The 2005 Green Building Award winner, d’Souza/de la Torre Residence in Belmont (Architects: David Arkin & Anni Tilt, Arkin-Tilt Architects; Builder: Ebcon Development, Inc.; Owners: Gladwin d’Souza & Martina de la Torre) is being honored for the holistic approach to sustainable design. The project incorporated recycled materials, sustainable site selection and uses, innovative heating and cooling systems (both passive and active) and included multi-functional use of space to reduce the overall building size.

Receiving Honorable Mention is the Hogg Residence in Half Moon Bay (Architect: John Hermannsson, Architect A.I.A.; Builder: Spectrum Development; Owners: Alec & Michelle Hogg). Commendable was the complete re-use of the existing structure and the owner’s and architect’s commitment to look at all options, carefully consider material selections, and maintain sensitivity to the community and surroundings.

Click "read more" to see Surfrider’s press release on its award.

Slowly, for nearly a decade, volunteers have been removing invasive plants from the beaches of Half Moon Bay’s 170 acres of state beach so that native plants, such as the California poppy, can return to our open spaces. Each parcel must be weeded repeatedly until the seeds of the invaders have been eliminated.

"We’ve seen a lot more rabbits up at Francis Beach because now they have the type of ground cover they can hide in," said Ken Robertson, a volunteer with the Half Moon Bay Dune and Restoration Project. "Everything feeds on everything else. We’ve noticed a big turnaround in the ecosystem."

There’s a wonderful article on this labor of love by the Half Moon Bay Dune and Bluff Restoration Project at the San Mateo County Times web site.

I found these great photos of the coastside taken from a kite on montarabeach.com, and even more photos can be found at photographer Matt Brocchini’s site. You can click on the pictures for a slightly larger version.

Matt Brocchini

Montara State Beach

Matt Brocchini

Surfers Beach and Pillar Point Harbor

[Based on POST press release] The Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) has acquired 183 acres of scenic land between Lobitos and Tunitas creeks four miles southeast of Half Moon Bay. The land, which is adjacent to POST and MROSD property, was bought from a private owner for $2.25 million.

The property is adjacent to POST’s Lobitos Ridge property across the creek, and the Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve, managed by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (MROSD). POST says that the property is a likely addition to the Purisima Creek preserve, which already contains 7.2 miles of trail from Skyline Ridge down to the property. Another 4-mile trail addition could extend through the new acquisition, continuing out to the coast, where it would connect with the California Coastal Trail.

POST hopes that a donor will make a major contribution for the right to name the parcel.

Click "Read more" to see POST’s press release.

The cost rebuilding the Hetch Hetchy water system is continuing to grow, creating new concerns about the cost and new demands to tear down the O’Shaughnessy Dam, which sits across the Tuolumne River in Yosemite National Park and return its reservoir its natural state. The increased cost of this project will show up on County Coastside Water District water bills.

The projected cost has grown 20 percent to $4.3 billion, and suburban customers of San Francisco-owned system will be asked to pick up part of the tab.

Under the plan approved by San Francisco voters in 2002, San Franciscans would see their $14.43 monthly water bill for a typical four-person household rise to $40.85 a month by 2015 to cover the costs of the city bonds.

The remaining $2 billion cost of the Hetch Hetchy rebuilding was to be picked up by the system’s wholesale customers outside the city. In 2002, officials estimated that a typical four-person household outside San Francisco that received Hetch Hetchy water would see their monthly bill rise from $32 to $71 by 2015.

Not all of the Coastside would be equally affected. Coastside County Water District gets 70% of its water from Hetch Hetchy and related systems owned by San Francisco, according to CCWD General Manager Ed Schmidt. Montara Water and Sanitary District gets no water from the San Francisco system.

The night of Sept. 26, 1998, the captain of the Greek tanker M/V Command dumped 3,000 gallons of oil, spoiling 15 miles of San Mateo County coastside and killing 1,000 birds.  Six years later, some of the money from the $9.4 million settlement is coming back to the Coastside for projects to improve beach access and protect seabird colonies. Amelia Hansen at the County Times has a good story about how the money is being used.

The Chroncle has in in-depth article on the role of conservation easements in protecting open space in the Bay Area. The story explores the benefits not only for the public, but for landowners.

Star Lily (Fremont’s Camas) blooms in upland meadows on Ember Ridge in Rancho Corral de Tierra. While it normally blooms in March through April, these pictures were taken Wednesday, January 26, at 5:00pm

Christopher Church

Christopher Church

Christopher Church