The state Supreme Court will decide the fate of the California Coastal Commission, beginning to hear the case today.

The Commission is appealing an appeals court decision that says it is illegally constituted. The original case was brought by the Marine Forests Society, which the Commission ordered to stop building an artificial reef outside Newport Beach Harbor., according to an AP story in the Mercury News.

In the 1990s, it blocked plans to build a seaside resort proposed by the Hearst Corp. in San Luis Obispo County, as well as a major residential development in the Bolsa Chica wetlands in Orange County. In the 1980s, it forced property owners to create easements allowing public access to the beaches - a practice later condemned by the U.S. Supreme Court as "extortion."

This year’s salmon season, supposed to the one of the best in many years, is looking like a bust. In Half Moon Bay, 65 recreational fishermen on charter boats caught just six fish, and the catches are similarly disappointing all along the coast.

There are lots of theories why things are so bad.  The most disturbing one is that a die-off caused by the allocation of water to farmers on the Klamath River, despite a drought, is continuing to impact the fishery. It may simply be overfished. This could result in a shortened commercial season this year.

Michael Laffen, a resident of Montara, has been appointed to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary advisory council. Laffen, a small-business owner, was re-appointed to a second term in an at-large seat. Laffen is a small-business owner.

The council includes representatives for tourism, diving, education, at-large, research and commercial fishing. The council povided input to the sanctuary’s draft management plan, which will be released for public review later this summer.  Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary includes more than 5,300 square miles on the coast.

There’s been some controversy over a 4 to 3 vote by MROSD to buy an acre and half with a "rundown mountain cabin" adjacent to its land in Los Gatos.  The idea is that it will improve parking and access as well as provide a place for MROSD’s local ranger to live.  Those voting against thought it might not be such a hot idea to spend $1 million of the District’s $15 million budget on the dump when there might be cheaper solutions to the access problem and the rest of the cash could be spent on . . . open space.

According to the Mercury News story, one board member "fretted" during the meeting over whether this would become a public relations disaster.

"This is just unfathomable," said Terry Gossett, a Moss Beach engineer and member of the Silicon Valley Taxpayers Association. "It is a misuse of the funds from taxpayers. It is being used to take care of their own instead of the public, who are the customers."

The article fails to mention that Gossett’s an implacable foe of the District in any event.  It’s not clear that he’d prefer to spend that money buying larger tracts from private landowners on the Coastside. 

The Pacifica City Council has voted unanimously to build a skate park at the intersection of Highway 1 and Crespi Drive, behind the Pacifica Community Center, says the SF Examiner. The park is expected to be completed July or August.  This park will be closer to Montara than the one in Half Moon Bay, especially once the tunnel is built or in typical weekend traffic.

The LA Times has a nice review of the turmoil surrounding Sid McCausland’s resignation in order to move to Alaska, where the living is cheap and cold.  Most of it you’ve heard before, but it’s interesting to read it from the perspective of a community that never really trusted open space as a value.

Down at Original Johnny’s, the Main Street diner where Half Moon Bay’s old guard presides over the round table in the back, they don’t believe McCausland is leaving because he has been priced out. They don’t endorse his policy fixes. They’d rather not admit to any common ground with their former councilman if they had a choice.

The Times story discusses the opposition’s idea that we can build our way out of the cost of housing in the Bay Area, without examining whether it can be done.

On Tuesday night, the La Honda Fire Brigade got a call from a concerned citizen who said that that in the Cuesta La Honda Sub-division in La Honda was too dangerous to pass over.  A fissure had opened up about 50 yards above a land movement that had occurred in 1998 as a result of an El Niño-driven storm.

The 1998 land movement ultimately resulted in the destruction or removal of nine homes.

During recent rains the land started to move again. New fissures were seen developing a few weeks ago. At that time SMCO Public Works made temporary repairs to Scenic Drive so that it could remain passable.

At about 6:30 Tuesday night the La Honda Fire Brigade received the call. This new fissure extends under a home at 230 Scenic, a home that was basically untouched by the 1989 incident.  After consultation with a Sheriff’s Deputy at scene the Fire Brigade requested San Mateo County Public Works to again close the road.

Over the night there was additional movement in this slide to the point where the road is buckled in numerous places, a 6-inch water main separated and was forced to the surface of the road. The rear deck of the home at 230 Scenic is being pulled away from the house.

The Fire Department has requested that San Mateo County building inspectors evaluate the homes on the perimeter of the slide as well as the home that is now partially inside the slide. Utility lines near the intersection of Scenic and Canada Vista are also sagging as a result of the movement of an electric pole. PG&E has been requested to the scene.

All pictures were taken on March 30 at about 7pm.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is an edited version of a press release from Larry Whitney of the La Honda Fire Department.

In a 3 to 1 vote, the Half Moon Bay City Council selected David Gorn to serve the remainder of Sid McCausland’s term.  Jim Grady, Toni Taylor and Mike Ferreira voted for Gorn, and Marina Fraser voted for the only other candidate, former HMB mayor Naomi Patridge.

Gorn’s term will expire in November 2007.

Senior Coastsiders and the Coastside Adult Day Health Center plan to build a 23,000 square foot Coastside Adult Community Center in Half Moon Bay.

They have already raised $2.2 million and purchased a 1.6 acre site on the corner of Main Street and Arnold Way, adjacent to the Lesley Gardens senior residence, in Half Moon Bay. They need to raise an additional $7.5 million.

Click "read more" to see the press release.

Here’s a great chance to lear more about our local natural, historical, cultural resources.  Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary and Farallones Marine Sanctuary Association are presenting Sanctuary Exploration:  Lectures and Excursions Along the San Mateo Coast, a series of evening lectures and daytime field trips.

April 21, 7pm to 9pm
Maritime History—Shipwrecks, Whaling, lighthouses and more: Local maritime historian David Hirzel will discuss the coast’s age of discovery and exploration. Pt. Montara Lighthouse Fog Signal Building.

April 22
Sunset Cruise aboard the Ka’iulani (86’ schooner) Sailing on the Sanctuary—$35 per person Call for details.

May 19, 7pm to 9pm
Native American Life ways of San Mateo Coast and SF Peninsula: Mark Hylkenma, CA State Parks Archeologist will highlight Native American coastal culture south of the Golden Gate. Pt. Montara Lighthouse Fog Signal Building.

May 21, 10 am to 1pm
Discover Archeological sites of the Sanctuary: Visit Ano Nuevo State Reserve to explore ancient native archeological sites.  Join Mark Hylkenma, CA State Parks Archeologist for a natural history tour of the ancient Native American middens and archaeological sites. (Walk is free; parking fee at the reserve, space is limited) All lectures are free.  Some excursions have fees.

For reservations and registration for all events please contact [email protected] or 561-6625, ext 511.