Second Carmel Lagoon “Emergency” in Less Than a Month

The water rises

Heavy surf began throwing waves over the sandbar late last night and by four in the morning a new “emergency” had been declared and the County Dozers were back in action trying to breach the bar and keep the water out of the lagoon-bottom homes.

Waves Rebuild Carmel River Lagoon Sandbar

Less than a week after the County drained the Carmel Lagoon to prevent flooding, waves have thrown up a new sandbar

Carmel Lagoon Breached in Annual “Emergency” Ritual

The Carmel River Lagoon drains into the ocean through the newly bulldozed cut

Every year when the Carmel River begins to flow it backs up behind the sandbar at the beach and threatens to flood homes built on the floor of the lagoon. And every year the County shows up with bulldozers and breaches the sandbar to protect the homes. The breaching empties the lagoon, saves the homes, and washes out to sea juvenile steelhead not yet prepared to survive in salt water.

The Not-So-Great Monterey Beach Cross Debate

As the Topix forums for commenting on local news stories are populated almost entirely by trolls focused on antagonizing and insulting one another, it wasn’t surprising that the sawing down, by persons unknown, of the 20 foot tall cross that’s been standing on public property on the Monterey Beach for the past 40 years resulted in an outpouring of vitriol, on several different Topix threads, aimed at “Liberals,” the ACLU, Obama, etc.

Carmel Beach Sandcastle Contest

Just to prove that the Carmel Beach isn’t only for shivering tourists and sex-crazed teenagers, the City of Carmel and the Monterey Bay Chapter of the American Institute of Architects put on a yearly sandcastle contest. Today was the 48th edition of the contest, which is only announced a day or two ahead of time to keep the crowds manageable and the participants local and “amateur.”

Feds Threaten Seizure of Ft. Ord Dunes and Pt. Sur

Federal, state and local functionaries were all smiles at the Grand Opening of Ft. Ord Dunes State Park a couple of months ago, but the feds are now threatening to take the land back if the state doesn’t keep the park open.

As the “starve the beast” wing of the Republican Party continues its strangulation of state government, and the pointless closure of most of California’s State Parks moves closer to reality, the federal government has begun pointing out that some California parks sit on land donated to the state by the feds on condition that the state open the land to the public as parks. If the state goes back on the deal by closing the parks, say the feds, they may just take the land back.

Two local State Parks in this category are Pt. Sur and the newly opened Ft. Ord Dunes State Park. We don’t know whether the state will go through with closing the parks, or how long it will take the feds to act, if they do, but it could get interesting.

Which federal agency would manage these lands? Would the feds return the parks to the state again when, and if, sanity returns in Sacramento? How would federal management affect public access?

According to the San Jose Mercury, the parks “would likely be transferred as surplus property to the federal government and be offered to federal agencies, universities, even private developers.”

Stay tuned …

Public Officials Endure Fort Ord Dunes State Park Grand Opening

The Ribbon Cutting – Marina Mayor Bruce Delgado tries to wipe the sand out of his eyes while Supervisors Dave Potter and Jane Parker grin and bear it. As a squadron of other dignitaries attempt to form a wind break, California State Parks Director Ruth Coleman and Representative Sam Farr attack the ribbon with scissors big and small.

AT&T Pro-Am Hits the Beach – And Almost Hits Us

While we appreciate the boost the AT&T Pro-Am gives our local economy and are grateful for the money it raises for local charities, we generally do our best to avoid going anywhere near the actual golfing action. Today, however, we went for a walk on the beach and the PGA Tour brought the action to us …

Big Rain Coming?

So far, we’ve been lucky. We’ve gotten through November, December, January and half of February without a single major storm. The rain has come in such small doses, in fact, that we’ve been wondering whether we shouldn’t be more worried about drought than about the much feared post-fire floods and mudslides.

“No Matter How Much Concrete They Pour, All those Seawalls and Houses will End Up in the Ocean”

- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Climatologist Bill Patzert, as quoted in the LA Times

Heavy equipment piles rocks onto the beach in front of Monterey’s Ocean House Condos 12-30-08