Cloud Seeding Program Hopes to Intensify Big Sur Rainfall

Keeping the highway open is a challenge even in good weather

While Big Sur residents and Cal-Trans pray for mild rains, the Monterey County Water Resource Agency is preparing to intensify this winter’s rains by seeding clouds off the Big Sur coast with silver iodide. The goal is to fill the San Antonio and Nacimiento reservoirs by producing heavier rain.

San Clemente Dam to be Torn Down After All?

The silted-up, unsafe, San Clemente Dam

With its reservoir filled in, the San Clemente Dam is useless for water storage. It prevents steelhead from reaching their spawning grounds and, as the nearly 90 year old structure is fragile enough to fail in even a moderate earthquake, it poses a serious threat to downstream communities.

Order WR 2009-0060: State Water Board Cracks Down on Cal-Am’s Carmel River Water Addiction

The Carmel River

A few weeks ago, Monterey Peninsula residents were treated to an unusual spectacle as much of the local business and political leadership boarded busses for Sacramento for a humiliating session of begging and pleading with the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB).

Secret Stimulus: Federal Transparency Policy Fails to Crack Forest Service Code of Omerta

Ventana Wilderness trails could use some work. How many of the 203 million stimulus dollars the Forest Service plans to spend in California will make it to places like this?

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.

Intuit vs. Domestic Violence Victims

Another example of how corporate influence is destroying California’s ability to govern itself:

Pretty much everyone agrees we need shelters for victims of domestic violence. So it was not at all surprising that a bill designed to keep dozens of those shelters open passed the California Assembly on a unanimous 76-0 vote last week.

Forest Service Retracts Ridiculous Dope Grower Profile

We’ve all heard, and some of us have seen for ourselves, that Mexican immigrants are playing a larger role than ever before in the business of large-scale marijuana growing in the National Forests. We’ve also heard, although without any particular evidence to back it up, that these growers are associated with Mexican drug cartels.

Duvall’s Downfall Sheds Light on Culture of Corruption

Mike Duvall   R-Yorba Linda

Republican “family values” politicians get caught with their pants down so often these days it’s hard to call it news anymore. It’s also not exactly a shocking revelation that large business interests will provide politicians with sex, as well as money, if that’s what it takes to get their votes.

Bohemian Beach Fire Tradition Blamed for Weakening the Moral Fiber of Carmel’s Youth

The Carmel Beach is famous for ice cold water, loose dogs, and fine white sand

A lot of people in Carmel these days are deeply concerned with whiteness – the whiteness of the sand on the Carmel Beach.

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.