preserving, protecting, and defending the rural character
and natural resources of Carmel Valley since 1949
Carmel Valley Association
Weekly Bulletin
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From our Natural Resources Committee:
Loss of habitats in Carmel Valley
and across CA due to the spread of genista
is at least 100,000 acres.
When fuel management is done without regard to the best management practices, we lose even more habitat. Tierra Grande is but one example of what happens when an area is managed for fuel but the removal of the vegetation was done at a time and manner that exacerbated the invasive plant spread and there is no follow up. Following the Santa Lucia Conservancy guidelines for the rest of Carmel Valley is the best way to g
o
. Invasive Species Awareness Week was June 17- 21
Monterey County Community Wildfire Protection Plan November 2010 v2, Updated 6-3-2019:
6.3.6 Exotic/Invasive Plant Removal
Removal of non-native and invasive plants from the WUI will help reduce the presence of undesirable species and enhance thinning efforts aimed at reducing overall biomass levels.Typical undesirable exotic species may include, but are not limited to:
- Palm trees (various species)
- Eucalyptus trees (Eucalyptus spp.)
- Pepper trees (Schinus spp.)
- Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)
- Mustard (Brassica spp.)
- French broom (Genista monspessulana)
- Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum)
- Thistle (various species)
- Harding grass (Phalaris aquatica)
- Jubata grass (Cortaderia jubata) similar to Pampas grass
- Pampas grass (Cortaderia selbana)
- Cape ivy (Delairea odorata)
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Carmel Waste Water District Approves Internship Program
with Carmel High and Local Schools
Speaking at the district's May 28 board meeting, Carmel Valley Association Board Member and retired Monterey Peninsula College professor Marlene Martin indicated support of an internship program, and the development of students and awareness of District processes.
She emphasized the benefit of hands-on training/teaching of an internship program. Mr. Craig Tuana (Carmel High School Vice-Principal) agreed that an internship program would be a great opportunity for his students. The program would allow students interested in a wide variety of subjects to explore those areas while participating in an internship program with the District. Carmel High School is already set to partner with the District for short-term assignments and Carmel Valley High School has an existing program that involves engaging students in long-term assignments.
The Board unanimously agreed to have the District General Manager proceed with partnering with nearby high schools and the Monterey Peninsula College to further develop an internship program within the District.
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From the Carmel Valley Library:
Curbside Pickup Service is here!
The Carmel Valley Branch Library is taking part in a trial run of doing curbside pickup service. Our hours for Curbside Pickup Service this week will be Tuesday, June 23 from 1 PM to 5 PM and Saturday, June 27 from 10 AM to 2 PM. If you cannot pick up your holds during those times, we can still send your materials to you via Library by Mail (please see below). Here is a cute short video that explains how the
Curbside Pickup Service
works. Need help with placing a hold? Call 831-883-7555 between 10 AM and 6 PM and a MCFL staff member can help you! A video on how to place on hold is in the works.
Carmel Valley Branch Library will have their Curbside Pickup Service set up on the west side parking lot near the drive-up book drop. If you have visited the branch during our Lunch at the Library program, the setup will be quite similar, but instead of picking up lunch will be picking books and DVDs from your library! If you have questions about this new service, you can email me at
hamelinep@co.monterey.ca.us
or call the branch at 831-659-2377 when on Tuesday or Saturday when we are providing the Curbside Pickup Service.
Unfortunately, the branches are still not open to the public, but we are working toward that goal. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we follow the state and county guidelines to keep everyone safe.
Book Drops open!
Both book drops will be reopened fully starting on Tuesday, June 23 at 1 PM! Please remember that the book drops are for library materials only! We must quarantine materials for 72 hours before we can handle them, and we have limited space to quarantine materials safely. Please hold on to your book donations for a little while longer.
THANK YOU!
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County Planners Present Proposed Short-Term Rental Ordinance
to the Planning Commission
On June 10th the Monterey County Resource Management Agency (RMA) presented a proposal to regulate short-term rentals (now re-named "vacation rentals") to the County Planning Commission. In many ways, the proposed ordinance reflects CVA's previous position, allowing in rentals in areas zoned residential only if the home is occupied full time by the owner, but limiting commercially managed STRs to commercially zoned areas.
However, the devil is in the details, and after considerable input from the public and discussion among the commissioners, the commission appointed a committee to examine the proposed ordinance and suggest changes which will be considered by the commission at their July meeting.
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COVID-19 - The Risks - Know Them - Avoid Them
An Article by Comparative Immunologist and Professor of Biology (specializing in Immunology) at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.
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From the April 28 edition of the Scientific American:
How the COVID-19 Pandemic Could End
Recent epidemics provide clues to ways the current crisis could stop.
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From the Big Sur Land Trust:
Stay healthy! Research continues to show that parks and open spaces provide health benefits beyond just physical exercise. Fresh air and organic compounds produced by trees may be a natural pharmacy that can help support our immune systems. Along with other important recommended precautions, none of us should forget our Vitamin N — Vitamin Nature!
If solo time in nature sounds right for you,
visit our website and sign up for a self-guided hike on one of our spectacular conserved properties. In the meantime, to be cautious, we are suspending our guided hike program for the foreseeable future. We will let you know as soon as they are available again.
Be Well,
The Team at Big Sur Land Trust
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Here's a web site to check to see
if your area is scheduled for a power outage:
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From our friends at LandWatch:
This is the story of how LandWatch came to be, the tools we used to be successful, and ways in which we made progress protecting the quality of life in Monterey County.
This 40-page publication includes details on:
- LandWatch’s formation, launch, and development;
- Its involvement across Monterey County to engage and educate residents, petition government, and change, support, and challenge public policies and development projects; and,
- Important accomplishments over the past 23 years.
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Issues of Concern to Residents of Carmel Valley
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Make sure you are signed up to receive emergency alerts!
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Pris Walton, President
Carmel Valley Association
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Carmel Valley Association is one of the oldest, largest, and most
suc
cessful
community organizations in Monterey County. We are entirely volunteer, with no paid employees. Our mission is to defend the beauty, resources and rural character of our beautiful valley. We do that by working with residents, businesses, and government.
CVA was instrumental in the adoption of the Carmel Valley Master Plan and recently settled a lawsuit with Monterey County regarding traffic measurement and capping future development on very favorable terms for our valley. Our volunteer experts represent Carmel Valley's interest, testifying before governmental bodies concerning development, water, traffic, road signs, and other quality of life issues.
We keep valley residents informed about important issues and events with our weekly email Bulletin, which goes to over 1200 residents, and our quarterly Newsletter, which is mailed to over 7,000 valley addresses.
or reply to this email
Member Richard Cheatham has created a video about our beautiful Carmel Valley and CVA's role in preserving it.
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Header photo by
Carmel Valley Photographer
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