Aug 29 2008
A visionary talk given by Spencer Beebe at the Bioneers conference of 2006, describing the eco-logic sensibility of putting our bio-regions - which in our case translates as the Salmon in our rivers as indicators - as the defining factors for effective governance.
Jun 23 2008
On June 19th Jeff Fry gave a guided tour of the Big Sur River and pointed out the capital projects recommended by the Big Sur River Steelhead Enhancement Plan.
Here are a few of Nik’s pics from the walk… little did we know that 2 days later the worst fire in Big Sur history would sweep through most of the Big Sur River Watershed.
Mar 07 2008
Present: Kenneth Ekelund (M.C.W.R.T.), Jeff Frey (
Determined that an “educational campaign” is of primary importance regarding sustainable watershed restoration and stewardship for long term community management and maintenance.
The importance of ‘community collaboration’ ; and how community involvement in the community programs might encourage a natural response of respect and restoration out of a recognized concern and care for the River.
To begin the development of an action plan, committee heads were choosen from those present. Each was assigned to address an area of focus: the proposed community trail, water quality, habitat research, grant writing and data collection.
A general discussion at the end of the meeting included “Snap shot day” during the last week in April, the need for volunteers to count river fish, the development of a ‘resource library’ open to the community and maintained by The Stewards of the
Mar 06 2008
Jack Ellwanger, Thomas Rettenwender, Sharon Lloyd and Breen Laneve attended the monthly Grange Committee meeting to introduce themselves and the basic concerns/purposes of The Stewards of the Big Sur River to the members present.
Stressed was the importance of community involvement to monitor the well-being of the River, and, also, how watershed restoration is of real concern in order to maintain the biodiversity of the river’s ecology, and to aid bioremediation (healing).
The heroic life style of the Steelhead and the substantial demise of its population was discussed. Mention was made regarding the respect for nature the Native Americans displayed in their rituals concerning the salmon and forest.
Feb 02 2008
The Big Sur River Restoration project aims to analyze the current condition of the Big Sur River and its watershed and produce a mangement plan to enhance, preserve and , if necessary restore its ecology.
The Big Sur River is one of the longest coastal California streams that is lined with redwoods. A 19.5-mile reach of the river is designated wild and scenic, from the headwaters of its north and south forks downstream to the wilderness boundary. At the mouth of the Big Sur, the natural creation of a sandbar has resulted in a lagoon where shorebirds feed and children wade.
The river drains a portion of the Big Sur area, a thinly-settled region of the Central California coast where the Santa Lucia Mountains rise abruptly from the Pacific Ocean. The Big Sur River’s headwaters are in the mountains, it flows roughly northwest and empties into the ocean at Andrew Molera State Park. Tributaries of the river include Pfeiffer-Redwood Creek, Juan Higuera Creek, Post Creek and Pheneger Creek.
Most of the river’s 60 square mile (150 km_) watershed is in the Ventana Wilderness of the Los Padres National Forest. Precipitation increases with altitude at Big Sur and the higher elevations can receive over 50 inches (1.3 m) per year, about 10 inches (250 mm) higher than lower areas. The average yearly runoff on the river is 65,000 acre feet (80,000,000 m_). There are some diversions on the river and its tributaries for drinking water to supply nearby homes and resorts, but no major dams or reservoirs.