December 2011

As another fairly quiet year on More Mesa draws to a close, and as has been our custom, we offer highlights of 2011.

  • Updated Biological Resources Study
    More than eighteen months after field work for the Updated Biological Resources Study was completed, a draft report was issued by Santa Barbara County. The 429 page report, prepared by Rincon Consultants, concludes More Mesa is just as environmentally sensitive as was reported in the original 1981 study by UCSB.  Details of the report can be found here. In general, Rincon found the following:

    • An equivalent assemblage of plants and plant species
    • More bird species.
    • Kite activity on More Mesa is just as important as ever, especially from a regional perspective.
    • Kite prey are abundant.
    • Wetlands persist in the same areas as previously reported, and are more extensive.
  • More Mesa For Sale
    As we have reported for several years, More Mesa remains for sale, with the asking price still at $40 Million.  As far as we know, it has not been sold.  As always, we will keep you informed of any developments in this area.

  • Vernal Pool Feature
    In May of this year we introduced a new “Vernal Pool” feature on our web site here. This feature includes general information on vernal pools (definition, life forms in pools etc.) and some specific details on vernal pools of California, Santa Barbara and More Mesa.

As always, thank you all for your wonderful support, and for loving this very special place.
Our warmest holiday wishes.

More Mesa Native Plants – December
Deerweed Dune Primrose
deerweed beach primrose

Deerweed is a small branching perennial shrub growing to a height of about three to four feet. It is drought tolerant, helps to reduce erosion, and is often one of the first pioneer species after a fire, before it is eventually replaced by other natives. It is found in coastal strand, coastal sage scrub and chaparral below 5000′, from Baja California to Humboldt County.

As a member of the pea family, Deeerweed is able to fix nitrogen. The flowers are typical of the pea family, with yellow flowers that bloom starting from the first rains through August.

The flowers are attractive to many butterflies such as Silvery Blue, Gray Hairstreak, Acmon Blue, Funereal Duskywing, Orange Sulfur, and Bramble Hairstreak (in photo).

Dune or Beach Evening Primrose grows naturally on beach dunes, and thus requires well-drained sandy soils. It is low spreading, with a maximum height of about sixteen inches. It can take both full sun and partial shade, and is drought-tolerant.

Flowering for several months from the first rains to August, it opens during the day, and thrives over a wide range of weather conditions (foggy to sunny). As the blooms die, they turn an attractive orange. The leaves are grayish-green.

This plant grows in the southwest corner of More Mesa where marine sands have been-deposited by the wind creating a “coastal dune scrub habitat” that includes other plants typical of that habitat type.

January 2011

Welcome to a New Year!

Draft of Updated Biological Resources Study: We have excellent news to report this month!
In late December, we received notice that the long awaited Draft of the Updated More Mesa Biological Resource Study has been issued by Santa Barbara County, and is now available on their web site:

http://www.sbcountyplanning.org/projects/07CNS-00116/index.cfm

Please note that the report, as presented, is a draft.  That is, several lengthy additional procedural steps, as required by the Goleta Community Plan, must be taken to finalize the study.  These involve public processes, in which the community as well as decision makers, will participate.

The More Mesa Preservation Coalition is reviewing the draft study and will provide input at appropriate times during the remainder of the process.  A cursory scan of the 429 page report* seems to indicate that Rincon Consultants conclude More Mesa is just as environmentally sensitive as was reported in the original 1981 study by UCSB.  In general they found:

  • An equivalent assemblage of plants and plant species, except that Harding Grass (an invasive species) is more widespread and abundant.
  • There are more bird species.
  • Kite activity on More Mesa is more important than ever, especially from a regional perspective.
  • Kite prey are abundant.
  • Wetlands persist in the same areas as previously reported, and are more extensive.

The report appears thorough and has used more recent technology (such as GPS mapping) to evaluate the environmental sensitivity of More Mesa.  However, additional analysis will be required to evaluate both land use issues, and development potential implications of these findings.  From Rincon’s conclusions, it appears safe to say that More Mesa is as sensitive as ever … and, from that conclusion, we can draw renewed energy to achieve our vision … of preserving More Mesa in perpetuity!!

We are indebted to Alex Tuttle of the County Planning and Development Department for his professional handling of this sensitive project and the part he played in assuring the quality of the material presented in this draft.

As always, thanks for caring about this wonderful place and a very Happy New Year from all of us at the More Mesa Preservation Coalition!

* It may be possible to obtain a hard copy of the Updated Biological Resources Study of More Mesa.  However, because of the size of the report and the large number of detailed foldout maps, the cost will be, understandably, quite high.  We will be posting information on where to obtain such copies on the “Bio Report” section of this web site within a few weeks.

wtk
Thanks to Yuji Kosaki for the wonderful White-tailed Kite image above.

December 2010

As this relatively quiet year draws to a close, and has been our custom, we offer some highlights of 2010.

  • Bio Study
    It is nearly a year and a half since the field work for the Updated Biological Resources Study was completed, and the final report has still not available. We have requested estimated release dates several times and have been assured that the report will be available some time in the future … but that has not happened as yet.

  • More Mesa For Sale
    As we reported for the last 2 years, More Mesa remains for sale, with the asking price dropping from $110 Million to $85 Million, and now to $40 Million. As far as we know, it has not been sold. As always, we will keep you informed of any developments in this area.

  • More Mesa Handbook
    Link
    . In March 2010, the More Mesa Handbook garnered yet another, and its most prestigious, award to date. This time as winner of the Association of Environmental Professionals (AEP) “2010 Outstanding Public Involvement/Education Program” for the entire state of California!  The award was conferred jointly to AMEC – Earth and Environmental, and the More Mesa Preservation Coalition website. See the April, 2010 News for more details.

  • Tenth Anniversary
    In July of this year the More Mesa Preservation Coalition celebrated its 10th anniversary! In that very eventful decade, we have grown from a tiny cadre of less than 10 concerned neighbors, to a supporter base of well over 1000 community members. To commemorate this landmark, we created a timeline that features the major milestones MMPC has achieved, as well as important events concerning More Mesa.  This timeline can be found in the “Events” Section of this web site at Timeline. We are very proud of our accomplishments, and trust that this 10-year body of work will lay the foundation for the preservation of all of More Mesa—forever.

  • And finally …
    • A Bobcat family has been observed several times on and around More Mesa
    • There appears to be a Monarch butterfly roost on the eastern edge near Hope Ranch.
    • There may be a communal Kite roost near the historic eastern nest site.

As always … thank you all for your wonderful support, and for loving this very special place. Our warmest holiday wishes.

more mesa
Aerial view of More Mesa along the Santa Barbara coastline.

December 2009

As 2009 nears its close, MMPC celebrates, not only this happy season, but almost a decade of pursuing our vision … preserving all of More Mesa … forever. And, as has been our custom, we would like to share some highlights of what has been happening on More Mesa, and our work during the past year.

  • Bio Study
    MMPC has learned that field work for the Bio Study has definitely been completed.  However the report has been put on hold and no release date is available.

  • More Mesa For Sale
    As we reported last year More Mesa is still for sale, with the asking price remaining at $85 Million.  However, with current economic conditions as they are, it would not be unreasonable to assume that the price has, or may, drop below that figure.  We will keep you informed of any developments in this area.

  • More Mesa Handbook
    At the end of last year we reported the publication of the More Mesa Handbook, a comprehensive document describing the resources, history and constraints on More Mesa.  In early 2009, the Handbook was formally “launched” during an extremely successful event; one attended by almost 80 people – see this page.

    Since then, the Handbook has been gathering raves and praise from all sectors, both public and private!  Indeed, it has received two prestigious awards for being an “Outstanding Education Resource” from the American Planning Association – California, as well as being cited in a Santa Barbara County Resolution.  Most recently, the Handbook was nominated for an award from the Association of Environmental Professionals.  During 2009, dozens of hard copies and disks have been distributed to public officials, County and City staffs, educational institutions, scientists, funding organizations and interested private citizens.  The Handbook may be downloaded  here.

  • Fence at End of Mockingbird Lane
    In order to minimize the possibility of fire, neighbors on the northeast corner of More Mesa have constructed a perimeter fence, to prohibit illegal motorized vehicles.  There are also ongoing efforts to investigate the possibility of a similar construction on the west side of More Mesa.

  • And      …
    • MMPC is cooperating with County Parks in a process to remove an extremely harmful invasive known as “Russian Knapweed” from County owned sections of More Mesa.
    • Our data base is nearing 1000 supporters.
    • We have a new e-mail address.

Finally, our winter visitors are out on More Mesa!  Especially look for up to four Northern Harriers that have already been reported.

As always … thank you all for your wonderful support and for loving this very special place.
Our warmest holiday wishes.
Valerie Olson

grebes
Large number of grebes seen daily off More Mesa bluffs.
While thousands of grebes can normally be seen off northern Santa Barbara
County 
at this time of year, this is an unusually large number for southern
Santa Barbara County, and the grebes are more numerous off
More Mesa bluffs than other locations.
Photo by Yuji Kozaki

June 2008

Over the past months, we have been discussing the Updated Biological Resources Study that was begun on More Mesa last month. Our web site “News” section, and e-mail updates, as well as announcements posted by Santa Barbara County on More Mesa proper, have aroused a great deal of interest. Individual residents want to find out more about the study, as well as what could happen to More Mesa.

In addition, several informal neighborhood groups have invited the More Mesa Preservation Coalition to make presentations about More Mesa, its history, habitats and what the future may hold for this unique open space. For example, in late April, neighbors on the western edge of Hope Ranch held a small afternoon social gathering of invited friends and interested area residents. During the event, MMPC presented a slide show highlighting the ecological values of More Mesa, as well as details of the Biological Study, and its time line. A brief question and answer period followed. We are grateful to the host family who sponsored this enjoyable event and their commitment to helping their neighbors understand the current situation on More Mesa.

june
Recently fledged White-tailed Kite chick, east More Mesa, May 27, 2008 – Photo by Adam Lewis.