Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Decomposed Granite Removal About Half-Way Complete

 (12/13/13)
CHECKING ON THE DG REMOVAL TODAY
While running holiday errands I made a quick stop at Fairview Park this afternoon to check on the progress of the removal of the decomposed granite (DG) from the trails that encroach on the Federally-protected vernal pools.  You will recall that last week, HERE, it was estimated the job would be completed by the end of this week.
 (TODAY)
ABOUT HALF-DONE
It looks like a little more than half of the DG has been removed - all of it from the section of the trail that runs parallel with the fence line that separates the Parsons Field/Waldorf School area from the park.
HALF PENDING
The other section - the leg that runs parallel with the fence line separating Jim Scott Stadium from the park - is still covered with DG, although the logs that bordered the trail on the vernal pool side have been removed.  However, it looks like some test holes have been dug that revealed the DG is much thicker on that trail than the segment that has already been scraped clean.

SIGNS OF EQUIPMENT
And, there's clearly signs of activity because the grass at the entrance to that trail has been significantly torn-up by heavy equipment hauling the DG from the other leg.

WAITING FOR USFWS OK
I spoke with Director of Public Services Ernesto Munoz from the park and was told that, because the remaining DG is so thick - and the removal of all of it would result in a very low spot where any rain water would certainly pool instead of flowing into the adjacent vernal pools - they are awaiting a consultation with Christine Medak of the United States Department of Fish and Wildlife before proceeding.  It's possible that some additional remediation - the installation of native soil to raise the level after the DG is removed - will be considered.
NOBODY CLAIMING THE REWARD - YET
So, progress is slow and, as far as I know, nobody has turned up to claim the reward that leads to the apprehension of those responsible for the installation of the DG earlier this year.  It seems curious that nobody has come forward.  That task was HUGE, requiring lots of product and either lots of man-hours or the use of motorized equipment.  Somebody should ask Mayor Pro Tem Steve Mensinger if he has any ideas, since it was his insistence that the path be improved that launched this whole debacle in the first place.

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3 Comments:

Anonymous Mike McNiff said...

Some PAC award-winning pillar of the community. Way to set an example 'for the kids.'

12/18/2013 07:42:00 PM  
Anonymous Hold em Accountable said...

And there is a big brou-haha for cheating at CDM.
Honesty and integrity are questioned. People are demanding answers. The school district is fully cooperation with the investigation.

Is Costa Mesa City Hall fully cooperating here? How aggressively are Steve, Riggy, et al demanding answers....?

Oh, Ya...I get it. The public pays for the clean up and Steve remains quiet.....This too, shall pass. Coward!

12/18/2013 07:50:00 PM  
Anonymous Disgusted Republican said...

Stevie is malfeasantly involved in this mess from start to finish, 1000%. No doubt what so ever, instigated, organized, and blessed by the malfeasant fool who thinks he doesn't have to follow laws, procedures, and rules (is that because of stupidity or arrogance?) - only losers play by the rules. Intentional destruction of federally protected land and species is a far greater crime than tearing up some campaign signs, but of course the cc majority is silent on this issue; they already know who did it and it involves one of their own.
I hope the Feds find out from where this dg was sold and from there to whom it was sold. As part of their investigation, they should be able to find out about dg sales in so cal the past year.

12/18/2013 08:31:00 PM  

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