Avila Beach Life • August 2023

As the summer sun starts to set on the horizon, casting a warm, golden glow over everything it touches, I find myself standing at the threshold of a new chapter. The end of summer is approaching, and with it comes a mix of emotions. While I will undoubtedly miss the vibrant energy and the bustling crowds of tourists that defined the season, I can’t help but feel a sense of anticipation as we inch closer to the start of a new school year and the return to normalcy.

growth and new beginnings. The new school year holds the promise of learning, self-discovery, and personal development. It’s an opportunity to reconnect with old friends and make new ones, to broaden our horizons and nourish our minds.

— Neil Gaiman

This summer has been nothing short of incredible–days filled with laughter, adventures, and memorable moments with friends and family. The world seemed to come alive as tourists flocked to our city, infusing it with diversity and cultural richness. Every street corner became a canvas of vibrant colors, echoing the laughter and chatter of strangers turned friends. We navigated through crowded beaches, explored bustling markets, and made memories that will last a lifetime. But like all good things, the summer season, too, must come to an end.

As the days grow shorter and the nights slightly cooler, there is a shift in the air. The streets start to clear, and the city’s heartbeat returns to a steadier rhythm. The end of summer marks a time for introspection, a moment to reflect on all that we have experienced and learned in these few short months.

While the prospect of bidding farewell to the excitement of summer might be bittersweet, there is a silver lining that awaits us–the return to normalcy. As schools prepare to reopen their doors, a familiar routine beckons. Although the idea of heading back to the classroom might seem mundane compared to the thrill of summer adventures, it brings with it a chance for

As we transition from the vibrant and bustling summer to the more serene and focused ambiance of the school year, there’s an undeniable sense of comfort in knowing that life is returning to its natural rhythm. The city, once teeming with tourists, now becomes a canvas for us locals to explore and appreciate at our own pace. It’s the perfect time to visit those hidden gems that were overshadowed during the busy season, to cherish the tranquility of our favorite spots, and to embrace the change of pace.

In this season of transition, let us not forget the lessons of summer–the importance of seizing the day, embracing new experiences, and cherishing the company of loved ones. As we welcome the end of summer and prepare for the new school year, let’s carry these memories with us, fueling our spirits as we embark on new journeys.

So, here’s to the end of summer, the beginning of a new school year, and the promise of less touristy days. As we bid farewell to the lively chaos, let’s embrace the calm and beauty that comes with the changing seasons and the return to normalcy.

We hope you enjoy this issue of Avila Beach Life.

“Life’s most beautiful moments often reside in the spaces between chaos and calm, where the heart finds solace, and the soul discovers serenity.”

~ unknown

Rick Cohen avila beach foundation

Greetings, fellow Avilones. Summer is moving along as expected here in Avila as we head into the month of August. The beaches are crowded with not only locals, but with throngs of visitors escaping the extreme temperatures in North SLO County and California’s Central Valley. So far, the weather in Avila this season has been unusually mild and cool. Early morning fog giving way to afternoon sunshine has been pretty consistent, though that can change in a hurry. I cannot help but recall the numerous hot, hot, hot days of last summer

Foundation News and Views

when finding relief was a challenge.

The “Foundation” has once again entered our grant-making season. Funding requests from eligible organizations, programs, or projects are being accepted through Sept. 15. Grant applications can be found on our website at avilabeachfoundation.org. The grant awards selection process begins in October when our board members determine how much money will be allocated for 2024 grants, and they receive copies of the applications. They are tasked with reading and ranking the applicants, which collectively results in a list of priority funding based on the average scores. In November the board meets to negotiate the selection of grants to be awarded and the sums of each. This process is an interesting and rewarding exercise that has served us well for many years.

As you know, I often promote the work of the Avila Valley Advisory Council (AVAC) and encourage all Avilones to participate in their monthly Zoom meetings. In my opinion there is no better way to stay informed

of things happening in our community that affect our lives.

As an example, a few things I learned during the July AVAC meeting were; (1) The heavily used Bob Jones Trail, managed by SLO County Parks and Recreation, recently installed a new traffic counter to help monitor usage, and new signs along the trail have been placed to remind all of a 15 mph maximum speed limit. Safety has become a major issue as the increasing number of people riding higher speed electric bikes and scooters has become a concern. (2) The Cave Landing parking area improvements project is underway, and is expected to be completed by the end of August. (3) Port San Luis Harbor District reported that repair work on the Avila Pier is about halfway through a two-year process. These are just a few of the topics shared during the AVAC meeting. Much more information can be gleaned, so I highly recommend visiting the AVAC website to review reports and minutes from previous meetings. Log onto avac-avila.org.

Alaska, here we come. Yep, my wife and I

will be heading out in August for a 10-day trip to Alaska. It begins with a three-day land tour of the Denali wilderness, followed by a seven-day cruise through Alaska’s inland passage. This is our first major trip since the pandemic, and I admit to still being leery of travel in general. The travel industry has certainly changed since COVID, kind of like it changed after the September 2001 attacks. Airlines cannot seem to get their act together, and cruise ships get larger and larger to accommodate more passengers. Nevertheless, I look forward to this getaway and hope it restores my faith and excitement in venturing about.

Because of the timing of this trip, it is likely that I will not be generating a column for the September issue of the Avila Beach Life news publication. I know this will be a shock to your system as I have not missed one column during my nearly 15 years on the job. Or, it may come as a relief to those of you who will welcome and relish a break from my ramblings ... LOL. That’s it for now, fellow Avilones. See you at the beach!

Summer Musings

Every month or so I write a full market update and, in this space, I write about the latest market machinations. This time, I’m going to jump all over with little snippets, hoping to tease you to go to my website (see below) to read the full note which has much more. Enjoy your summer.

• Bank prime rate loans are now over 8%, like in 2000 and 2008, possibly foretelling doom ahead. The flip side is one can earn 5% on one’s money without taking risk, which also last happened in the same years. *

• People are “coning” driverless cars in San Francisco. When a traffic cone is put on the hood of a driverless car, it can’t move. Not sure if it is “luddite” syndrome, or, maybe, it’s Uber and Lyft drivers afraid for their livelihoods.^

• If I asked whether stocks or commodities had a higher return from 1933-2010, would you say “stocks?” I would and I/we would be wrong. There is strong evidence these two go in 15 year cycles and we may be starting a new one.^*

• Under the heading of “this can’t be good,” the US budget deficit for the past 12 months is now 8% of GDP, the largest in 60 years outside of war or recession. ** Is it any wonder there is huge inflation.

• The CNN Fear and Greed Index seems to run counter to the S&P 500 Index. Every time it gets above a certain level, the markets take a pretty good tumble. We are now above that level (July 20th, 2023).

Did you know one can link gains on a 1 to 1 basis to the major stock price indexes while reducing one’s risks substantially.*^ To learn more, please visit our website and/or call for a 15 minute no obligation, no fee discussion.

*https://ycharts.com/indicators/6_month_treasury_bill_rate; ^ https://www.zerohedge.com/technology/driverless-cars-hit-coning-incidents-sanfranciscogroup-rebels; ^* Sentiment Trader; ** B of A Global Research; ^^ Source: MicroMacro

*^Buffered accounts may provide up to 20% protection from index declines while also allowing for 100% participation in the index chosen. Please refer to a product prospectus for specific information on costs, crediting methods, current rates, limitations, and buffer protections.

A New Paradigm. A New Way of Investing.

Thomas B. Paine Paine Financial Services

www.PaineFinancialServices.com 6627-A Bay Laurel Place (Avila Village) Avila Beach, CA 93424 (805) 473-6679

Rules Based Investing for all stock market conditions

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A View From the Beach

Happy Summer! The 4th of July was an exciting day for all of Avila Beach. We started out with our annual Pancake Breakfast at the Avila Beach Community Center, followed by our Doggie Parade on the Avila Promenade. The breakfast was thoroughly enjoyed by community members and visitors, especially the fresh strawberries donated by Okui’s Strawberry Stand. Volunteers for the festivities were ABCA board members: Chef Raul Cavazos, Robin Weed-Brown, Tom Payne, John Janowicz, Mary Matakovich, Jim LaMarca, and Tom Sparks. Additional volunteers included

Mike Ebersole, Jason Vork, Deborah Keller, Sandy Keller, Alan Reed, Bill Nguyen, Tea Kalpakoff, Taj Ratoff, Jeremiah Ayres, Solomon Douchant, Kai Janowicz, Clover Crockett, and Kim McGuire.

A boat parade sponsored by the San Luis Yacht Club followed at noon. At 3 p.m., the San Luis Bay Mobile Estates hosted its third annual Golf Cart Parade around the streets of Indian Hill. It was a lot of fun, with homeowners cheering from their balconies. Unfortunately, I don’t have a golf cart, so I have been bringing up the rear with my little yellow Volkswagen “Sunny,” my car

4TH OF JULY

Community Spotlight

that many of you have seen running around the community with the sunroof open and me singing at the top of my lungs … hopefully, of course, the music drowning out my singing.

We are starting to plan for upcoming events. I will update you on details in the coming months and hope that you will contact me if you would like to get involved with:

• Spaghetti Dinner/Bingo Night — Friday, Oct. 20

• Annual Meeting/Potluck — Friday, Dec. 8

• Santa’s Doggie Parade — Saturday, Dec. 9

By MARY FOPPIANO For Avila

As we all know, summer is here … and what better way to kick off the season than the 4th of July Doggie Parade. I am using my Community Spotlight to highlight some of the 140 wonderful doggie participants so that those of you who were unable to join us can see how much fun we all had!

Our Grand Marshal this year is Adam Montiel (“Up & Adam in the Morning”), his prize-winning dog Giorgi (previous funniest costume), and Audrey Tito. In the picture with Adam are our Judge Cini Brown, Judge Eric Daniels (Pacific Gas & Electric Co.), and Judge Steve Kobliska.

The winners of our Costume Contest were:

• Best Costume: Donovan Smith with Chi-Chi

• Best Dog/Owner LookAlike: Lucy & Amelia Vohra with Winnie

• Best Holiday Theme: Abbey & Annie — owners Troy & Vicki Johnson

• Funniest: Cocho — owner Angela Gallegos

• Best in Show: Anna O’Malley & Alex Bakhdanyah with Peanut & Poppy

One of the most heartwarming entrants was Ann Roen, with a picture of her beloved Muffin, who died on June 15. She misses her little one and wanted to be in our parade, so I am very happy that her daughter Laurie Daniels brought her for a little bit of joy.

Petco Arroyo Grande has been donating doggie treat bags for each of our partic-

ipants since we started our parades began over 10 years ago. In addition, Karen Blue continues to donate her outstanding baskets as part of our raffle. This year, Michelle Smith and CFDDA donated a number of raffle prizes, including prizes for our five costume winners and the Cliffs Hotel & Spa donated a night’s stay to our Best in Show winner.

I love our doggie parades and look forward to seeing all of you on Saturday, Dec. 9, at 11 a.m. If you want to get involved with this fun event, please get in contact with me. This year seems to be going really fast, at least it seems that way if you have been in any of our local stores so start planning your prize-winning costume and plan to take a picture with Santa for your holiday photos.

Mary Foppiano

Avila Beach Civic Association

Beach Life

&a celebrity visit

‘Homecoming’ at Point San Luis…

Point San Luis played host to a very special homecoming this past April when many of those with close connections to the light station during the “Coast Guard Era” came back for a collective walk down memory lane.

For some, it was not their first time back. Sherm Acord (1962-63) and George Homenko (1969-70) were here a few years ago to shoot a video about the Coast Guard years at Point San Luis (pointsanluislighthouse.org/blog/ coastguard-video). Jay Conlin (1971) had visited several times; he brought his son Jeff out to see his old stomping grounds as recently as last August. Denise Myres, who was born in San Luis Obispo in April 1961 while her father Allan Karp was stationed here, had returned to her childhood home last June. George Piasecki (1967-69) and his late wife Linda had visited six years ago.

But for others, it was their first time back. And for Charlotte Garber, who was not yet born when her father Charles Albert Garber (1946-48) was officer-incharge, it was the first time she had seen the light station where her father once held command.

John Howery came with his son Matthew. John lived at the lighthouse as a child while his stepfather Richard Teeter (1948-49) was officer-in-charge. Teeter replaced Garber. When John was 6, Teeter was killed when his vehicle went over a cliff while he was driving to check on the light station’s water source at nearby Pecho Creek.

The “Dewey Girls,” Lorrie Freeman and Karin Casper, came from Missouri to see where they lived as young children while their father Rodger Dewey (196064) was officer-in-charge, bringing copies of their late father’s book, “Lighthouses, Cutters, and Lifeboat Stations,” to share with us. Dan Vezinaw returned to where he’d spent summers as a child, staying with his brother Rich (1966-68).

Candice and Larry Fraker drove from Tennessee to visit the “little paradise” where they lived for four years (1970-73) as a young married couple. Jim Hamblin came from Washington to see where he, his late wife Billie, and their two young children had lived for a time. The Hamblins (1971-73) overlapped with the Frakers, as did Jay Conlin. Bev Rackler Adams, who traveled from Utah, lived at Point San Luis with her ex-husband Mike Rackler during 1971 and 1972. Bev worked with Candice at the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant, which was just then being built, commuting from the lighthouse to the construction site each workday.

Reunion Day began with a tour of the power plant, courtesy of PG&E. After lunch in Avila, buses brought these VIPs up to the lighthouse for touring, reminiscing, and a wine and cheese reception. The San Luis Yacht Club in Avila gave us the use of their clubhouse for the evening, where

we dined on pizza and salad and listened as everyone stood up, shared memories, and told tales. Six men from the Morro Bay Coast Guard Station made a surprise

visit, arriving at the yacht club by boat to pay tribute to Coasties from another generation.

It was a day we will long remember at

the light station; a day when all the stars aligned. Perhaps those who came will long remember it too, if this note from Matthew Howery is any indication:

“I wanted to reach out personally and send a message of thanks for organizing and putting together this trip. It really meant a lot to my Father, and to me as well. He’s been talking about it ever since … ”

In June, Point San Luis was treated to a visit by a very special guest, brought out by volunteer lighthouse docents Char and Mike Hoffman. The author of this article got to tag along!

Legendary star of stage, screen, and television Shirley Jones came to take a look at the keeper’s dwelling, the fog signal building, and our fourth-order Fresnel lens. Younger readers may remember Jones most for her role as Shirley Partridge, the matriarch of a family singing group, in the TV sitcom “The Partridge Family” (197074). But she also played on Broadway in “South Pacific,” was Laurey in the film version of “Oklahoma!” (1955), acted as the female lead in “Carousel” (1956), and played the role of Marian, the librarian, in “The Music Man” (1962). She won an Oscar as best supporting actress for her performance in “Elmer Gantry” (1960).

These days the actress splits her time between Ballard, a tiny community in the Santa Ynez Valley, and Fawnskin, a tiny community on Big Bear Lake in San Bernardino County, where she used to be an avid skier. The Hoffmans also own a home in Fawnskin, which is how they came to befriend Shirley and her late husband Marty Ingels.

It was not her first visit to a lighthouse. Much of the movie “Carousel” was shot on location in Boothbay Harbor, Maine, where Shirley had a chance to see the Cuckolds and Burnt Island lighthouses — although what she remembers most about Maine is how very cold it was!

When told the author’s daughter had a teenage crush on her son Shaun Cassidy, plastering her bedroom walls with posters of Shaun torn out of Teen Beat magazine, the actress beamed, although it was certainly far from the first time she’d heard this.

Nine years ago, for her 80th birthday, Shirley planned to skydive for the first time, something she said she’d wanted to do her whole life, until Shaun and his brothers Patrick and Ryan persuaded her at the last minute to reconsider. One wonders if, for her 90th birthday, she’ll insist on getting that wish.

At 89 years young, Shirley is just as beautiful as she has always been.

Author’s note: “The Lighthouse at Point San Luis,” published by the United States Lighthouse Society, is now available on Amazon and at pointsanluislighthouse. org. All

benefit the United States Lighthouse Society and the Point San Luis Light Station, two nonprofits dedicated to preserving lighthouse history.

proceeds

kathy mastako

Board Of Directors

Point San Luis Lighthouse Keeper

Legendary actress Shirley Jones, shown here in an undated photo, made a recent visit to the Point San Luis lighthouse. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Left Photo: This circa 1970 photo shows Candice and Larry Fraker, and their dog Mickey, at Point San Luis. Photo Courtesy of the Frakers; Right Photo: Bev Rackler Adams is shown in the fog signal building at Point San Luis on April 29. Photo Courtesy of Bob Mihelic

Shown at the San Luis Yacht Club: Sherm Acord (left) and Larry Fraker (standing on right). Coast Guard members from the Morro Bay Coast Guard station stand in the center. Photo Courtesy of George Homenko

Pets of the Month!

By MARY FOPPIANO

Hershey and Sweet Pea are Maltipoo litter-mate sisters. They are now 16 years old and weigh around six pounds each. Life in Avila Beach has been paradise for the girls, and Brent and Terese Parker feel blessed to have them in their lives. The girls have been inseparable since birth and grew up chasing and playing with each other over the years. They snuggle together in their bed and groom each other, licking and cleaning each other’s eyes and ears. From young ages, they have loved walking, and even at age 16, they still enjoy taking shorter walks in San Luis Bay Estates. Anyone who has dogs understands how unconditionally loving these girls are and are truly fur babies and family to Brent and Terese.

NEXT MONTH’S PET OF THE MONTH

Please send your pictures and a short paragraph about your pet to avilabeachcc@gmail.com

Thanks, and introduce us to your furry friend next month!

A visit with Rose

By BETTY HARTIG For Avila Beach Life

Afun family activity is an adventurous visit to see Rose. We begin the journey at the entrance of the Bob Jones Pathway on Ontario Road. From there, walk or bike the 2.5-mile trail to sunny Avila Beach. There is plenty to enjoy along the tree-lined path. It is a pleasant instant immersion into nature with sights and sounds all around. Numerous bird songs and calls can be heard, squirrel antics are entertaining, and dodging lizards that streak across the asphalt path can become an art.

Upon reaching the end of the pathway, simply cross Avila Beach Drive at the pedestrian signal. Take note of the bright blue Central Coast Aquarium building. Head for the entrance; that happens to be where Rose resides. Rose is an appropriately named East Pacific red octopus often found from Alaska to Baja California and is temporarily housed along with other marine life creatures in Avila’s aquarium. Rose, a local find, was placed in her nifty “octopus’s garden” in October 2022.

The little octopus is shy and prefers to tuck away inside her tank furnishings, particularly the diver hat, but when she moves about, a wonderful show is provided. Grace and dexterity are clearly revealed, especially during daily feeding. Meals include squid, smelt, shrimp, clams, and hermit crabs. Now, that is a definite top-of-theline seafood diet. Snails are kept in her tank to eat as she pleases, snack time, anytime. To keep her brain actively engaged, food is placed in a variety of toy type items, like Legos and Mr. Potato Head. It is a search and find exploration. Hmmm, not a bad idea to try this with fussy human eaters.

While observing Rose, notice the suckers on the bottom of her arms, referred to as tentacles. Thousands of chemical and millions of texture receptors line the rim of the suckers, which come in handy for hunting. Octopuses are nocturnal and like dark hidden places. A sharp beak, radula, in their underside lets them know if they can fit into something, like a cat’s whiskers. It defines an area’s space. Octopuses do not have bones. Their beak is the hardest part of their body. So, if the beak fits, then so will the rest of its body. That beak has multiple uses. For example, it opens shells, and is used to bite, then inject venom into its prey. Caution: Never pick up a red octopus — it is inclined to bite and spit venom on the wound. As with all tidepool life, it is best to observe and not disturb.

An octopus is curious, clever, extremely intelligent, and has nine brains. Simply amazing. Octopuses are considered one of the smartest invertebrates with the capability to solve mazes and use tools. One brain is the main control and each of its eight tentacles are controlled by a separate brain. Not only does the octopus have extra brain power, but it also has three hearts, which provides blood flow to all its extremities. That is not all, however, as they are experts at camouflage, quickly changing color and

AUGUST Calendar of Events

AUGUST 1 & 1 st FRIDAY EVERY MONTH

ART AFTER DARK

SLO COUNTY ARTS, 1123 MILL ST, SAN LUIS

OBISPO

5-8pm

Art After Dark is a self-guided art walk that allows the community to experience visual, literary & performing art in galleries & other venues.

AUGUST 2 & EVERY SATURDAY

FREE DOCENT TOURS

SAN LUIS OBISPO MUSEUM OF ART, 1010

BROAD ST, SAN LUIS OBISPO

11am-12pm

Join trained guides for interactive & engaging tours of SLOMA’s current exhibitions & gain a deeper understanding of the artwork on view.

AUGUST 2, 9, 16 & 23

CONCERTS IN THE PARK

TEMPLETON PARK

6-8pm

Lounge outside in the evening while enjoying live music. August 2–Garden Party, August 9–Stellar Band, August 16–The Brass Factory & August 23–Monte Mills & The Lucky Horseshoe Band.

AUGUST 4, 11, 18, 25

CONCERTS IN THE PLAZA MISSION PLAZA, DOWNTOWN SAN LUIS OBISPO

5-8pm

Every Friday in the summer enjoy music in the Mission Plaza. August 4–Tipsy Gypsies with Steve Key, August 11–Dante Marsh & the Vibe Setters with Jineanne Coderre, August 18–Zongo All-stars with Dave Tate & August 25–Moonshiner Collective with Miss Leo.

AUGUST 9-10

REBELUTION GOOD VIBES

SUMMER TOUR

AVILA BEACH RESORT

5-8pm

Good Vibes Summer Tour 2023: Rebelution + Special Guests hits Avila Beach, CA. Special Guests, Iration, The Expendables, Passafire & DJ Mackle will open the show.

AUGUST 12, 26

LIVE AT THE LIGHTHOUSE

CONCERT SERIES

POINT SAN LUIS LIGHTHOUSE

LIGHTHOUSE ROAD SAN LUIS OBISPO

2-5:30pm

These Saturday afternoon concerts are limited & will sell out, so make your purchase early to secure your spot. Food, wine & beer available for sale. The historic

skin texture, shape-shifting, and can adjust to water temperatures. Their high-functioning brains gives them freedom to adapt when changes in the environment occur.

Rose is just one of Avila’s quaint aquarium marine life that are well taken care of. There are sharks to view, jellyfish, and touch tanks that children gravitate to. All the exhibits depict local ocean life. Currently, the aquarium is working on recruiting additional volunteers. Increasing space and aquatic life would also be welcomed. More tanks would allow a greater variety of backyard animals on display to serve for educational purposes as well as pleasure. Plan an activity to venture to the Central Coast Aquarium, for it is an Avila gem. Get acquainted with Rose the Eastern Pacific red octopus while she is there to view. She will eventually get released into a natural setting after permission is granted from the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Mark your calendar for the Central Coast Aquarium Annual Fundraiser on Sept. 30. Together we can keep and expand the number of inhabitants that live in the aquarium. Enjoy all that Avila Beach has to offer and the entire Central Coast.

A note of thanks to Executive Director Christy Kasarjian and Aquarist Olivia at the Central Coast Aquarium.

site will be open for touring. Gift shop will be open. & you’ll see our docents in period attire on site for lighthouse storytelling. Chairs will be provided. Aug. 12: Dante Marsh & the Vibesetters & Aug. 26: Jill Knight Band.

AUGUST 12 & EVERY 2 nd SATURDAY

2nd SATURDAYS AT SLOMA

SAN LUIS OBISPO MUSEUM OF ART

1010 BROAD STREET, SAN LUIS OBISPO

11am-1pm

Families are invited to SLOMA’s lawn to learn about the visual arts together using our unique activity kits & create an art project inspired by our current exhibitions.

AUGUST 23

TASH SULTANA: NORTH

AMERICAN TOUR

AVILA BEACH GOLF RESORT

6464 ANA BAY RD

4-9pm

A portion of proceeds benefit nonprofit Operation Surf. For more information visit tixr.com/groups/goodvibezpresents/ events/tash-sultana-north-americantour-2023-68548

AUGUST 26-27

STONE SOUP MUSIC FESTIVAL

RAMONA GARDENS PARK CENTER, 993

RAMONA AVE. GROVER BEACH

10am-10pm Saturday & 10am-5pm Sunday Bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on while listening to music from two stages of music. Shop from an eclectic group of vendors, children can play in the Kidz Zone with bounce houses, activities, & games. Sunday morning will offer anyone to take part in the Mardi Paws parade & doggie costume contest.

Rose the East Pacific red octopus shown in her tank at the Central Coast Aquarium.

Photo by Betty Hartig

GRAPEVINE Delta, canal, beavers

Local Sacramento River Delta communities and “River Rats,” which includes me as a sixth-generation (1850) Walnut Grove farmer, dodged another bullet on the Delta tunnel project, also named the Peripheral Canal, Water Fix, and Delta Conveyance, names that keep changing to hide or confuse people about one of the state’s biggest boondoggles, alongside the “Fast Rail Train to Nowhere.”

As explained in Cal Matters, our governor had to take one on the chin when his personal stamped legislature wouldn’t let him have a streamlined red-tape-cutting regulatory treatment he tried to sneak in during the budget hearings. He wanted to exempt the Delta tunnel project, along with several other public works projects, from the California Environmental Quality Act. So, we are back in a good place of political, legal, and bureaucratic limbo — neither dead nor alive. A lawyer’s dream. Hopefully, it will give time to the project’s opponents, local water boards and politicians to tighten up Delta water quality standards and kill the tunnel for good.

For seven decades, 70 of my 80 years, the idea has been to bypass the natural Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta water conveyance system of 1,000 miles of waterways, several islands, and communities. It started with a canal (ditch) around the Delta, then two massive 30-foot tall tunnels under the Delta farms now cut down to one tunnel, an ecological disaster, to the pumps in Tracy to fill the state and federal canals that supply water to southern farms and cities. Ever since the water has been pumped from the bottom of the Delta system at the Tracy pumps as we do now, the West Coast’s largest estuary has been significantly degraded from the high-demand southern exported water pumping. During droughts, when everyone wants their share and there’s not enough water to go around, there is even worse pressure on the water quality.

The only thing keeping the salt water from San Francisco Bay from going up into the lush farming and fishery areas of the Delta is the force and quantity of the water coming down from the north. So, the obvious problem, taking out water from the top of the Delta to streamline the water flow to the pumps means less water in the rivers and sloughs that hold back the salt water for the already diminishing populations of salmon, striped bass, sturgeon, steelhead, and other fish and wildlife.

Resulting in saltwater intrusion up into the Delta, the damages would also catastrophically degrade the farmlands pumping the brackish water onto the most fertile farm ground in the state for such things as swimming pools in Southern California, and the vast number of super thirsty almond trees along southern I-5 — relying on the canal water for irrigation — which have no business being there in the first place because the scarcity of available water underground, and especially since 70 percent of the nuts are exported to foreign countries taking our water with them.

Moving on to a great natural water environmental project, California is trapping our native beavers, putting them to work to restore watersheds. Robin Meadows, in ravensnotebook.com (the best place to get all the up-to-date state water news) writes

our Fish and Game is launching a $1.44 million per year program to bring the beavers back to watersheds, where they had historically ranged throughout the state. The project takes them out of places where they do harm, flooding farms and roads, to where they can do good things in mountain watersheds. This is the second go-around for relocations. From the early 1920s to the 1950s, 1,200 beavers were relocated from streams on farms to watersheds to save water for wildlife, fish, and agriculture by dropping them out of planes in boxes with parachutes. Not sure about the mortality rate.

Beavers are monogamous and mate for life, like our Canadian Geese out in the creek, so procedures are being developed to move whole families because the young usually stay with their parents for two years, helping raise the next generation of kits and maintain the lodges or bank dens. There used to be 200 million beavers in North America, that number dropping down to 10 million and 15 million today. Nearly wiped out here in California in the early 1900s, they rebounded after protections were placed in 1911.

Fish and Game are working with Utah’s beaver program. The state agency has been

problem is that changing water levels can be a drowning danger if not quickly retrieved, plus snares that give the big rodents freedom of movement and long enough for rising and falling water levels. Beavers can stay underwater for 15 minutes and swim a half-mile before coming up for air, thanks to their large lungs. Then the beavers are quarantined on-site to reduce the risk of fish pathogens like Whirling Disease because trout with Whirlings makes them swim in circles because of spinal deformities. The disease is spread by worms in the mud which the beavers scoop up for building and maintaining their dams.

The beavers are radio-tagged to see if they stay in their new surroundings. The main thing is to put them in an ideal location with willows, slow-running streams, with year around running water that doesn’t dry up in the summer. Plans are in the works to map out appropriate sites for the beavers so they can get to work and not worry about being washed downriver when reintroduced into the wild.

Meadows are a high priority because they attract a lot of wildlife and act as natural reservoirs. Small stream dams built by beavers are better, cheaper, constantly maintained, more ecological, and longer lasting than most artificial dams built by man; to wit, many of the beaver-built dams in the 1900s projects are still up. Whereas most dams are small, there is one in Alberta, Canada that is a half-mile long and big enough to show up in satellite photos. Beavers are credited by Fish and Game as the only species known to create their own complete habitat. Meadows are very important as alternate water storage in the upper watershed by pacing the release of the snowmelt during the dry season instead of the runoff rushing through the meadows down to the bigger creeks and rivers, then out the GoldenGate. The more meadows the better.

We had a rare beaver, our Delta rivers and sloughs are too big and fast for them, which I noticed when I was having fun time alone restoring our century-old “River Shak” on the riverside years ago after busy pear and tomato seasons, which would regularly pass by in the slough just after daybreak. I convinced Maridel, whose idea of camping is the Four Seasons, to spend the night and slap down a couple of sleeping bags on the dock to watch

John Salisbury contributor

From the early 1920s to the 1950s, 1,200 beavers were relocated from streams on farms to watersheds to save water for wildlife, fish, and agriculture. Contributed Photo