Present: Ken Ekelund, Martha Diehl, Bill Nelson, Richard
Taylor, Lynn Overtree, Gary Collings, Lloyd Jones, Alex Kane
Location: Home of Martha Diehl and Ken Ekelund
- Update
- By-laws (over-view discussion only)-all
- Name of non-profit organization - Sally
- Upcoming training- who wants to go road workshop in
King City on March 23? - Ken/Richard
- Agenda for General Meeting- all
- Break out session
Updates from Planning Group Members:
Richard Taylor: Richard passed around an article
about restoration work being done in Montana on trout streams….there is a lot
of involvement from the fisherman and it has some amazing results.
Richard arranged for Matt Borek, Jim Cox and Norm
Cotton to go to the PWA Roads Workshop in King City on 23 March. He will follow
up on this. (Editor’s Note: Richard got all three of the above to the
workshop!) Gary Collings mentioned that they were encouraging their road
maintenance people attend.
Richard reported that Monterey County Public Works
people were out working on the Garrapatos Road today.
Richard spent a lot of time going over the
Bylaws...he received thanks from all…his comments were in CAPS. He suggested we
contact his attorney and see if he is available to help. (Editorial comment:
That attorney could not take the case; Sean Flavin has agreed to help us.)
Ken Ekelund: Ken gave an update on science project
work that has happened recently. CSUMB students did creek flow measurements in
mid- Feb. A student is doing a class project on area around confluence of
Joshua Creek and Garrapata Creek. She collected flow data, measured sediment
depth, sediment size, and amount of sediment moving down stream. MPC is going
to do a Geographical Information System (GIS) project for us; they will collect
all of the existing data available publicly for our watershed.
Ken’s walk with Dave Dettman (fisheries biologist
with MPWMD) is postponed until 18 March. They will be looking for steelhead
Redds (nests) and possible sites for restoration projects. (Editorial comment:
Dave came down on the 18th and had some great ideas for near-time
projects.)
Ken talked about the Redds. The eggs are laid on
gravel and hatch in 30 days. The fry stay below the gravel for another 45 days.
So they are vulnerable to being trapped by fine sediment for a total of time
window of 2.5 months….a reason to stay of out the creek from November until
May, you never know exactly when the steelhead have laid their eggs. Gary says
that he has seen fry in San Jose Creek. No one is seeing many in this creek at
the moment.
Lloyd Jones: Will work with Ken to set up Ivy Pull
Day (if we get enough interest). He reported a conversation with Monsanto rep
(makers of Round-up, Rodeo). They discourage pulling. They say that it is more
effective to spray (editorial comment: what a surprise); you may have to spray
several times. You should get at least 50% of the leaves to be effective. If
you spray the tendrils, they don’t absorb the poison, only the leaves. Spray it
and wait a month before pulling or cutting.
General Discussion: There was a lot of discussion
about roads and particularly Garrapatos Road. Any grants to fix the road will
have to wait until we get the PWA Roads and Erosion report.
There was discussion about Cape Ivy and the Ivy Pull
Day on 7 April. We have to see how much interest there is and select a
location. One possible site is above Garrapatos Road near the Bliss house and
also a site at the Trout Farm.
There was lot of discussion about the Bylaws. We agreed
after much discussion that we would have members who would pay annual dues.
This would give they eligibility to the Planning Group, which elects the Board
and makes decisions about restoration projects.
Also discussed were term limits for board (2 years),
members don’t vote for board but do vote for changes in Bylaws. Membership is
open to any owner, resident or land manager in watershed or others interested
in the health of the creek. Members would be eligible to serve on the Planning
Group. The Planning Group elects the Board of Directors. There was agreement
that a modest amount for dues ($10 per year was mentioned) would be required
for membership but the board can waive dues on annual basis.
Sally Taylor was not able to attend but confirmed
that the name Garrapata Creek Watershed Council will also be the name of the
non-profit corporation. She has reserved the name with the State.
Action Items:
Ken:
-
Meet with Lloyd to select a location for the Ivy Pull Day.
-
Get a turbidity tube to Richard (or Bill) so he can do “daily” measurements
(still outstanding from last meeting)
All: - We would like to have
several of the Planning Group member speak briefly at the general meeting about
the area that they have signed up on the Issue and Concerns list.
Meeting was concluded at
21:20. Thanks for Martha for taking great notes.
Next Planning Group
meeting will be on SUNDAY 8 April at Lloyd Jones house. Time is 4:00.
Next General Meeting will
be 17 June at the Nelson’s House.