Environment 10-30
No, it wasn’t a car running into your house: That shaking that likely woke you up at 6:24 a.m. on 10/29 was a 2.8-magnitutde earthquake, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The brief, jolting quake’s epicenter was roughly three miles northwest of Montecito. (/quake1030)
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Clean Air Express, the commuter bus line traveling between North and South County cities, announced this week that a record number of riders used the service during September: more than 20,000. A statement noting the milestone credited high gas prices for the bump in riders. The service is funded by Measure D, so Clean Air Express officials also encouraged citizens to vote for D’s replacement, Measure A, to keep it running. (/cleanair1030)
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After a letter from the Greka Energy attorneys threatened litigation, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors delayed a decision this week on approving an on-shore oil ordinance designed to bolster enforcement and punishment mechanisms for frequent oil spillers. The ordinance, inspired by Greka’s flagrant and frequent oil spills, returns to the board on 11/18.
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Los Padres National Forest announced on 10/28 that the 1,540 acres of forest land sprayed with hydromulch-the teal-colored, tacky substance used to decrease erosion on areas burned by the Gap Fire-will be closed to the public for up to one year. For example, while Lizard’s Mouth is now open, popular rock-climbing spots like the Playground and the Brickyard will remain closed.
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An army of jellyfish accomplished what area anti-nuclear activists have been trying to do for decades: shut down San Luis Obispo’s Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant. On 10/21, hundreds of moon jellies were sucked into pipes through which the plant draws water from the bay below, causing abnormal water pressure levels and prompting plant officials to turn off both reactors. The problem was eventually solved and the plant once again thrust into operation, however. (/jiggly1030)
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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s fisheries service has announced the formation of a plan to help recover populations of white abalone, which live in the ocean along the California and Mexico coasts. Listed as endangered in 2001, the abalone will benefit from the identification of new potential habitats among other things. (/abalone1030)
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City Parks announced this week that a zero-runoff irrigation system called “Slow Flow” will be installed at the Louise Lowry Davis Center lawn on 11/5. The watering system produces small floods that proportionally saturate the soil and eliminate excess watering.
