Cachuma decision today - 03/11

[TopGrJim]

Santa Barbara County Board of Supes make their decision today. Live coverage available, see County website.

[Dwayne]

What time is the meeting?

[Ray L.]

the meeting is going on now.
They have not gotten to the lake in there Agenda yet.
It will be a while.

[Ray L.]

It looks like it will not be addressed until after the lunch break. So it should be about 2 p.m.

[Ray L.]

It still looks like 2 p.m. before they even start to address it and maybe 3 p.m. before any kind of vote will happen.
I just checked the live feed.
You can also see what the presentations will be to the board. I saw what Parks and Rec. are presenting and it looks to me like they want the Lake open.
The only one who does not is C.O.M.B.'s
There presentation is also on the website.

[Dwayne]

Your right Ray, after reading the attachments and the parks presentation it looks like the lake wants to stay open. I think we have a pretty good chance of keeping this one. We may have to wait till they get their power wash station and provide instructions to their employees on how to use it, but that will only be a few weeks according to the presentation. Lets hope the board still have some fight in them when they return from break.

[scottsweet]

Anyone have the link to the meeting? I can't find it on the website...

Thanks!

[drew]

Click on the view event link.

http://sbcounty.granicus.com/ViewPublis ... ?view_id=4

Anyone have the link to the meeting? I can't find it on the website...

Thanks!

[Bill Hutcheson]

Monitoring what is going on at the meeting as this is posted.

COMB is asking for a 6 month closure or closure until all of thier countermeasures are in place......

Stay tuned.....

Hutch

[Bill Hutcheson]

Board is delaying decision until March 25th.......

Stay tuned...

Hutch
WON BASS

[Keith R]

Listening in, does not sound good.

[tunaman]

Nope, sure doesn't... far too many water representatives, not enough representing the recreational interests.

[Dwayne]

I guess we are 0 for 2

[Ray L.]

It actually sounds a lot better than what happened at Casitas.
I like the board is taking this into a comittee. I hope by them working with other groups such as D.F.G. and Parks and rec. it will lead to some good things.
They are not taking it light. They need to make the best decission possible.

[Gambler]

Got in a little late... saw the vote was 3-0... what was the motion?

[scottsweet]

The Board of Supervisors seem more reasonable. There was little representation from the fisherman and it would be good to get a little more organized up there if possible for the next meeting.

The Parks and Recreations folks did a good job in presenting their case. COMB had many statements made as fact, but loaded with errors. Terry needed more time.

I would suggest that someone work with the Cachuma Park and Rec folks to come up with a clear plan on what will be done to prevent infestation and provide DFG documentation to show that the plan is a strong viable one to prevent the introduction of the Quagga.

Our biggest issue with Casitas, even though they didn't read much of what was provided, was a direct connection of DFG recommendations with the activities the lake is actually doing. If a strong cooperative effort is done showing how DFG recommendations is being implemented and agreed upon by the Parks and Rec folks, we have a higher chance of success. Further, it needs to be short, direct, in a written form and then submitted as a plan.

These folks need things easy to read and refer back to for future reference. Discussion and thoughts are quickly forgotten and the connection between each of the points are also forgotten or confused. Multiple documents in good, but too confusing. The KISS principle works well...Keep it Simple Stupid.

Just my .02.

[tunaman]

Also of note, for anyone who wasn't listening in... their Parks representative is going to engage the Parks management from further north (Lopez, Nacimiento and one other mentioned specifically) to spread the word and gain some additional awareness (read more proactive actions).

Hearing the various water representatives really hit home the nature of the battle at hand... each and every one of them were speaking out in favor of closing (temporarily, at face value) the lake to outside access. The anglers who did speak up were largely locals looking to be able to continue to access their local lake exclusively, but it didn't seem that the tournament or roaming anglers had much representation. Once the other water boards get in tune with this issue, I don't have great optimism that the outcomes will be favorable, as they are in a panic to protect their resources.

It was disheartening also to hear them discount the possibility of mussel spread from waterfowl, and I kept wanting to scream out a challenge to put their professional reputations and jobs on the line... nature will indeed take her course, it's only a matter of time.

I'm still befuddled to see that this hasn't hit the mainstream news... why hasn't it made it onto the local network news??? We need to get all the support we can, and public awareness is the biggest ally we can enlist, IMHO.

Regardless, I spoke with Rae El earlier and will try to remain optomistic, in spite of the bleak picture painted by the coalition of water board representatives. Fight on, folks!

Roger

[scottsweet]

I have been contacted by the Ventura County Star multiple times on this issue. In fact, I was quoted in the article just before the Casitas ruling.

They are covering it closely and I believe they will continue to do so.

[tunaman]

I have been contacted by the Ventura County Star multiple times on this issue. In fact, I was quoted in the article just before the Casitas ruling.

They are covering it closely and I believe they will continue to do so.

I'm not talking about local newspapers... I'm talking about local and network news outlets. Newspapers are all but dead, IMHO. I'm talking about FOX, ABC, CBS, NBC, KCAL, etc... I'm sure one or more of the LA stations would pick it up and run with it, as it has all the earmarks of what they like to broadcast now... doom and gloom, sensationalism, public outcry and bickering, and the potential to impact much of the state, Western region, as well as national ties. This issue needs as much exposure as we can get, as well as public awareness for those outside of WB and the freshwater bass scene.

Roger

[Toad]

They had a report on the local CBS affiliate out of Santa Maria last night.