Category: Central Coast

-October 7,2023-
For the first time in its long history, the coastal community of Los Osos may soon have the opportunity to bring in a water source that isn’t dependent on their limited underground supply. Unlike many local towns, this community of 18,000 has no dam or reservoir upgradient or agreement to bring in outside reservoir water like San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles Arroyo Grande or Santa Maria and most others.

The news is that the Los Osos Community Service District (LOCSD) is planning to build a 2.5 mile pipeline to Morro Bay (the Chorro Valley (CVP)) to tap into the State Water Project or other sources that will help replenish Los Osos groundwater, says Ron Munds,CSD manager.

Proposed pipeline will run near famed bear statue on So Bay Blvd

During wet years and based on supply, the LOCSD could receive unused allocations of State Water Project water through the CVP to offset pumping in the Los Osos Groundwater Basin or for an emergency water reserve. It is anticipated that state water could provide up to 200 acre-feet per year (AFY) of water supply. The intertie is anticipated to enhance the reliability and resiliency of the LOCSD’s water supply and guarantee a dependable and robust supply, especially in the face of climate change and persistent drought conditions suggest Munds.

Los Osos urban water use is about 1,000 AFY with agriculture using an additional 1,000 AFY east of the community.

“Some people say this project could be growth inducing but we are looking at the issue of resilience – a buffer supply to help us keep sea water out by reducing our pumping” maintains the veteran water manager.

Goal: Operational in 2026

According to a just released environmental document there is a potential for construction of the pipeline and intertie to both the water source and the Los Osos water system to begin sometime in 2025 and be operational by 2026.

Pipeline construction would take place from Los Osos to Highway 1 along South Bay Blvd.The project would coordinate with plans to replace the Los Osos Creek Bridge set for 2025, slightly east of the existing alignment.

Depending on the amount of water received by the intertie in Los Osos, pumping would be reduced at other LOCSD wells in the Los Osos Groundwater Basin to mitigate seawater intrusion.

The Los Osos CSD has been working to provide a secondary supply of water to the community since 2021. In March 2023, the Board approved the release of a Request for Proposal for the environmental work for the Water Resiliency Intertie Project. The District contracted with SWCA Environmental Consultants to perform the work. SWCA completed the Constraints Analysis in July 2023. There were no major constraints identified so SWCA was directed to complete the Initial Study (IS) and proceed with the work on the Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND). The draft MND has been completed and was made available for public review on September 27, 2023. There is a 30-day public comment period which will end on October 27th. Staff will bring the IS/MND to the Board for review and consideration for approval most likely at the December Board meeting.

Water Resiliency Project Components

There are two components to the project being considered, one being the pipeline and the second securing additional water for the community. The following is a summary of the components.

Intertie Pipeline.

Staff and District Engineer had several meetings with County and City of Morro Bay staff to discuss the project alignment and the challenges that may be encountered during design and construction. Wallace Group considered the escalation in the cost of labor and material when developing the cost estimate. As recent history shows, it’s hard to predict costs too far into the future because of supply chain issues and inflation. The estimated cost of the pipeline in 2022 dollars is $8 million.

Munds says once the project is certified by the Board in December, he will set out to look for grants to pay for the construction. Failing that, Munds says both S&T and Golden State Water,the two other purveyors in town, have said they would help pay for it with costs passed on to ratepayers.

State  water supply could reach Los Osos

 

Water Supply

The State Water Project is undergoing some significant changes both at the State and local levels. Reservoirs are brimming as the State has instituted new water management tools, which make it easier to purchase and sell water in the system. Additionally, the County holds approximately 14,000 acre-feet of un-allocated water, which the Board of Supervisors has indicated needs to be allocated in the near future to remove the property tax burden from properties not benefitting from the project.

These changes, plus the willingness of some State Water subcontractors wanting to sell some of their excess allocation, provide the District a unique opportunity to secure water for the community. Inquiries and negotiations on multiple fronts are complicated but staff is confident that there will be water available as the separate prospects unfold.

Next Steps

The following are the next steps if the Board decides the intertie pipeline project should move forward.
• Send a correspondence to the County expressing the District’s interest in acquiring State Water.
• Continue negotiations to secure water, preferably Table A water, which is a more assured and
reliable water contract.
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October 5,2023

 

Wholesale gasoline prices are collapsing across the US and in California as demand has declined, says the Energy Information Agency (EIA).Demand is lowest in a year.

US Gasoline futures are down 60 cents from mid-Sept this AM.
AAA says SLO County prices are down 23 cents today from a few days ago.AAA posts average prices daily.

Not just gas but oil is heading down in a hurry as well to $83 a barrel this AM – down $13 in only a few days.

Tom Kloza,oil analyst, says gasoline marketers are doing just fine.

“Gasoline marketers today find an average gross margin of nearly 62cts/gal ranging from 33.1cts/gal in Alabama to $1.48/gal in California. It’s about twice the typical profit margin seen before 2022….”

A GasBuddy analyst says gas prices will drop drastically over the next few months in California. Perhaps below $5 per gallon.

Patrick De Haan told the press “With California allowing the transition to winter gasoline to begin immediately, easing supply concerns, we’re likely to see nearly the entire country see gasoline prices trend lower in the week ahead,” De Haan said. “You could say Christmas is coming early.”

 

Despite high oil prices as an incentive,US oil rigs count is down this October .Five years ago the rig count was near 800 according to Baker Hughes and over 600a year ago. Rather than’ drill baby drill’ riggers are shelving production (see chart).

-September 30,2023-

Los Osos resident and PG&E forecaster John Lindsey posts this week that oyster farming may be helping to improve the health of the Morro Bay Estuary.

“It is impressive to see thriving commercial oyster farming in Morro Bay! “

According to the Morro Bay National Estuary Program “State of the Bay|2023” report, “Morro Bay is fortunate to be one of the few areas on the California coast with our own source of local oysters. The Morro Bay Oyster Company and Grassy Bar Oyster Company grow Pacific oysters in the bay’s waters for sale in markets and restaurants. There are approximately 73 acres available for oyster farming, which is only 3% of the bay’s total acreage. The aquaculture industry depends on clean water, and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is responsible for determining if the water quality in the bay is suitable for growing oysters.”

Lindsey adds “I have a personal hypothesis that suggests oysters, as filter feeders, play a role in enhancing water clarity. This, in turn, benefits seagrass beds by allowing more sunlight to penetrate the water column, thereby facilitating increased photosynthesis. As a result, the proliferation of seagrass directly contributes to the well-being of Black Brant geese and many other species.”

August 09, 2023

Twice as many calves head north to Arctic feeding grounds with their mothers.

Photograph of a gray whale mother and her calf born this year on their northbound migration.
Gray whale mother and her calf on their northbound migration.
Almost twice as many gray whale calves swam north with their mothers to their Arctic feeding grounds this spring compared to last year, according to a new count completed by NOAA Fisheries’ Southwest Fisheries Science Center.

The results suggest that the eastern North Pacific population of gray whales that migrate along the West Coast may be stabilizing after several years of declines. NOAA Fisheries declared an Unusual Mortality Event in 2019 due to an increase in strandings that nearly cut their numbers in half. The increase in the estimated number of calves migrating north adds to other positive signs for the population. We have also seen higher numbers of mother-calf pairs in Mexican wintering lagoons and fewer whales stranding and dying on their migration north.

“This is a positive data point, but it is only a small improvement that we need to keep monitoring,” said Aimée Lang, who led the spring calf count. Researchers at Piedras Blancas on the central California coast estimated that 412 female gray whales swam north with calves this year. Gray whales undertake one of the longest migrations of any species.

That is nearly twice the estimated all-time low of 217 mother-calf pairs migrating north last year, which was the fewest since surveys began in 1994. However, it remains far below the estimate of roughly 1,500 gray whale calves in 2016, when the gray whale population contained nearly 27,000 whales. A count last winter estimated that the total population had fallen to about 14,500 whales.

Researchers from the Southwest Fisheries Science Center typically count gray whales during their southbound migration on a cycle of 2 out of every 5 years. However, they have completed three counts in the past 4 years and will complete another count in the winter of 2024 to track the gray whale population trajectory.

 

-September 23,2023-

Weather models are predicting that this week’s atmospheric river event in late September may continue a wet pattern into October. The weather site Pivotal Weather is predicting as much as 18 inches of cumulative rain in northern California through the third week of October – about a month away. Over the same period, the northern Bay Area could see 4 to 6 inches of precipitation by October 20. The stormy weather could bring 4 to 5 inches to Lake Shasta, and the Tahoe area could get a heavy dose of early snow to kick off the ski season. The Pacific Northwest fire season could come to an abrupt halt with 20 inches of rain falling in Oregon and Washington as well as British Columbia. 

The fire season has caused widespread smoke to drift over much of California this week affecting air quality. 

Weather reports this week suggest that the fall season’s first atmospheric river will douse fires in northern California in the coming days. The SF Chronicle reports “A major September storm is forecast to bring heavy rains and strong winds to Washington, Oregon and Northern California beginning Sunday night. … The jet stream is forecast to strengthen across the Pacific Ocean this weekend, pushing an atmospheric river all the way from Japan to the western U.S. Atmospheric rivers are ribbons of moisture that can ferry large amounts of moisture thousands of miles through the sky.”

The storm is expected to be one of several plunging down from the north into the Pacific Northwest extending south of the Bay Area.  

The pattern change is both welcome and unexpected in the coming El Nino year with southern California  anticipated to get more wet weather with comparative dry conditions in the Pacific Northwest.

-August 16,2023-

Pictured above: One forecast for Aug 21 shows tropical storm spreading into the heart of California

 

GFS weather models are offering different views of pathways of a Baja storm heading north next week that could barrel right into the heart of California or veer east or west as they traditionally do.Two models posted August 16 suggest it could head right over LA and move all the way into Northern California.One forecaster says just 2 tropical storms have visited CA since 1900. “This is a very rare event should this happen.” The Sierra could see several inches.Here is the NOAA precip map for the later part of the month.

 

Good Medicine founder buying Celia’s Cafe and large wooded lot for new music venue – Estero Gardens

-July 20,2023-

Former SLO Brewing owner Todd Newman and wife Korie founded the live music promotion company Good Medicine Presents and are now purchasing both Celia’s Cafe business in Los Osos as well as the property surrounding it in a deal to be finalized in September, confirms Newman. “We always wanted to do something in Los Osos“ says Todd, whose home is in Cayucos.

The musical promotions couple has a long history of bringing top name talent to the Central Coast performing at scores of venues regularly. Now they will have a home place to offer shows in Los Osos where a growing number of venues and events are taking place every week these days.

Todd was able to cobble together both the purchase of the Los Osos fan-favorite Celia’s Garden Cafe from the owner Celia Alfirevic and the purchase of 1.5 acres of commercial land surrounding the cafe from another owner. Celia wants to retire after 18 years of serving comfort food in Los Osos. It remains open now.

The Los Osos Valley Rd property had been on the market for several years – the former home of Sage Ecological Nursery behind the street-side cafe. The rectangular shaped lot still boasts some large mature oaks and other landscaping prompting the Newmans to carry on with the name Estero Gardens.

Pictured: Good Medicine  lineup of shows 

Buying the cafe and liquor license along with the land, the Newmans will be able to design the look for their new outdoor music venue while offering food at the cafe with its own large outdoor seating areas.

The property at 1188 Los Osos Valley Road is sandwiched between two grocery store shopping centers – a kind of oasis in a sea of concrete. The location should mean limited noise conflicts given it is in a retail/service commercial area and a few blocks from homes.

Los Osos is already gaining a reputation as a destination to hear live music while you sip on a brew. Here is the current line up.

Live Music in Los Osos

 

Merrimaker – Popular Baywood bar and beer garden are currently offering 21 musical events in August
Sea Pines Golf Course -Live music every Saturday afternoon -dance barefoot on the grass
Beerwood – occasional events
Sweet Springs Saloon- occasional music offerings
Olde Alehouse – offering 9 concerts in July

pic 1: lineup of shows offered by Good Medicine
Pic 2: Dancing on the grass at Los Osos’ Sea Pines
Pic 3: View of Celia’s Cafe and surrounding land

 

-July 20,2023-

You wouldn’t know it if you commute down Madonna Rd and notice all the construction going on at 577 home project called San Luis Ranch this summer but new home permits across San Luis Obispo County in the first half of 2023 is far below the pace seen in the past 5 years.

Reports from Construction Monitor so far this year, show single-family home permits at only 117 new homes in the county through July 13 compared to 328 this time in 2022, 385 by mid-year 2021, 365 in the first half of 2021, 365 in 2020 and 322 in the same time frame in 2019 – before the pandemic.

A closer look shows no builder in the county this year has permitted more than 12 homes while the year before Shea Homes permitted 52 new homes in Nipomo and Coastal Community Builders and WCP Developers (Wathen-Castanos) each permitted 42 units in the City of San Luis Obispo.

City of San Luis Obispo figures show a similar trend with 132 new home permits issued in the first half of 2021,107 during the same period in 2022 and as mentioned-just 42 so far this year.

City permit technician Matt LaFreniere says fluctuations are typical when large projects are launched like Avila Ranch, Righetti or San Luis Ranch that depending on timing – bolster the numbers. But going forward “there’s not a lot in the pipeline” that will continue a home building boom trend in SLO city, he suggests.

With new home production at a low level this year, one key factor has to be the rise in mortgage interest rates.Current rates in San Luis Obispo are 7.51% for a 30-year fixed loan, 6.74% for 15- year fixed loan and 6.72% for a 5-year ARM says realtor.com. Thirty year rates were 5.4% in July 2022 and 3% in July 2021.

Analysts say a surge in mortgage interest rates and a shortage of homes for sale has suppressed California home sales. If builders don’t pick up the pace of new construction, the problem is just going to get worse.

Not surprisingly new home starts across all of California are experiencing the same trend. Real Estate publication Firsttuesday reported in May that single-family residential construction starts were a steep 31% below one year earlier in the six-month phase ending April 2023. During those same six months, multi-family construction starts were down a slight 5% from the six-month phase a year earlier.

All building permits down too

Does the slowdown in home construction here reflect a slowdown in all building activity in the county?

Comparing the total value this year to 2022, all construction in San Luis Obispo was valued at $197 million through this mid-year vs $413 million during the same 6 months in 2022. All building permits through mid-2021 were valued at a still strong $350 million.

Bottom line – one could conclude we were seeing a construction slowdown in SLO County so far this year.

Despite a slowdown in permits right now, SLOs major projects have inventory available. San Luis Ranch says they have in their Legacy project – 198 approved -122 sold or under contract and 76 available according to marketing manager Cate Norton.

One large project underway is Wathen Castanos’ Avila Ranch in San Luis Obispo with a starting price in the mid $800ks. The development opened last year and built about 60 homes in its first phase -36 of them occupied. The 150-ace project is permitted for 720 homes.

A really big project on the drawing board is in Nipomo – the 1,318 home Dana Reserve subdivision scheduled to go before the SLO County Planning Commission Aug. 30-31.The project suggest it will offer all level of homes with a three-bedroom Dana Reserve home to cost $571,000 as compared to the Central Coast median home price of $1.02 million as of April 2023.

-June 28,2023-

The Los Osos Advisory Committee (LOCAC) has unanimously backed historical use by equestrians to the east-west trail system at the edge of the Morro Bay Dunes Ecological Preserve for horse riding. The preserve is just south of Highland in Los Osos near Broderson Ave which becomes a walking trail as it climbs into the preserve.

LOCAC members were advised of the issue last week with a power point presentation by former Cayucos science teacher Lisa Shinn representing the local equestrian community and stables. Riders use the trial system to connect to Montana de Oro State Park.

Montana de Oro has been long used by equestrians with the park offering some 61 miles of horse trails and a permanent Horse Camp that draws visitors from all over the west looking to recreate along the seashore. Shinn notes the visitors have a beneficial impact on the local economy.In the state park riders share the use of trails with hikers and bike riders.

The ecological preserve, founded in 1983, is overseen by the state Fish and Wildlife Dept(CDFW). On the agency’s website they say equestrians are not allowed within the preserve.Indeed in the past year the agency posted a “Horses Prohibited ” sign at one entrance to the trail system.The whole trail system passes through multiple jurisdictions from private lands, BLM managed land, the Fish and Wildlife Preserve and state park land.Much of the familiar foothill landscape the rises south of Los Osos is under BLM jurisdiction which has no horse use restrictions.

Shinn argues that Fish and Wildlife put up the signs while offering no public hearing or notice. The horse community hopes to continue to access the corridor connecting the eastern horse stables to Montana de Oro without being “pushed onto the streets.”

CDFW Lands Program Manager Bob Stafford explains their position.

“CDFW doesn’t allow horses on Morro Dunes Ecological Reserve because of negative impacts to habitat and wildlife species such as the federally endangered Morro shoulderband snail. The reserve is on a stabilized dune system which is especially susceptible to disturbance, particularly by horses and mountain bikes which are both prohibited. Historically, some horseback riders have created new trails on the property which also causes environmental damage. The property that CDFW manages is 250 acres and restoring its trails is the primary mitigation measure listed in the Los Osos Habitat Conservation Plan. Horses have always been prohibited on the property but dogs on leash are allowed.”

The horse riders point out they have used the connecting trail that crosses the Broderson hiking trail for the past 50 years.

The group argues that Fish and Wildlife can offer some restrictive use as they do in 10 state-run ecological preserves in California where horses are allowed.

Shinn adds that the horse community offers trail maintenance crews in MDO. They ride alongside hikers, some with dogs on leashes where allowed, and share the trails. They have a courteous relationship for the most part.Dogs are not prohibited within the ecological preserve itself but they are banned in MDO.

In the Fish & Wildlife preserve placement of no horses signs has caused confusion and “friction with hikers.”

Shinn presented a map of the trail system that runs from the polo field east of town, then east of the Baywood Heights area before reaching the 183 acre ecological preserve. When it reaches the preserves it skirts the edge behind Highland Ave homes before it exits the preserve heading west. With no lifting of the restrictions – the corridor is blocked

Shinn called for the public hearing to clear up the rules.

What appears to be an issue is the soon-to-be adopted Habitat Conservation Plan for Los Osos where community input may offer some more public discussion.

Last year the Tribune reported regarding the shoulderband snail: “A snail found only in a small area of San Luis Obispo County is on the slow but steady road to recovery after being considered close to extinction for nearly 30 years. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has reclassified the Morro shoulderband snail, which lives solely in the Morro Bay and Los Osos area, from endangered to threatened.”

John Lindt is editor of the news service Sierra2thesea.net and a member of the Los Osos Advisory Committee(LOCAC)

The Los Osos horse riding community wants to use their historical riding trail that skirts the outer edge of the preserve just south of homes along Highland.

map: Preserve is only a part of the dune land south of Los Osos next to multiple jurisdictions and private holdings.

map shows trail system horse riders hope to continue using skirting the edge of preserve