Many historians regard the Spanish era as less calamitous for Indians than the openly genocidal American era

"Junípero Serra’s pious hope to convert pagan Indians into Catholic Spaniards resulted not only in the physical punishment of countless Indians, but in the death of tens of thousands of them—and, ultimately, in the eradication of their culture."

"But California Indians were doomed anyway. “If it were not the Spaniards who did this in conjunction with the church, it would have been the Russians or the British, and the same thing or worse would have happened,” he says. While this might be true—many historians regard the Spanish era as less calamitous for Indians than the Mexican era or, certainly, the openly genocidal American era—being the least awful of an awful lot is hardly a ringing endorsement for anything, let alone Sainthood."
From: San Francisco 
Picture from: http://www.sandiegohistory.org/journal/67july/serraimages.htm 

California Indians were doomed anyway. “If it were not the Spaniards who did this in conjunction with the church, it would have been the Russians or the British, and the same thing or worse would have happened,” he says. While this might be true—many historians regard the Spanish era as less calamitous for Indians than the Mexican era or, certainly, the openly genocidal American era—being the least awful of an awful lot is hardly a ringing endorsement for anything, let alone sainthood. - See more at: http://www.modernluxury.com/san-francisco/story/junipero-serras-missions-destroyed-entire-native-cultures-and-now-hes-going-be-s#sthash.6A5sl3WE.dpuf

California Indians were doomed anyway. “If it were not the Spaniards who did this in conjunction with the church, it would have been the Russians or the British, and the same thing or worse would have happened,” he says. While this might be true—many historians regard the Spanish era as less calamitous for Indians than the Mexican era or, certainly, the openly genocidal American era—being the least awful of an awful lot is hardly a ringing endorsement for anything, let alone sainthood. - See more at: http://www.modernluxury.com/san-francisco/story/junipero-serras-missions-destroyed-entire-native-cultures-and-now-hes-going-be-s#sthash.6A5sl3WE.dpuf

California Indians were doomed anyway. “If it were not the Spaniards who did this in conjunction with the church, it would have been the Russians or the British, and the same thing or worse would have happened,” he says. While this might be true—many historians regard the Spanish era as less calamitous for Indians than the Mexican era or, certainly, the openly genocidal American era—being the least awful of an awful lot is hardly a ringing endorsement for anything, let alone sainthood. - See more at: http://www.modernluxury.com/san-francisco/story/junipero-serras-missions-destroyed-entire-native-cultures-and-now-hes-going-be-s#sthash.6A5sl3WE.dpuf"

The 10-story-high concrete San Clemente Dam

For nine decades, the 10-story-high concrete San Clemente Dam with its rusted pipes, railings and valves has stood in the wooded canyons between the Big Sur hills and the picturesque town of Carmel, blocking the natural flows of the Carmel River.
State inspectors declared in 1991 that the 106-foot-tall dam was at risk of failure in an earthquake -- which could wipe out hundreds of homes downstream.
Destroying the dam will open up 25 miles of upstream tributaries and creeks so endangered Steelhead trout can return to their historical spawning grounds. 
From: http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_23508105/californias-biggest-dam-removal-project-history-begins-carmel 
Picture From: San Clemente Rancho 

Pope Francis will make Junipero Serra a saint on Sept. 23

"Although credited with bringing Christianity to the western United States, Father Junipero Serra has been vilified by Native Americans who say the mission system was tantamount to genocide. Pope Francis will make him a saint on Sept. 23 in Washington, D.C., which means Serra is in heaven and able to intercede with God on the faithful’s behalf."

From Monterey Herald
Picture by Vern Fisher 

August 6 Lightning Storm Above Carmel Valley

August 6 Lightning Storm Above Carmel Valley.
From San Clemente Rancho

The demolition of the San Clemente Dam in Carmel Valley, California

“This is very satisfying,” said project manager Aman Gonzalez, who is overseeing the destruction of the San Clemente Dam as several excavators grabbed pieces of it in their giant steel teeth. “You don’t get to do something like this every day.”
From SF Chronicle

Steelhead run in the Carmel River used to be between 12,000 and 20,000 a year

“Experts estimate that the run of adult Steelhead in the Carmel River used to be between 12,000 and 20,000 a year. In 2009, the adult Steelhead count was 94.

When my dad was a young man in the late ‘30’s, early ‘40’s he figured he could hook and land 150 fish a year out of the Carmel River. My son has never caught a fish out of the Carmel River.

ORDER 95-10, a cease-and-desist mandate from the State Water Resources Control Board, ordered Cal-Am to make significant reductions in the amount of water taken from the river by the end of 2016. "

ORDER 95-10, a cease-and-desist mandate from the State Water Resources Control Board, to make significant reductions in the amount of water taken from the river by the end of 2016. - See more at: http://blogs.kusp.org/features/2013/07/25/one-river-with-not-enough-water-for-people-and-fish/#sthash.CTZaYQRj.dpuf

http://blogs.kusp.org/features/2013/07/25/one-river-with-not-enough-water-for-people-and-fish/ 

picture from: CRSA

“Experts estimate that the run of adult steelhead in the Carmel River used to be between 12,000 and 20,000 a year. In 2009, the adult steelhead county was 94.”
Not Even a Bite
“When my dad was a young man in the late ‘30’s, early ‘40’s he figured he could hook and land 150 fish a year out of the Carmel River. My son never caught a fish out of the Carmel River.”
- See more at: http://blogs.kusp.org/features/2013/07/25/one-river-with-not-enough-water-for-people-and-fish/#sthash.CTZaYQRj.dpuf

Cal Am- Another missed deadline for cutting back on water pumping

Local officials plan to submit a formal bid this month for a four-year extension of the deadline for the state-ordered cutback in pumping from the Carmel River.
Under the extension proposal, Cal Am would agree to cut back its pumping from the river by an additional 1,000 acre-feet per year if it missed a milestone. 
From the Monterey Herald.
Picture from: KUSP

San Clemente Dam Removal August 4 2015

 

San Clemente Dam Removal

Picture by Vern Fisher

http://photos.montereyherald.com/2015/08/04/photos-san-clemente-dam-removal/#1

Purple Needle Grass: Nassella pulchra

Nassella pulchra is a perennial bunch grass producing tufts of erect, unbranched stems up to 3 feet  tall. The extensive root system can reach 20 feet deep into the soil, making the grass more tolerant of drought.
California designated purple needlegrass as the official state grass in 2004. 

Picture from: http://clminternship.org/blog/?attachment_id=16295

California Condors in central California

 http://www.condorspotter.com/
This tool will help you identify California Condors you see in central California.

Currently, around 60 California condors are free-flying in the central California region. All have colored and numbered tags that allow biologists to track and monitor them in the wild.

Ventana Wildlife Society began condor releases in Big Sur in 1997 and in 2003 initiated a second release site at Pinnacles National Monument in collaboration with the National Parks Service (NPS).

Carmel Valley

Carmel Valley extends from the coastal village of Carmel-by-the-Sea into the heart of the Santa Lucia Mountains. Because of its location, the climate tends to be a lot warmer, sunnier and less foggy than the coast.

Only five percent of Indians survived after the Spanish got here. That’s genocide.

"On Sunday more than 100 Native Americans from all over California descended onto the Mission Cemetery to hold a ceremony and protest the announced canonization of Junipero Serra, founder of the California Mission system."

From: The Monterey Herald
Photo by: Vernon McKnight

1911-15 Major Flood Events

1911 Carmel River Major Flood Event. New land area created at Schulte Rd. The river course through Garland Ranch shifted approximately one kilometer from the south side of the valley to the north side of the valley along present-day Rancho Fiesta. 

1914 Carmel River Major Flood Event. Water across entire valley. 

1915 Carmel River Flood Event. High tide backed up the river waters to the edge of the Carmel Mission.

From: www.carmelvalleyassociation.org/assetts/docs/CV_Voices/Carmel_River_History.pdf 
Photo from: https://pantilat.wordpress.com/2015/03/05/carmel-river-gorge/

The War of Extermination

"A war of Extermination will continue to be waged between the two races until the Indian race becomes extinct."
 - California Governor Peter H. Burnett, January 1851

In 1856 the state of California paid 25 cents for each indian scalp. In 1860 the bounty was increased to $5.

From: California Genocide
Picture From: govmint

Carmel River going dry near Carmel on March 4, 2014

"The current dry spell may remind some locals of the Drought of 1976–77, when USGS records show that this section of the Carmel River was dry from May 13, 1976, through December 17, 1977."

Carmel River near Carmel  on March 4, 2014. The site was on the verge of going dry again. USGS photograph by David W. Affield.
From: http://soundwaves.usgs.gov/2014/10/fieldwork3.html
 

The floods came and wiped it out and it was a total loss

In 1773 Father Serra writes to Antonio Maria de Bucareli y Ursua:

“ In the midst of all their troubles the Fathers sowed during the first year a piece of ground in wheat; it sprouted and grew very well. But, unfortunately for want of property knowledge of the territory, they had sown it in low land and then the floods came and wiped it out and it was a total loss."

From Carmel Valley History

Coastal California Steelhead are federally listed as Threatened

"Most coastal California Steelhead (such as those in the Carmel and Big Sur Rivers) are federally listed as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Stocks situated in rivers farther south are listed as endangered."
From: Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History

Cal Am won’t meet the current deadline for cutting Carmel River water use

"Cal Am won’t meet the current Dec. 16, 2016, deadline for cutting Carmel River water use by about two-thirds to legal limits, so local officials have submitted a series of proposals aimed at relaxing the deadline.
The most recent proposals promise to cut back Carmel River water use by 1,000 acre-feet per year. The proposal calls for Cal Am’s desalinization plant to be operational by the end of 2020."

From: Monterey Herald 
Photo from: https://pantilat.wordpress.com/2015/03/05/carmel-river-gorge/

Fred W. Nason, Esselen elder

Carmel Valley rancher Fredrick W. Nason Jr., an Esselen descendent and patriarch, died at age 90 on Jan. 29, 2015.
Fred  lived in deep Carmel Valley, down winding Tassajara Road at the entrance to the Los Padres National Forest. His family describes him as a cowboy and rancher with celebrated horsemanship skills.

Photo by:  Helene Constant, 1998
From: http://www.montereycountyweekly.com/blogs/news_blog/community-to-celebrate-the-life-of-fred-w-nason-esselen/article_168c44f0-bed8-11e4-b4c1-3f732a44b57c.html

Cal Am has been illegally overpumping the Carmel River for over 20 years

California American Water and Monterey Peninsula officials are refusing to comply with the state order to cut back Carmel River pumping 70 percent by January 2017. 

Cal Am has been illegally overpumping the river for 20 years. In 2009, the state issued a cease-and-desist order attached to a strict schedule for pumping cutbacks.

From: Monterey County Weekly

A statue of the Rev. Junipero Serra

Indian historians and authors blame Father Serra for the suppression of their culture and the premature deaths at the missions of thousands of their ancestors.

From 1769 to 1835, 90,000 Indians were baptized along the West Coast. Once baptized, they were not allowed to leave the missions, and those who did escape were rounded up by soldiers and returned.

Canonizing “the leader of the disastrous, genocidal California mission system is a way that the church further legitimizes the pain and suffering of Ohlone and countless other California Indians,”  says Ohlone leader Vincent Medina.

From New York Times

Carmel River area tribal map: Esselen, Costanoan, Ohlone and Salinan historic territories

 

On this map the shaded areas are Esselen, the outer tribal areas are both Costanoan/Esselen.
From: Ohlone Costanoan Esselen Nation

Ardea Herodias: The Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Herons live in both freshwater and saltwater habitats, and also forage in grasslands and agricultural fields, where they stalk frogs and mammals. 
They eat nearly anything within striking distance along the Carmel River, including fish, amphibians, reptiles, small mammals, insects, and other birds.
Great Blue Heron numbers are stable and have been increasing in the U.S. since 1966.

Picture from Carmel River Watershed

A “mystery” condor in the Santa Lucia Mountains

A “mystery” condor has been discovered in the Santa Lucia Mountains in the Arroyo Seco drainage.
The total condor population now stands at 425 individuals (captive and wild), of which 116 are living in the wilds of California.

From: The Monterey Herald

Canonization of Junipero Serra in 2015

"In September, God willing, I will canonize Junipero Serra in the United States, who was the evangelizer of the west of the United States,"said Pope Francis on Thursday.

The Pope said since Serra has for centuries been considered a holy man, he had waved Church rules that require a second miracle to be attributed to the candidate for sainthood after his beatification.

From: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/15/us-pope-philippines-serra-idUSKBN0KO1BF20150115

Morone Saxatilis: The Striped Bass

Around 2006 invasive Striped Bass took over and colonized the Carmel River Lagoon.  Not only do the striped bass prey on juvenile Steelhead, but outcompete them for food. Besides the threat striped bass pose to steelhead, they also negatively impact red-legged frogs, which are listed as a threatened species.

From: The Carmel Pine Cone
Picture From: http://www.connecticutsaltwaterfishing.com/2011/11/protecting-striped-bass.html

A more permanent management policy for the Carmel Lagoon is within reach.

"Monterey County has worked with dozens of federal, state and local agencies to explore plans that would protect homes around the Carmel Lagoon and give Steelhead Trout some breathing room. Early next year, county officials will release a draft environmental impact review for public comment." December, 2014.

From Monterey Herald

The Carmel River has just begun flowing

The Carmel River has just begun flowing after the recent rains. The entire river has been diverted into a man-made river bed flowing through a giant raw notch cut out of a mountain.
The channeling of the Carmel last week into a carefully engineered river bed was designed to bypass the tons of sludge behind the 106-foot-tall San Clemente Dam, which has blocked the river for 94 years.
The 3-year-project, which began last year, required workers with the Granite Construction Company to dynamite a mountain and dig out a million cubic yards of dirt.

From: San Francisco Chronicle 
Picture from: San Clemente Rancho

Carmel River State Beach

Carmel River State Beach on December 12, 1024.
Photo by Vern Fisher - Monterey Herald