***TRAFFIC ADVISORY #5***
HIGHWAY 1 CARMEL TO CAMBRIA ROADWAY UPDATE

HIGHWAY 1 REMAINS FULLY CLOSED 25 MILES SOUTH OF BIG SUR

MONTEREY COUNTY:
Highway 1 (Post Mile 22) about 25 miles south of Big Sur remains closed in both directions due to a large rock slide near Limekiln Creek. Caltrans crews remain on site to re-construct the damaged protective nets and clear debris from the roadway. Weather conditions are favorable so crews will work daylight hours through the weekend to expedite clean up and repair.

Currently, there is no estimated time of opening. Work is continuing on this slide removal and repair operation.
All Big Sur and coastal businesses remain OPEN with detours available for motorists.

For more information on Monterey County projects, call the toll-free hotline at (888) 836-0866 or visit http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist05/projects/
The public may also call the statewide CHIN at (800) 427-7623 for updates on current traffic conditions.

***TRAFFIC ADVISORY #4***
HIGHWAY 1 CARMEL TO CAMBRIA ROADWAY UPDATE

HIGHWAY 1 REMAINS FULLY CLOSED 25 MILES SOUTH OF BIG SUR

MONTEREY COUNTY:
Highway 1 (Post Mile 22) about 25 miles south of Big Sur remains closed in both directions due to a large rock slide near Limekiln Creek. Caltrans crews remain on site to re-construct the damaged protective nets and clear debris from the roadway. Weather conditions are favorable so crews will work daylight hours through the weekend to expedite clean up and repair.

Currently, there is no estimated time of opening but an update will be provided after a few more days of slide removal/repair progress.
All Big Sur and coastal businesses remain OPEN with detours available for motorists

For more information on Monterey County projects, call the toll-free hotline at (888) 836-0866 or visit
www.dot.ca.gov/dist05/projects/. The public may also call the statewide CHIN at (800) 427-7623 for

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

***TRAFFIC ADVISORY #3**
HIGHWAY 1 CARMEL TO CAMBRIA ROADWAY UPDATE

HIGHWAY 1 REMAINS FULLY CLOSED 25 MILES SOUTH OF BIG SUR

MONTEREY COUNTY:
Highway 1 (Post Mile 22), 25 miles south of Big Sur remains closed indefinitely in both directions due to a large rock slide near Limekiln Creek. Caltrans crews are on site during daylight hours to monitor, assess and inspect the slide and hillside above it. Geologic conditions are still very unstable so this work will resume tomorrow, when we hope to have an estimate for opening Highway 1 at this location. Weather conditions are expected to continue improving this week.

There is no estimated time when the highway will re-open.
All Big Sur and coastal businesses remain OPEN with detours available for motorists.

For more information on Monterey County projects, call the toll-free hotline at (888) 836-0866 or visit
www.dot.ca.gov/dist05/projects/. The public may also call the statewide CHIN at (800) 427-7623 for
updates on current traffic conditions.

Highway 1 is still closed 25 miles south. Engineers will be assessing the upper regions of the slide tomorrow to gauge the stability of the hillside above the roadway. If all goes as expected we will have a more conclusive estimate for the highway opening sometime Tuesday afternoon. The general feeling I’m getting from Colin Jones at Caltrans is that this will just be a couple of days before it is opened back up but it all hinges on the stability of the upper regions of this slide. More tomorrow. Until then, here is the Caltrans press release – last one for today.

Stan Russell

CALTRANS PRESS RELEASE
Today’s Date: Monday, January 23, 2012 @ 3 pm
District: 5 – Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties
Contact: Jim Shivers or Colin Jones
Phone: (805) 549-3237 or (805) 549-3189

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

***TRAFFIC ADVISORY #2***
HIGHWAY 1 CARMEL TO CAMBRIA ROADWAY UPDATE
HIGHWAY 1 REMAINS FULLY CLOSED 25 MILES SOUTH OF BIG SUR

MONTEREY COUNTY:

Highway 1 (Post Mile 22), 25 miles south of Big Sur remains closed indefinitely in both directions due to a large rock slide near Limekiln Creek. Caltrans crews are on site monitoring and assessing the damage. Weather conditions are expected to improve tomorrow.

There is no estimated time when the highway will re-open.

All Big Sur and coastal businesses remain OPEN with detours available for motorists.

For more information on Monterey County projects, call the toll-free hotline at (888) 836-0866 or visit

www.dot.ca.gov/dist05/projects/ <http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist05/projects/> . The public may also call the statewide CHIN at (800) 427-7623 for

updates on current traffic conditions.

####

Caltrans Central Coast (District 5) now has a Facebook page which can be another handy resource as we move into the winter weather and road situations.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Caltrans-Central-Coast-District-5/165870670118622

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

***TRAFFIC ADVISORY #1***
HIGHWAY 1 CARMEL TO CAMBRIA ROADWAY UPDATE
HIGHWAY 1 FULLY CLOSED 25 MILES SOUTH OF BIG SUR

MONTEREY COUNTY:

Highway 1 (Post Mile 22), 25 miles south of Big Sur is fully closed indefinitely in both directions due to a large rock slide near Limekiln Creek. Caltrans crews are on the scene monitoring and assessing the damage.

There is no estimated time as to when the highway will re-open.

For more information on Monterey County projects, call the toll-free hotline at (888) 836-0866 or visit
http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist05/projects/
The public may also call the statewide CHIN at (800) 427-7623 for updates on current traffic conditions.

Just a quick note to let everyone know that Highway 1 is closed at Pitkins Curve due to a rock slide. CHP is reporting 100 feet of debris is covering both lanes. Colin Jones of Caltrans has reported they have crews on sight right now and that they are monitoring the slide. They are bringing in geologists to assess the hillside above the slide. Caltrans will reassess the situation in the morning and we will send out another update as soon as we get it.

The hard closure is at Limekiln Creek (the bridge). Nacimiento-Ferguson road is south of the hard closure so, there is no access to Nacimiento-Ferguson road from the north, per Colin Jones.

Be safe out there!

Regards,
Stan Russell

District: 5 – Santa Barbara, SLO, Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties

Contact: Susana Z. Cruz (Bilingual) or Colin Jones

Phone: (805) 549-3138 or (805) 549-3189

HIGHWAY 1 CARMEL TO CAMBRIA PROJECT UPDATE

MONTEREY COUNTY:

Roadwork installing rocknet drapery for rockfall continues with occasional closures and flagging nine miles north of Ragged Point at Alder Creek (PM 7.5) where the slide took place last spring. Daytime work is scheduled to complete in February, weather permitting.

The temporary signal about two miles south of Lucia at Pitkins Curve/Rain Rocks (PM 21.3-21.6) for the bridge/rockshed project remains in operation 24/7. Although the bridge appears to be almost completed, roadwork still remains. The rockshed is about 50% complete. Separately, a long retaining wall is being installed about 50′ north of the bridge. This is a separate contract but is being constructed by the same contractor. Golden State Bridge. This project began in November and should be completed next April, weather permitting. All construction is expected to be completed in spring of 2013.

Retaining Wall north of Bridge—January 12, 2012

Pitkins Curve/Rain Rocks Bridge—January 4, 2012

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY: There are no projects currently under construction along Hwy. 1 in San Luis Obispo County near the Monterey County Line.

Caltrans reminds motorists to move over and slow down when driving through Caltrans construction zones.

For more information on you can call the toll-free project hotline at (888) 836-0866 or visit www.dot.ca.gov/dist05/projects/pitkins/index.htm <http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist05/projects/pitkins/index.htm> .

From Ventana Wildlife Society
INVITATION – Ventana Wildlife Society staff members will be gathering on Wednesday, December 14, 2011 as a memorial for Mike Tyner, at our Discovery Center located at Andrew Molera State Park at 12:00PM. We plan to walk the Headlands trail, one of Mike’s favorite past-times. We welcome anyone and everyone to join us in celebrating his enjoyment of nature and life… don’t forget your binoculars – Mike would not be happy if we didn’t take advantage of birding the trail.

"Mike Tyner was a wildlife biologist who dedicated the last six of his nine years working for Ventana Wildlife Society, to save California Condors in Big Sur, CA. He was truly an exceptional individual who served as the field supervisor for Ventana Wildlife Society’s condor recovery program. Tragically, during high winds that we received in Big Sur on November 30, a tree toppled causing his death. This loss is catastrophic, heartbreaking, and painful. As our staff mourns the passing of a remarkable friend, our hearts go out to his family. Mike will be greatly missed!" – Kelly Sorenson, VWS Executive Director and VWS Staff

"I can say that it was truly an honor to work alongside Mike. He was truly an exceptional biologist, a great friend, and staunch protector of all natural things! His death came very unexpectedly and very tragically. My thoughts and prayers go out his family. Mike will be dearly missed by all who knew him and his positive impacts on Big Sur’s natural beauty will live on through the condors…I’m almost sure he’s up there soaring with them now." – Joe Burnett, VWS Condor Project Coordinator and Close Friend

"Over and over our staff here just kept saying what a terrific person Mike was. What you saw was what you got. A completely honest, unassuming, humble, hardworking individual. Our thoughts are with you guys, and Mike’s family and friends. He will be greatly missed." – Jesse Grantham, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Condor Recovery Program Coordinator.

The Big Sur Chamber of Commerce sends condolences to Mike Tyner’s family and to the team at Ventana Wildlife Society that works tirelessly in dangerous conditions to save the California Condor from extinction and to keep them soaring in our precious skies.

http://www.ventanaws.org

Regards,
Stan Russell

Contact: Deirdre Whalen, MBNMS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
831-647-4207 October 26, 2011
Stephen Ellzey
831-333-1267 ext 305

NOAA Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Collaborates with
AMP Public Television on New TV Show

NOAA Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Access Monterey Peninsula (AMP) Public Television have collaborated to produce a new television series entitled Your Sanctuary. The one-hour pilot episode will air on Monday, October 31, at 7:00 PM to initiate the 52-episode series. It will be available on Comcast channel 27, AT&T channel 99, and via streaming at ampmedia.org.

Your Sanctuary is about connecting people with their national marine sanctuaries. The program will also feature the local coastal communities and the businesses dependent upon a healthy ocean, as well as the many fascinating organizations and people involved in ocean relationships.

“There is so much to share about what marine sanctuaries are, and their value to coastal communities,” said Paul Michel, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Superintendent and host of the show. “We’ll explore fantastic animals and habitats, the sanctuary’s many commercial and recreational uses, amazing science and research occurring here and how we are all connected to the ocean through our activities and the watersheds in which we live.”

“The development of this program has really caught fire,” said Co-Executive Producer Steve Ellzey. “It grew from the kindling of a small group discussion into a blaze that involves partners from academia, ocean-research, hospitality and agriculture.”

Local scientists and business leaders will appear on the show and discuss how their businesses and organizations are integrally tied to the nation’s largest national marine sanctuary. This forthcoming television show will connect our local community, as well as the larger broadcast area, with the wonders and prestigious marketing power of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

Your Sanctuary will air several times weekly (Mondays 7:00 PM, Tuesdays 8:00 PM, Wednesdays 9:00 PM, Sundays 6:00 PM) on Comcast channel 27, AT&T channel 99, and streaming at ampmedia.org.

NOAA’s mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth’s environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources. Join us on Facebook, Twitter and our other social media channels.

# # #

On the Web:
NOAA Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary: http://montereybay.noaa.gov

Deirdre Whalen
Government and Community Relations Coordinator
NOAA Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
P: 831.647.4207
E: deirdre.whalen@noaa.gov
http://montereybay.noaa.gov