10 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY february 2-8, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com It’s not that unusual for Carmel Beach to temporarily lose some of its iconic white sand during rough storms in the wintertime. What was unusual was how much sand was lost during the string of atmospheric rivers in January, something employees of 30 years had never seen, says Agnes Martelet, environmental compliance manager for the city. The erosion lowered the beach floor significantly, exposing hidden rocks and leaving at least one stairway hanging. “We basically lost most of the sand on the beach,” Martelet says. Much of it was in the middle of the roughly one-mile beach. “We do expect it to come back eventually.” Already there are signs it’s returning, but it could take one or even two seasons of wave action. The beach normally loses sand during storms packing high-energy waves in the winter, with lower-energy waves returning the sand in the summer. The unique white sand derives from waves eroding a formation of Santa Lucia granodiorite offshore, created by volcanic eruptions nearly 80 million years ago. It’s made up of quartz and other minerals that give the sand its white sheen. Powerful waves in January also damaged two beach-access staircases: one at Fourth Avenue at the northernmost end, which is now blocked off, and another at the southernmost end that sustained minor damage due to heavy piles of kelp and other debris loading onto the stairway during the storms. “In a way, there is a silver lining to it,” Martelet says. The erosion gives the city an opportunity to better inspect the city’s seawalls and what are called revetments, large boulders set in place to deter wave energy. It will also help with a coastal engineering study project recently begun to look at the city’s coastal area in greater detail and determine if officials need to add any improvements to adapt to sea level rise. Around Carmel Point, the cliff that supports Scenic Road eroded in one spot to the point where a piece of road was left hanging. A plan for repair work there, which is in the unincorporated county area, has not been finalized, according to a county spokesperson. Officials expect to use federal funds made available for storm relief thanks to a federal disaster declaration related to the storms. On Jan. 31, county officials updated an initial damage cost estimate from $13.1 million to $16.7 million covering roads, bridges and other infrastructure. The city of Seaside has had two farmers markets in the past few decades, but neither of them stuck. Perhaps the third time will be a charm. On Jan. 23, the city issued a request for proposals for an organization or persons to launch another farmers market in the city at one of three potential locations: lower Broadway (Seaside’s downtown, and where the most recent market shut down in 2019 due to lack of traction), Oldemeyer Center (which is across the street from a bus stop and multifamily housing) or the parking lot at City Hall, which is mostly empty on weekends. As stated in the RFP, the ostensible purpose of trying to restart a market is to help the city achieve a Blue Zones Project certification, a distinction that reflects a community’s commitment to increasing the health and well-being of its residents. Dan Meewis, Seaside’s recreation director, says bringing a market back is the “marquee project” to demonstrate Seaside is “putting its best foot forward” to create more healthy food choices. “It’s trying to flip the script on our community,” he says. Tanja Roos, Blue Zones’ community program manager for Monterey County, says the organization’s hope for the market is to increase access to healthy produce that would include residents who utilize state-funded nutrition programs like CalFresh, which provides subsidies to help people put fresh food on the table. But she’s also clear-eyed about the market’s potential: “At the end of the day, if we’re looking at longterm stability, it needs to be community-driven, and carried forward by city staff with community buy-in.” That said, she’s hopeful: “Farmers markets can be a wonderful, galvanizing space for a community.” Other goals of the market include creating a “festive community event and social gathering place,” highlighting “the unique and diverse character of Seaside” and providing “locally sourced and culturally relevant products that will appeal to a broad range of residents and visitors.” The response period for the RFP closes on Feb. 24. Out to Sea Carmel Beach looks different after storms, but it’s a cycle. By Pam Marino news Positive Parenting Sun Street Centers has created an interactive six-week program for parents, designed to help promote positive health and personal development for youth and parents. The organization’s goal is to prevent alcohol and drug addiction by offering education, prevention, treatment and recovery to individuals and families regardless of income level. 5pm Monday, Feb. 6 (week three of the six-week course). King City High School Library, 720 Broadway St. Free. 235-3438. For more information email amoreno@sunstreet.org. bit.ly/ SouthCountyParenting. Stronger Together Monterey County’s Civil Rights Office is hosting feedback workshops and would like to hear from local residents about the creation of a Monterey County LGBTQ+ commission. The meeting is for all community members; members of the LGBTQ+ community are strongly encouraged to attend. Join any of the four sessions with both in-person and online opportunities to attend. The first session happens at 8am Thursday, Feb. 9. Marina library, 190 Seaside Circle, Marina. Free. 755-5117, civilrights@co.monterey.ca.us. Register at bit.ly/3VFHigY Wildfire Control The California Coastal Commission holds a hearing on a forest health and fire resilience plan proposed by the Monterey County Resource Conservation District. The staff report is available for review online and outlines the 10-year plan, designed to promote ecosystem growth and create better fire resilience. 9am Friday, Feb. 10. Free. (415) 9045251, statewideplanning@coastal. ca.gov, coastal.ca.gov/meetings/agenda/#/2023/2 Storm Relief Thousands of dollars have been distributed in the form of grants to nine nonprofits for storm relief from the Community Foundation for Monterey County, as of Jan. 25. The fund was created on Jan. 10, and grants are awarded on a continuous basis; the application period remains open. Recipients so far include Community Bridges and Casa de la Cultura in North County, and CERV in South County. For more information about how to apply for grants or to donate, visit cfmco.org/impact/montereycountystormrelieffund or call 375-9712. Market Forces Seaside wants to bring back a farmers market. The hope is that this time it sticks. By David Schmalz Carmel Beach lost most of its white sand during January’s storms, but it is likely to return over the next season or two. e-mail: publiccitizen@mcweekly.com TOOLBOX “In a way, there is a silver lining to it.” Daniel Dreifuss
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