10 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY DECEMBER 4-10, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com The scientists at Moss Landing Marine Labs were not wellversed in studying batteries, nor how they break down in soils or estuarine wetlands. But after a lithium-ion battery fire erupted on Jan. 16 at the world’s largest battery energy storage system (BESS)—only a mile from the Moss Landing facility, evacuating 1,200 residents and sending smoke and ash across swaths of North County— researchers got to work collecting samples three days after the fire to assess concentrations of heavy metals deposited from the plume. Lead researcher Ivano Aiello presented the results, published in Nature Scientific Reports on Nov. 26, at Moss Landing Marine Labs on Tuesday, Dec. 2. “I knew very little about batteries about 10 months ago,” he told an audience of colleagues and community members. The study, conducted by Aiello and seven other researchers alongside a list of collaborators, provides a snapshot of how manganese, nickel and cobalt were dispersed among soil sediments in several areas of Hester Marsh in Elkhorn Slough. The team found initially high concentrations of these metals following the fire. It was found in patches, with levels that declined rapidly over three months due to precipitation and tidal inundation. In other words, if they hadn’t sampled quickly, and sampled in large amounts, they could have missed finding the battery metal fallout across the landscape. Aiello emphasized that they only looked at bare soil samples, not plants—an important distinction, he noted. “There is a whole story about plants, that’s where the stuff really fell on. When we started measuring plants, we freaked out,” he said, “and it happens to be that there are agricultural fields all around.” Plants, aquatic environments and animals all take up heavy metals differently, requiring continued study. Amanda Kahn, an invertebrate ecologist at Moss Landing Marine Labs, is currently researching whether or not these metals could be moving into food webs. Their research contrasts sampling done by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which reported much lower concentrations of heavy metals. Aiello explained this difference stems from sampling: The EPA dug deeper into the soil to collect samples, reducing the amount of heavy metals largely found on the surface. “I kept telling [EPA], you’re diluting it,” he said. “The sampling is key to detect these metals. Protocols are made for a specific reason.” Starting Jan. 1, 2026, the Public Guardian, an office under the Monterey County Health Department, will use the expanded definition of “gravely disabled” as referring to those unable to provide basic care and safety for themselves, because of chronic alcoholism or substance use disorder. Senate Bill 43 amended the definition of “gravely disabled.” The previous language covers only those who, due to mental health disorders, are unable to provide food, shelter, clothing and safety for themselves. The Public Guardian steps in to care for people who are deemed unable to care for themselves, including people who are held involuntarily in mental health care facilities. If a court ruling is granted, the Public Guardian takes over decision-making and financial assets of a person in conservatorship. Chief Deputy Public Guardian Sarah Solano says, “With what’s happening with the government shutdown impacting people, we have the holidays around the corner, we absolutely see an uptick in referrals.” The Public Guardian’s 17-person staff serves some 630 clients. Solano says the Public Guardian’s Office has hired additional staff “to absorb those potential effects that we may have from SB 43.” During a public briefing on Nov. 5, Solano addressed the anticipated increase. “I am predicting we are going to see a huge increase of referrals because, unfortunately, there is a large homeless population who have a severe substance use disorder and who need help and will most likely need our services,” she said. Referral to a CARE Court could be one option for these clients, Solano says. CARE Court refers to the Community, Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment Program which includes civil court proceedings “to connect individuals in crisis with treatment and supportive services.” SB 43 was approved in 2023 but allowed counties to defer implementation to Jan. 1, 2026, to give them time to accommodate the increase in referrals. Soil Test Moss Landing researchers release findings on heavy metals from battery fire. By Katie Rodriguez NEWS ROUTE PLANNING The Transportation Agency for Monterey County seeks input to help shape road investments in North County. A drop-in event provides information on how climate change affects transportation and helps TAMC determine which roads and routes should be prioritized for upgrades. 5-7pm Thursday, Dec. 4. Castroville library meeting room, 11160 Speegle St., Castroville. Free. (831) 775-0903, bit.ly/NorthCountyAssessment. CONSULATE UPDATES The Mexican Consulate organizes a meeting with local leaders and Indigenous communities from Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Benito and Santa Clara counties. The goal is to increase access to its services across all counties. 5-8pm Thursday, Dec. 4. 207 N. Sanborn Road, Salinas. Free. In Spanish. (408) 856-2840, consulmex. sre.gob.mx/sanjose. HEALTH PLAN Monterey County Behavioral Health proposes a mental health rehabilitation center in Salinas. The public is invited to a listening session to learn more and ask questions. 10am Saturday, Dec. 6. Health Department, Whitney Conference Room, 1270 Natividad Road, Salinas; also virtually on Zoom. Free. (831) 7554578, mtyhd.org/MHRC. CLOSING TIME Salinas City Council meets to discuss regular business. The agenda includes dissolving the Salinas United Business Association. 4pm Tuesday, Dec. 9. Salinas Rotunda, 200 Lincoln Ave., Salinas. Free. (831) 758-7381, cityofsalinas.org. SCHOOL SESSION Monterey Peninsula Unified School District Board of Education meets and accepts public comment. 6:30pm Tuesday, Dec. 9. District Services Center, 540 Canyon Del Rey, Del Rey Oaks. Free. (831) 645-1200, mpusd.net. PUBLIC SAFETY Salinas Police Department will discuss the Neighborhood Watch program and holiday safety. 5:30-6:30pm Tuesday, Dec. 9. Salinas Police Department, 312 E. Alisal St., Salinas. Free. Register at tinyurl. com/2025Salinas. (831) 758-7166, karinas@ci.salinas.ca.us. COMING CLEAN The U.S. Army wants to hear from the public on how it can improve its community outreach program for the Fort Ord cleanup. Share your thoughts through a survey. Survey runs through Wednesday, Dec. 31. fortordcleanup.com. Care Team A new law expands the definition of ‘grave disability’ and who will qualify for conservatorship. By Luz Rimban The smoke plume on Jan. 17, day two of the fire at Vistra’s 300-megawatt battery energy storage system in Moss Landing. The entire Moss 300 facility was consumed. E-MAIL: toolbox@montereycountynow.com TOOLBOX “When we started measuring plants, we freaked out.” DANIEL DREIFUSS
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