The La Honda Voice

New Septic System Regulations

New Septic System Regulations

[ed - There has been a lot of discussion
on the message board about how new
Septic Regulations will affect our area -
stay tuned for more information]

“I've been following this topic somewhat
lately and haven't heard much talk about
it around town. It will affect all of us in
the La Honda area and may be costly. A
few scoping hearings have already
occurred. So, here's a "heads up", check
out the new state regs coming our way in
AB885
http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/ab885/index.html”

From article published - May 4, 2005...
”The cost of septic system regulations
being proposed by the state Water
Resources Control Board is a different
story. For homeowners living in river
communities, the price of updating or
replacing leaking systems could range
from $15,000 to $30,000. Septic
systems of homes located on small lots
could be impossible to modernize,
meaning owners would be forced to
move.”

Additional comments on new septic
regs [ed - although the regulations are
still a bit cryptic to me]
From the proposed regulations:
"The following requirements apply to all
OWTS within 600 feet of impaired
surface water where OWTS have been
identified by the RWQCB as
contributing to the specific impairment
of that surface water pursuant to Section
303(d) of the Clean Water Act."
So, it looks like the new requirements
apply if the septic system is within 600
feet of a body of water that is on the
impairment 303(d) impairment list, and
the source for that impairment is
determined by the regional water quality
control board to be septic systems
(OWTS).
San Gregorio Creek is on the Impaired
Water Bodies 303(d) list
(http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/tmdl/in
dex.html). The specific impairments
noted are (a) sedimentation and siltation,
and (b) high coliform counts. The listed
source in each case is "nonpoint source".

Suggestions to Deter Banana Slugs

Suggestions to Deter Banana Slugs
"With all this talk of tomato plants and gophers, I was wondering what folks do to deter banana slugs? I have some newly planted hostas and a few tall purple flowering plants. The banana slugs are going to town! These are planted in a raised bed. I read somewhere that you can put a copper strip along the edge of the planter and slugs won't cross it (something about being electrocuted)?? Would this work with a copper pipe around the top edge of the planter box? From Kathi Lohmann (message #7952)
Response #1
" They can't cross fireplace ashes if you put enough down. No traction." From David LeCount (message #7956)
Response #2
" Copper barriers are claimed to work, but I have had mixed results. It may be that you need to sand the oxidation off regularly." From David Ehrhardt (message #7958)
Response #3
" I have used the copper strip and it seems to work pretty well. We also put little cups of cheap beer in the raised beds to collect slugs that were in already. I am not sure what that reasoning was (maybe to have a good excuse to get rid of some cheap beer that was left here from a party?)…As for using copper pipe, they may be able to get around it or under it. The stripping is about 3 inches or 4 inches wide, and can be stapled to the walls of the bed (if made of wood) with no room to spare for them to slither through. I don't think the slugs ever got anywhere near the plants in those beds..."From Karen Shaff (message #7957)

A Snippet of La Honda History

A Snippet of La Honda History
"An interesting bit from "Matters Historical" in today's Palo Alto [June 27](and probably San Mateo) Daily News
"Work-weary San Franciscans found sanctuary in La Honda, nestled high in the hills amid the redwoods between the bay and the sandy coast. The secluded hamlet of a few dozen families included a hotel, store, post office, church, school, a couple of saloons and a sawmill. "Nowhere in the world can you find a more beautiful spot, " declared writers of La Honda History tour books. It was far enough from the ocean to avoid the damp fogs; the climate was unequaled. During summer months, hundreds of campers spread their tents beneath the shady trees." "Halcyon days of San Mateo County as a vacation spot ended with tremendous abruptness, in May 1937, when the Golden Gate Bridge opened to traffic, liberating landlocked San Franciscans. Now there were more exotic places to wander. Soon there were weekend traffic jams heading toward Russian River and the Redwood Empire." From Heather (message #7933)

Further Warning about Coyotes

Further Warning about Coyotes
"Two summers ago, here on Alpine, the coyotes killed our cats, and our neighbor cats. At one point, Dennis Shaw and I counted all we had heard about in the community and it totaled 26 cats that summer.
When you talk of boldness, it reminds me of our Alpine neighbor's experience that same summer with a coyote that actually chased his little dog from their field, into his house! The coyote was so caught up in the chase, it took him a moment to realize he was in human territory, and he immediately exited. Many years ago, our daughter had an experience with a coyote on our back steps while she was cuddling her two kittens. It seemed so caught up in it's aim for food, that it didn't recognize her presence. It startled her and she screamed and only then did it feel threatened enough to run.
My husband, who has lived here his whole life, had never had any experience with them like this while he was growing up. It was heartbreaking to loose our cats to such a violent death." From Kim (message #7943)
…also…
"I was walking my dogs down Canada Vista a couple of days ago and heard rustling in the bushes at the corner of Canada Vista and Scenic. One of my dogs started barking so I took a closer look and I saw a coyote face looking back at me through the tall grass! He kept rustling around but didn't retreat. It almost seemed like he wanted to play with my dogs. I heard more rustling around and again saw him looking at us from a different vantage point. After that I walked back up the street to our house with no further contact. I haven't seen him since. A week or so ago my husband saw a coyote (maybe the same guy) saunter up our driveway in broad daylight, pass over to our neighbor's and then go behind our place in the direction of Cuesta Real. I think he feels pretty comfortable around here!" From Pam McReynolds (message #7946)
…and…
"I live on the corner of Canada Vista where it makes the turn up Robert's Hill. One morning (6 am) one of my dogs was going nuts barking I went out to see what was going on..,.a coyote came up through our lot from right across where Bob White lives, tried to go through the fence into the O'Brien's property, couldn't, turned around and meandered on up Robert's Hill. He was not afraid of me, my dogs, or daylight. Should we be contacting animal control so they might be able to capture these guys (assuming it's more than one) and take them away from Cuesta La Honda? Just a thought. At that time, there were no reports of missing/dead cats, etc. From Betty Nogues (message #7947)