Carbon Canyon Road Truck Ordinance Takes Effect 29 May

Chino Hills City Council member Peter Rogers posted on Facebook that the prohibition of trucks of a certain length (those with 4 or more axles) will take effect on Wednesday, 29 May.  This effort has been a long while in the making, with a great deal of the time spent waiting for approvals from CalTrans.  The initiative came from Carbon Canyon residents and others pressing for what has only been done once before in the Golden State's massive state highway system.

This image is from the CalTrans "State Route 142 (Carbon Canyon Road) Truck Restriction Study: Final Report"

Part of the process included meetings with CalTrans personnel, City officials and residents and those discussions were respectful and fruitful.  The reality is that these things take time and Council members Rogers and Ray Marquez are to be thanked for their role in making this happen, while cooperation also had to be obtained with the City of Brea, as well, so much appreciation to our neighbor to the west, as well as to CalTrans.

Obviously, there is the passing of an ordinance or law, then there is the actual enforcement.  Let's hope that there is an effective monitoring and citation system in place from the beginning, so that we can have, as much as possible, a state highway that is as safe as it can reasonably be.

Gold Spotted Oak Borer Spotted in Los Angeles County

This morning's e-edition of the "Inland Valley Daily Bulletin" has a lengthy article about the fact that the tiny Gold-Spotted Oak Borer, or GSOB, which has killed tens of thousands of oak trees in the American Southwest in the last two decades, is entering this region because of imported firewood.

Image from the American Public Gardens Association.

Yesterday, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors declared a state of emergency and is hiring three foresters and will work with CalFire and other agencies. The potential for local devastation is enormous and we'll post any follow-ups that come our way.

Brush Drop Off A Force for Good in Carbon Canyon

Yesterday morning, the Carbon Canyon Fire Safe Council, in conjunction with its partners, the City of Chino Hills and Waste Management, held its annual spring Brush Drop Off near Fire Station 64 on Canon Lane, as the Council continues its efforts, over nearly a quarter century, to mitigate wildfire risk in a variety of ways, including his important program.

It was a cool and damp morning, great, however, for residents on the Chino Hills side of the Canyon to cut down brush, trees and other plant material that provide ready fuel for wildfires and bring them to the site where a pair of roll-off bins were available.  A trio of Council volunteers assisted residents in placing the plant material in the bins, which the disposal company provided courtesy of the City.  This May the 4th was truly a force for good in the Canyon.

With all the rain producing all of the brush, it is vital that we do whatever we can to keep the level of material as low as possible, especially as warmer, drier weather will quickly dry it out and raise the risk of wildfire damage, though we, of course, hope that we will avoid this for another year!  Thanks to the City, Waste Management and the Council for their collaborative efforts on this critical endeavor and a second Brush Drop Off will likely be held this fall.