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VIDEO. From Montara Water and Sanitary District (MWSD) Director’s meeting on Thursday, February 13th, 2025 at 7:30pm, as a hybrid meeting. Agenda. Staff Report.
TAKE ACTION NOW!
Submit a Caltrans SERVICE REQUEST https://csr.dot.ca.gov/
See below for Directions
New Community Group (RAMMB) Forms to Address Extreme Fire Hazard Posed by Caltrans Devil’s Slide Bypass Right of Way (also known as the “Martini-Bypass)
Montara, CA – February 17, 2025—Concerned residents of Montara and Moss Beach (unincorporated
midcoast, San Mateo County) have formed the Red Alert Montara, Moss Beach (RAMMB) group.
RAMMB aims to ensure that the extreme fire hazard posed by the Caltrans Devil’s Slide bypass right of
way (ROW) is mitigated immediately. RAMMB estimates that about 2,400 residential units are at
immediate risk, and thousands more are at risk should wind-driven fires carry embers into El Granada.
The State of California acquired the 100-acre ROW through eminent domain in the 1980s. Its original
purpose was to bypass the unstable strip of Highway 1 known as Devil’s Slide. It has been surplus land
since the Tom Lantos Tunnel opened in 2013. The state has not maintained the ROW and has allowed
the once farmland and meadows to become an overgrown Tier 3 and Tier 2 tinderbox of nonnative
trees and brush, putting the surrounding communities at risk of wildfire.
RAMMB aims to lobby local and state officials, including Assemblymember Marc Berman, Senator Josh
Becker, San Mateo County Supervisor Ray Mueller, Caltrans, and other relevant agencies, to take
immediate action to address this urgent issue.
“We cannot afford to wait for a disaster to strike, and become the next Pacific Palisades,” said RAAMB
steering committee chair Larry De Young. “The fire hazard posed by the Devil’s Slide bypass ROW is a
clear and present danger to our communities. We are committed to working with all stakeholders to
mitigate this hazard quickly.”
RAAMB invites all concerned residents to join the effort to protect our communities from the threat of
wildfires.
About RAMMB
RAMMB (Red Alert Montara, Moss Beach) is a community group dedicated to mitigating the extreme fire
hazard posed by the Caltrans Devil’s Slide bypass right of way (ROW).
RAMMB’s Caltrans Devil’s Slide Presentation
TAKE ACTION NOW
We all need to bombard Caltrans with Service Requests to mitigate the fire hazard the ROW poses. I filed this request online at https://csr.dot.ca.gov/.
Feel free to copy and paste the Nature of the Situation and Geographic Location of Situation from my request.
Note: The form requires that you move a pin on the map to an area in or near the California State Highway System. The pin will default to your home address, which in most cases will not be in or near the highway system. The pin will be colored red, and you cannot file the request. Therefore, I moved the pin near Etheldore and Highway 1 in Moss Beach. If you do this it will turn green and you will be able to submit. If you have any difficulties, call me and I will walk you through it.
SAMPLE SERVICE REQUEST
>>>> https://csr.dot.ca.gov/. <<<<
| Type of Situation: | Landscaping – Weeds, Trees, Brush |
|---|---|
| CSR Ticket Number: | 1077177 |
| Date Submitted: | 2025-02-15 08:03:41 |
| California County: | San Mateo |
| State Highway Route: | 1 |
| Direction of Travel: | Both |
| Nearest Cross Street: | 991 Elm Street |
| Nearest Town or City: | Moss Beach |
| Mode of Transportation: | Other |
| Date & Time Situation Noticed: | 2025-02-15 7 am – 8 am |
| Nature of Situation: | The Caltrans-owned Martini Creek Devil’s Slide Bypass Right of Way (ROW) is CPIC a Tier 3 and 2 fire hazard. The residential neighborhoods of Montara and Moss Beach, comprising 2400 residential units, are at risk of being destroyed in a Pacific Palisades-type fire. Historical aerial photos clearly show that before Caltrans’s acquisition of the land, the area was mostly open fields. Caltrans has a legal obligation to mitigate the fire hazard posed by the overgrown, non-maintained ROW |
| Geographic Location of Situation: | The ROW stretches from the Rancho Corral de Tierra, goes through Montara and Moss Beach and ends Southwest of Sunshine Valley Road. It is approximately 100 acres of dense trees and brush. |
| Your Email Address: | [email protected] |
| Your Name: | Lawrence M De Young |
| Your Phone Number: | 6502242579 |
More on MWSD on Coastside Buzz
Montara Water and Sanitary District (MWSD) Meetings ~ 1st & 3rd Thursdays @ 7:30pm
MWSD Agendas and Meeting Links
If you experience technical difficulties or have technical questions prior to or during the meeting, please contact MWSD’s IT support at (650) 728-7843.
Meeting Videos
Meeting Schedule
Regular meetings are 7:30pm on the first and third Thursday of each month. They used to held at the District office at 8888 Cabrillo Hwy, next to Pt Montara Lighthouse and Hostel.
To receive agendas by email, send a request to [email protected]
In addition to email, we post agendas before each board meeting:
- On the District website here
- Montara post office
- Moss Beach post office
- the bulletin board in front of the MWSD office
Who is on the Board of Directors?
All Board members may be reached by sending an email to [email protected].
Services
Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside (SAM) – MWSD is a member of SAM, the agency that collects and cleans our Coastside community’s wastewater before it enters the ocean. SAM meets monthly on the 4th Monday at 7:30pm. Jim Harvey and Scott Boyd presently serve as SAM board members.
Recology of the Coast – MWSD has contracted with Recology of the Coast for trash pickup, recycling, and waste hauling.
Visit County Solid Waste Department for more information about recycling, composting, etc.
In an Emergency
Water Emergencies: Call MWSD at (650) 728-3545
Sewer Emergencies: Call SAM at (650) 726-0124
For emergencies that affect life, health or safety: Dial 911
Contact Us
- 8888 Cabrillo Hwy
Montara, California 94037 - Office Hours:
8:30AM to 5PM Mon-Fri - (650) 728-3545
- [email protected]
Note: Public participation is not permitted during closed session discussion items.
MSWD General Manager Clemens Heldmaier showing a creek filtration system.
Author: mdrag
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