MWSD General Manager Demands CalTrans Clear Fire Hazards From Martini ByPass ROW to Protect Watershed

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PRESS RELEASE. Montara Water and Sewer District’s (MWSD) General Manager, Clemens Heldmaier, Demands CalTrans Clear Fire Hazards From Martini ByPass Right of Way (ROW) to Protect Watershed.

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Montara Water & Sanitary District 

Serving the Communities of Montara and Moss Beach 

P.O. Box 370131 Tel: (650) 728-3545 8888 Cabrillo Highway Fax: (650) 728-8556 Montara, CA 94037-0131 E-mail: [email protected] Visit Our Web Site: http://www.mwsd.montara.com

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July 16, 2021 

Mark L. Weaver 

Deputy District Director 

Dina El-Tawansy 

Acting District Director 

California Department of Transportation 

P.O. Box 23660 

Oakland, CA 94623 

Mr. Weaver: 

On behalf of the residents of Montara and Moss Beach, as well as other adjacent property owners in San  Mateo County, we feel compelled to bring to your attention a matter of great concern; the untended,  hazardous conditions on Caltrans property within Montara, California. Reports of hazards on this  property through illegal activities have increased and not only pose physical risks, but have been and  continue to be a financial burden to this community. 

Caltrans owns the Montara Bypass Lands, locally known as the Caltrans Right of Way (ROW), in Montara,  CA. These lands have been left vacant and untended for decades under Caltrans’ ownership. The Bypass  lands parcel is primarily forested sections consisting mainly of Eucalyptus trees, shrubs and heavy  undergrowth. Some sections contain untended, unofficial trails that are used by locals and tourists.  Other sections allow and even invite illegal dumping. Montara Water and Sanitary District (MWSD), the  sole local public jurisdiction in Montara and Moss Beach, has frequently cleaned this parcel at our  community’s expense. This work has been undertaken to avoid a catastrophic fire within the critical  local watershed which supplies all of our community’s water.  

The numerous condemned premises on the property are decaying, used as drug dens, and harbor other  illegal and dangerous activities. Some of the premises remain illegally connected to the MWSD water  system without proper safety features, posing a substantial health and safety risk to our public water  supply.  

PG&E powerlines are located within the parcel in an area of unmanaged and highly flammable fuel  materials. Powerlines connected to the decaying structures are partially damaged and can ignite an  inferno at any time. 

Caltrans has not taken any action. MWSD is aware that the local Fire Department has raised concerns to  Caltrans without Caltrans taking the responsibility that any local property owner must take. The local  community is taking all the risk. The existence of this entire community is at risk due to Caltrans  irresponsibility. 

MWSD has repeatedly communicated to Caltrans our interest in acquiring these lands to benefit the  local community. Given MWSD’s known interest in acquiring the ROW, we have received a high number  of complaints about the imminent dangers on the parcel, particularly the high fire risk. 

To support our community, MWSD asked the State’s largest tree maintenance company to provide a  cost estimate to reduce the most imminent vegetation fire danger on the property. That quote is  $800,000 and does not include tree removal or long-term fire strategies. This significant cost represents  simply what must be done IMMEDIATELY as of July 2021 to address this significant fire risk. 

Montara Water and Sanitary District is a critical community and county asset, providing domestic water  and fire protection to approximately 1,800 connections in our small, isolated Coastside communities.  We are a locally elected body charged with representing and taking action for our community members.  We are prepared to continue the critical stewardship of our local lands, including safeguarding the  watersheds that protect our local water resources for our community, now and in the future. 

We ask that Caltrans address this hazardous situation immediately or initiate immediate discussions  with MWSD on a collaborative solution that addresses both hazards and property ownership. Otherwise  this community will hold Caltrans liable for past current and future damages and risks to our livelihood. 

We look forward to your response to this urgent issue. 

Sincerely, 

President Scott Boyd  

On behalf of the Montara Water and Sanitary District Board of Directors 

Director Peter Dekker 

Director Jim Harvey 

Director Ric Lohman 

Director Kathryn Slater-Carter 

cc: Via electronic transmission 

CA State Assemblymember Kevin Mullin

CA State Senator Josh Becker 

County of San Mateo Board of Supervisors: 

President David J. Canepa  

Vice President Dennis Horsley 

Supervisor Dave Pine 

Supervisor Carole Groom 

Supervisor Warren Slocum 

Lennie Roberts, Committee for Green Foothills  

Steve Monowitz, San Mateo County Planning 

Jeannine Manna, California Coastal Commission 

Marthy Poyatos, San Mateo Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) Midcoast Community Council.

 

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Montara Water and Sanitary District (MWSD) Meetings ~ 1st & 3rd Thursdays @ 7:30pm