Pilarcitos Creek restoration moves ahead

Earlier this month, the City Council approved $239,400 for the restoration project, which will be completed in phases. First, trimmings will be taken of native plants along the creek and they’ll be placed in a nursery to germinate while other restoration work is done and then replanted on the site in a few months, said Deputy City Manager Matthew Chidester.

Before those natives are replanted, a three-step process will begin in the fall. Any remaining debris will be removed — cleanup crews have not been able to go into the creek until permits are secured — invasive species, especially cape ivy, will be cleared out and then soil will be decompacted, Chidester said. The natives will be replanted when those three phases of work are complete.

“[The damage is caused by] a trickle-down effect in that compact soil means natives don’t grow, which means it’s harder for native animals to thrive there and the presence of people on a constant basis affects the ability for birds to nest,” Chidester said. “Any human contact there will cause impacts.”

Similar remediation work will be done in an area along the creek near Carter Park where an encampment caused some damage, but not nearly as much as the one behind the shopping center, Chidester said.

The entire project, including work that is already complete, costs about $390,000, Chidester said, and the city has applied for grants totaling $220,000 for the project. Most of the work should be complete by the spring of 2020 and then the site will be monitored for three ensuing years.

Chidester said the city is monitoring the area to ensure future encampments are not established and signs as well as a temporary fence have been installed that will later become permanent.

Of the 20 or some homeless people that were camping in those sites, Chidester said some of them are now housed, though many are camping elsewhere in and around Half Moon Bay.

“The real key is working with the homeless to get them in permanent sustainable housing so there isn’t a need to camp in these areas,” Chidester said. “There’s an urgency on sensitive habitats because of the environmental concerns. For other areas [where homeless people are camping] we can focus on the needs of the individuals and the time they need for that help.”

Half Moon Bay is also taking action after the heavy rains have caused further erosion of the bluffs adjacent to Poplar Beach. And more rain is returning to the forecast this week.

On Friday, crews began installing temporary safety fencing in some areas along the bluffs to also prevent foot traffic from causing additional erosion. 

Erosion has been an issue there for some time and the city is working on a permanent solution outlined in the Poplar Beach Gateways plan.

That plan includes a phased program for erosion mitigation, bluff restoration and work on the easterly realignment of the Coastal Trail between Poplar Street and Kelly Avenue.

zachary@smdailyjournal.com

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