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(apparently there used to be... way back in the day, but that's for another time)
(in the manner of Agent 86)
but... would you believe 'On Wildomar Pond'?
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| Sorry About That Chief |
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Today I went on a nature walk of sorts. It was on the trail that is next to Murrieta Creek between McVicar and Clinton Keith Road. I'd heard a lot about it, and after 12 years I thought I'd go check it out.
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| This water comes from Windsong Valley and has no where to flow freely into Murrieta creek. |
Let's be real, in our area, every other thing that is called a "creek" or stream is usually bone dry this time of year. Here, you can see standing water. I wasn't brave enough to fathom it, but my guess is that it was several feet deep. It makes for a nice photo, but is one nasty, stagnant mess in reality. I can only imagine how deep it must be when it really rains.
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This creek has been a topic of conversation, probably forever , but certainly since the recent proposed development that abuts it.
It's purpose is FLOOD CONTROL.
It isn't supposed to be for
"waterside supper with riparian entertainments."
(a great line from the British TV show called Keeping Up Appearances)
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| Oh Richard! |
I was amazed to see that the creek/flood control channel is completely choked with reeds and other tall grasses. To say it's "overgrown with weeds," is to akin to mistaking a wallaby for a mouse.
(maybe closer to mistaking a horse for a mouse)
I had heard about the condition of the creek, but I had pictured this 'overgrowth' to be closer to the Clinton Keith Rd bridge... not the entire stretch of it.
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| Looking west, a few hundred yards south of McVicar down the trail. This is supposed be where storm waters make their way to the ocean. |
The story is that the county is allowed to/supposed to clear the vegetation every two years (every three years for certain things growing there).
Hello McFly... you can get to work anytime now.
It's hard to believe this is less than two years worth.
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Another interesting thing I saw was this sign:
These markers were on the creek's edge every so often.
It was explained to me that when the county actually gets around to clearing the vegetation, they are to leave a six foot area around it as a natural habitat.
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In the end, this "creek" is for FLOOD CONTROL. Yes, it is also a habitat for many animals, but they aren't going to be well served when their homes get flooded out in the Spring... and neither will any of the humans that live near the area. I'm told it's a nightmare of red tape to have to deal with things involving the creek, no matter what you have in mind there.
A hearty 'thank you' to all the tree huggers that have gone well beyond helping the environment, to actually making things worse. IMN2BHO that is.
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| We all love trees, some just more than others. Hey, get a room already! |
In my view, just another indication of madness kicking sanity to the curb.
That a county could be lackadaisical about it's maintenance of a flood control channel, and Fish and Wildlife could then declare it a Natural Habitat, making it off limits. In the words of everyone's favorite space age cartoon dog, "Ruh Roh!"
Thankfully nothing quite that daft has happened... yet.
The way I see it, what needs to happen is that a bulldozer needs to go in there and remove all the vegetation in that "creek"... but that's just too easy, and a person that dared to try it would probably get more jail time than if they'd committed a series of home invasion robberies.
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| If only it were actually funny. |
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| View of trail adjacent to the trail on Murrieta Creek. Photo courtesy of Janice Carabine. |
Setting aside all the politics of it, it really is nice place to walk.
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| I love making panoramic pics. This is pretty much what it looks like. The water flows from the left to the right on this dogleg waterway that meets up with the creek. Since there haven't been rains, I'm guessing this is run off from Windsong, but that's hard to believe. |
Joseph - Nice pictures of a seldom seen area of Wildomar. The reality shown here is that in an area that has seen almost no rainfall, less than 1/2 an inch since July 1, we would have any creek with water in it. This water is primarily there because the people in the area have absolutely no concept of where their water comes from and are therefore wasteful in its excessive use. As to the overgrowth you refer to, this is there because this growth absorbs tons of harmful nutrients that would enter the natural water supply or flow downstream entering someone else's aquifer. Granted the county does a fairly poor job of maintaining this growth by mowing it every couple of years and taking it to a landfill instead of turning it into fuel for biomass energy. It is going to be interesting to see how the county will handle the move of the riparian corridor along the east side of the creek to the west side without destroying what is already established.
ReplyDeleteKenny Mayes
Citizen of Wildomar
I always appreciate the feedback. You frequently add new facets for me to think about.
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