Water Board Supports Cleanup of Santa Maria Creek

If you've ever been to a Ramona Community Planning Group meeting, you know of long-time Ramonan Angus Tobiason's efforts to clean up the Santa Maria Creek. On April 9, the Ramona Municipal Water District took a step toward helping move along the effort by bringing forth an item to send a resolution of support in for the county's cleanup initiative.

The water district said the Santa Maria Creek is part of the flood plain for the town and "essential to handle the movement of flood waters in the event of a significant rain storm."

Currently, the creek is filled with brush and debris and has been known to be a dumping place for drug paraphernalia. Tobiason has pleaded with both the planning group, which drafted a letter to County Supervisor Dianne Jacob asking for clean up efforts, as well as Jacob herself during a Board of Supervisors meeting earlier this year.

RMWD said they would be responsible for cleaning up the portion of the creek that falls within their property and asked the water board members to vote for a resolution of support to the county for cleanup efforts.

"We do a hand-clearing multiple times a year," district General Manager David Barnum told the board, noting they use female prisoners to do the work. "Members of the public have recently gone to Supervisor Jacob to get this cleaned up."

Acording to the district, the local agency has been invited to attend a future meeting with Jacob to discuss the potential Santa Maria Creek cleanup project.

Board member Kit Kesinger expressed doubt for the support of the resolution letter, calling it "vague" and in need of more definition.

"The cleanup seems to be defined as... getting rid of plants," Kesinger said, asking for more detail, such as if heavy machinery be brought in to assist int he clearing efforts.

Barnum said the vagueness of the letter was intentional, noting the district just wanted to provide the board with a general framework.

Still, Kesinger said he wanted to wait to vote on something until something "more specific" gets outlined by the county.

"Something this vague is hard to get behind," he said.

But board member Joe Zenovic said it was important they vote for the resolution of support.

"We don't need to micromanage the clearing," Zenovic said. "We need to support it."

President Darrell Beck agreed, emphasizing the need to take the lead on the potential project.

"This is a major crime-control problem we're having in the creek," Beck said. "The clean-up will make it so much nicer and cleaner."

Ultimately, the resolution of support to be sent to the county for the Santa Maria Creek cleanup was voted in favor of, 4-1, with Kesinger opposing.

Do you support a clean up of the creek? Tell us in the comments.