What is that Bright Green Stuff Floating in the Creek?

By Rich Didday, Member CVRA

Old-timers probably don’t remember seeing algal blooms in the Creek, because in the good old days, the City tossed copper sulfate (“Bluestone”) in the creek to control it. But that was banned about 25 years ago, and instead the algae has been kept mostly at bay by controlling water levels and reducing the nutrients that build up in the water. Matt Kotila (Capitola Public Works) says that this year, because the flow of water down the creek is less than 10% of normal, methods used before aren’t preventing the blooms.

In the early 1990’s a combination of low water flow, high temperatures, little morning fog, sewer leaks, and shallow water levels gave rise to a major algal bloom. People with rakes stood on barges and tried to remove excess algae. That’s not under consideration this year (yet?).

On the plus side, the growing algae is putting significant amounts of oxygen in the water, which helps the fish, and the floating mats provide some shade for fish. The City is monitoring nutrient levels, water temperature, and amount of salt water.

So far, nothing to worry about: Just enjoy the bright green fish-helping dynamic sculptures in the Creek!

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“I Think This Crosswalk is Jinxed” Follow-up

We received lots of comments about last month’s column. Here are a few:

I read your article on the Hill St crosswalk with great interest. I am approaching it now in my car as I email you. I have – damn! – (bump bump) – stupid pedestrians – some suggestions. Small dips on either side of the crosswalk, known in England as sleeping policeman, less intrusive than speed bumps but a warning to autos. Raising the crosswalk slightly makes pedestrians seem taller, more noticeable.

I know this County objects to any impediments to cars on major roads so these ideas are unlikely. Perhaps a life size photo cutout of Wilt Chamberlain with a sign “You must be this tall to cross”.

Willow Glen has a system where each side of crosswalk has a bucket with long staffed orange flags that the crosser takes, waves while on his journey, and returns to the other side. Cheap and effective.

Good luck with your cause. Hey, why is this cop pulling me over?!

— Paul Brennan

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I, too, avoid the north crosswalk. I fell once stepping up onto the sidewalk by Peets because just as I was stepping up, a car zoomed up to turn right into Nob Hill nearly hitting me. I turned to look and missed my step, tripping on the curb and fell flat on my face on the sidewalk, not the street. My hands got bruised where I stopped my fall, and my hip was bruised where I fell on it, but luckily nothing was broken or badly injured. The car didn’t stop to see if I was all right. Two ladies having coffee on the patio at Peets came over to help me up. Peets gave me a complimentary tea when I went in to calm down before continuing my errands. That was probably three years ago.

Since then, I avoid that side of the street as those cars driving from the freeway seem to still be in what I call “freeway mentality” — zooming like they are still on the highway. Even on the other crosswalk, that portion that has cars coming from the freeway is always scary because those cars heading towards the Village will creep up on the pedestrian, then screech off once they’ve barely cleared the poor pedestrian. The problem isn’t so much bad drivers, but impatient drivers.

I know a police presence is a short-term solution, but if they were there once a month, regularly, then that might help “educate” drivers and stop the nerve wracking “ inching up” on pedestrians. Long email, sorry, but a topic near and dear to my heart.

— Rachell Summers

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As I have lived in what is now the Bay Avenue Senior Apartments for 20 years, I am quite familiar with the crosswalk and its history. … It is not the crosswalk, its configuration, or the median that is the problem.

The problem is drivers and bicyclists who pay no attention to the stop signs. It is a rare driver who will come to a full and complete stop at the intersection, and an even rarer bicyclist. I have been almost hit by bicyclists more often than by careless and distracted drivers. If drivers and bicyclists would obey the simple law of actually stopping at a stop sign (what a concept!), there would be far less worried pedestrians, and the flow of traffic would be much better.

Pedestrians just seem to naturally assume that since they legally have the right-of-way, cars will make way for them. This, plus the penchant to be distracted, by chatting, cell phones, has resulted in far too many pedestrians finding out the hard way that being in the right is not necessarily worth it. Pedestrians need to be cautious, too, and take a moment to make sure traffic is, at least, slowing down and drivers and bicyclists see them, before taking that first step onto a busy street.

The simplest answer is just that drivers, bicyclists , and pedestrians obey the traffic laws.

— Gale W. Geurin, Bay Avenue Resident

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Josh at Capitola Self Storage says he doesn’t think any of the three crosswalks are more dangerous than the others—he has been walking across them for years and they are all frightening.

Mike at Capitola Fitness described being in the “jinxed” crosswalk recently and making a sudden acrobatic leap to avoid being hit by a car. Keep alert!