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Fish Out of Water
updated: Sep 02, 2012, 8:42 PM

By Edhat Subscriber

The waters were so low that steelhead had to be rescued from Montecito Creek this summer. How can we improve conditions so we can protect this endangered species and they will no longer require "rescues?

Comments in order of when they were received | (reverse order)

COMMENT 315397	2012-09-02 08:53 PM
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to man-caused climate change. Support the EPA in it's fight to get coal-fired plants to install scrubbers. If there are 30 cars in the drive-thru at In-N-Out Burger, park your car and order inside.
COMMENT 315401	2012-09-02 08:58 PM
Reduce our carbon foot print. Live green. Educate others.
COMMENT 315423P	2012-09-03 05:27 AM
397 - How about..... Don't go to In & Out - Do you know how much energy it takes to raise a slaughter a cow? Google that!
COMMENT 315438	2012-09-03 07:26 AM
I actually have a friend that is a warden with CA Fish and Game and I was told that Land Trust for Santa Barbara County was being investigated because they are withholding 50,000 gallons a day since becoming the land owner in March. Apparently they are allowing a water company to continue to take beyond it's legal right. Hot Springs Creek and Cold Springs Creek form Montecito Creek which flows to the ocean. Kinda surreal considering this is a conservation organization that is withholding water from an Endangered Species.
COMMENT 315455	2012-09-03 08:31 AM
I do not trust the Land Trust. In my opinion, there is another LT property in SB Co. that should be investigated. The LT either does not care for the land entrusted to them or they do not have the money to enforce upkeep. The open space that the LT is suppose to oversee has turned into a dump and a fire hazard.
COMMENT 315471	2012-09-03 09:23 AM
Why in the world did Land Trust for Santa Barbara County ask for donations within our community when they will not protect the steelhead now that they own Montecito Hot Springs?
FLICKA	2012-09-03 09:53 AM
If the story is true about the Land Trust, something definately needs to be done to get that water where it belongs. So glad to know there are steelhead back in Montecito; my grandpa used to fish there for them (early 1900s).
COMMENT 315488	2012-09-03 10:23 AM
Multiple attempts contacting the Land Trust asking about the hot springs, the future use of the hot springs and NO RESPONSE. I have a very strong feeling we have been deceived. I completely regret donating to that organization for the purchase of the land that I was looking forward to enjoying and am very concerned with what their plans are for that land. They know that people are talking about the situation - yet they do not join the conversation. Why is that? (and sadly I can guess the answer is because they are planning something that will result in restricted use.)
MTNDRIVER	2012-09-03 11:25 AM
Something fishy about this finger-pointing at the Land Trust.
COMMENT 315573	2012-09-03 01:51 PM
Land Trust for Santa Barbara County now holds 50% of the water rights to Montecito Hot Springs. If they want to proclaim to the community that they are a conservation based organization they will release over 50,000 gallons a day to assist steelhead recovery in Montecito Creek. @ MTNDRIVER do you have water rights via Montecito Creek Water Company? if so Mr Powers (who worked for Hunter and Lowry McCaslin) was diligent to get letters of agreements that Montecito Creek Water Company could not allow shareholders that did not have riparian property on Hot Springs and Montecito Creek to take any of the water.
COMMENT 315655	2012-09-03 03:40 PM
Why did Land Trust for Santa Barbara County fully give the water to irrigate lawns rather then protect steelhead?
COMMENT 315717	2012-09-03 05:57 PM
I wonder how many of the "secret" donors that contributed to Land Trust for Santa Barbara County are shareholders to Montecito Creek Water Company? Are these soulless people that are happy with steelhead going extinct in Southern California?
COMMENT 315724	2012-09-03 06:08 PM
I live on Romero Creek which I have NEVER seen dry and we have about a dozen steelhead living in it at all times. This year, it was running and in 2 days it was dry as a bone, not a pool or anything. Definitely something going on upstream, like pumping water from the wells at Ennisbrooke which is illegal. They have been fined before for doing so to water lawns. My guess is, this is happening a lot. Yes, I am doing something about it having started an investigation through those responsible for our creeks. We pay for all our water, and have no lawn so no cracks please.
COMMENT 315870	2012-09-04 08:56 AM
Thinking humans can improve, help, change, save, or control anything controlled by mother nature is impossible. Serving only the ego of the " pure nature lover "
COMMENT 315875	2012-09-04 09:04 AM
Right now today Land Trust for Santa Barbara County controls over 50,000 gallons a day they could release for the sake of watershed and steelhead. Land Trust for Santa Barbara County came to the community and asked for donations and yet they will not do their share to protect steelhead. I find the behavior of Michael Feeney reprehensible. He has rebuffed the efforts of the Preservation Committee for Pearl Chase Society too. Go view Santa Barbara View's article on Kellam de Forest and see the shocking ways that Land Trust for Santa Barbara County has treated him.
COMMENT 316028	2012-09-04 02:56 PM
I called the office for Land Trust Santa Barbara County today and stated my concerns about Steelhead in Montecito Creek. I was told although they have allowed permissive use to take all of the water out of the streambed they do not care about steelhead in Montecito Creek. This seems like a fine organization to donate my hard earned money. Never again!

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