ABSTRACT: While there has recently been a flurry of maintenance activities at the National Register of Historic Places Flanders Mansion and along the trails of Mission Trail Nature Preserve, the Lester Rowntree Native Plant Garden remains in a state of benign neglect. Supporting REFERENCES from the City's General Plan/Coastal Land Use Plan are reproduced. A COMMENT is made regarding the respective roles of the City and the Monterey Bay Chapter of the California Native Plant Society in maintaining the Lester Rowntree Native Plant Garden within Mission Trail Nature Preserve.
REFERENCES:
General Plan/Coastal Land Use Plan Coastal Resource Management Element
O5-33 Maintain the Rowntree Native Plant Garden within Mission Trail Nature Preserve as an area where the general public can view and study native California plants and trees. The goal is that the knowledge gained will lead to an expanded use of California native plants in private landscapes. (LUP)
P5-144 Create and maintain a demonstration garden for native flowers in Mission Trail Nature Preserve. (LUP)
P5-145 Label native plants and areas in the garden at Mission Trail Nature Preserve with identifying and explanatory information. (LUP)
O5-34 Consider establishing a Volunteer Committee to assist the City Forester and staff in responsibility for the garden at Mission Trail Nature Preserve. (LUP)
P5-146 Maintain communication between Forest and Beach Commission and Monterey Bay Chapter of the California Native Plant Society. (LUP)
P5-147 Recruit and train volunteers to plant, weed, water and care for the garden in Mission Trail Nature Preserve under the direction of the Forest, Parks and Beach Department staff. (LUP)
P5-148 Schedule and advertise volunteer workdays as needed to maintain the garden in Mission Trail Nature Preserve. (LUP)
Mission Trail Nature Preserve.
Mission Trail Nature Preserve lies along much of the City's eastern boundary and is the largest ESHA in the City. It contains a wide variety of habitat types. To describe this area the Preserve is divided into four planning units: Martin Road Parcel, Park Proper, Flanders Mansion/Rowntree Native Plant Garden and Outlet Meadow. The Preserve supports a vegetation mosaic consisting of Monterey pine forest on inland granitic bedrock and oldest dunes, central coast arroyo willow riparian forest, wetland drainage, wet meadow, coast live oak woodland, coastal terrace prairie and horticultural plantings.
(LUP)
Flanders Mansion/Rowntree Native Plant Garden supports Monterey pine forest on inland granitic bedrock with horticultural plantings.
COMMENT:
• While there has recently been a flurry of maintenance activities at the National Register of Historic Places Flanders Mansion and along the trails of Mission Trail Nature Preserve, the Lester Rowntree Native Plant Garden remains in a state of benign neglect even though the Local Coastal Program mandates the maintenance of the Lester Rowntree Native Plant Garden by the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea (see REFERENCE). Moreover, while city employees are often seen along the Carmel Beach Bluff Pathway and Devendorf Park, they are rarely, if ever, seen in the Lester Rowntree Native Plant Garden. And while the Monterey Bay Chapter of the California Native Plant Society has a long history of working in the Lester Rowntree Native Plant Garden, the City has not assumed a primary role in satisfactorily maintaining the Lester Rowntree Native Plant Garden within Mission Trail Nature Preserve for residents and visitors alike over many years.
4 comments:
In the absence of city support, why hasn't the California Native Plant Society stepped up (as Friends of Carmel Forest has) to work with the Acting Forester? CNPS could expand the number of volunteers to a number that can properly maintain the Rowntree Garden, better publicize its existence, try to raise funds from the public, the state or foundations etc. Several of the Forest, Beach and Parks? commissioners are active gardeners. Why hasn't CNPS appeared before them? When people or organizations speak to the commissioners, they alert the Commission to existing problems it may not be aware of. This can lead to action and even getting funding in the annual budget to help mitigate problems. The squeeky wheel gets the grease.
It has been clear for years that Mission Trails has, at best, had a low priority from the City Council. In fact, it seems to have done everything possible to make Flanders sellable and one of those things has probably been to make the Native Plant Garden disappear through neglect. The Forest, Beach and Parks Department has almost no staff. In part this is due to the City Council's unwillingness to spend city revenues but it is also due to at least some members wanting the forest to die off. The Department is starved for funds and workers so can't begin to do its mandated job. Futher, the Mayor and City Administrator order it not to fulfill some of its responsibilities or get on the Forester's case when his staff does something they are tasked with but the Mayor doesn't like. The city is not doing its job, is trying to get around the LUP wherever it can and in this case won't do its job so long as this city council or others like it run the show. If the Native Plant Garden is to be restored and kept up, it will have to be done by volunteers and/or someone will need to bring the failure of the city (only one of a long list) to the attention of the Coastal Commission.
It is great there are nonprofit organizations advocating for their causes and willing to work with Carmel. But there are other nonprofit groups, like the Native Plant Society, which have more opportunites over a larger area than Carmel, to focus their limited volunteers and resources. These groups are more inclined to work with jurisdictions which take the lead and have a record of positive cooperation with assistance groups. Carmel does not have a reputation for taking the lead in constructive positive relationships with groups. This reputation has led groups to forgo Carmel and participate with other cities in more constructive positive work where they are rewarded for their efforts, not undermined at every turn.
This is a prime example of the city operating in a way that discriminates against residents and only cares about those assets which are frequented by visitors. There is no excuse for why the city only pays attention to Devendorf Park and Picadilly Park in the commerical area and pays little attention to Mission Trail Park and Rio Parks. Where is the outrage on the part of residents?
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