Kern wrote on Sep 10, 2008 11:23 PM:Once again Kern shows no understanding of natural beauty. I rather see Oceanside pay to preserve the fall than see it chocked up by development. I hope Carlsbad and McMillin show some respect for this heart lifting beauty.

Vote Chuck Lowery for city council wrote on Sep 10, 2008 11:31 PM:Chuck cares about our environment.

John wrote on Sep 11, 2008 12:49 AM:another example Of Council fiddling while Oceanside burns. Terrible roads, no jobs, crime, fire, budget problems, future water demands, Genetech's future. Are these issues they discuss? No a waterfall, using the term loosely. no one can see on the Carlsbad/Oceanside border.

RG wrote on Sep 11, 2008 5:44 AM:This is just a new political band wagon to jump on. Let's waste some more time and money on this issue. There is already a group focused on preserving the "falls". Give it a rest......

OK Prove it wrote on Sep 11, 2008 7:09 AM:Ann Gunter of the Lightfoot Planning Group, which represents Hansen Aggregates, the former operator of a sand mine on much of the property, said the company intends to do what's right for the falls and added that calls for other efforts from city staff are simply unnecessary. I don't agree with the Sanchez approach, you can not fix this with a hammer. But Ms. Gunter you have had over four years to do what is right, what exactly are you waitng for?

Oh brother wrote on Sep 11, 2008 8:13 AM:They are saying this Hanson company is doing all it can to presrve the area? what a joke! And Rocky voting for this?IT's just a ploy for to add to add more untruth to his record. He is NOT environmentally or neighborhood friendly. Anyone who votes for him for Mayor should have his or her head examined. This guy will pave over anything and everything!

Nonbeliever wrote on Sep 11, 2008 9:09 AM:I just don't believe Kern, Feller and Chavez really care about this issue. They only voted for it for appearances sake (the election) and will turn around right after November 4th and say they were only crossing their fingers. Preserving this costs nothing to the city. The staff person said it was already zoned open space and therefore doesn't require re-zoning. All it requires is a dedication to be a park. This we could and should do. For anyone who says thinks this is not important -- if you are not convinced by the historic/cultural significance, the fact that even Carlsbad wants this preserved and that it could become a tourist destination providing economic gains to Oceanside/Carlsbad, then consider the fact that Councilmember Feller, who talked about how people wanting open space should go to Arizona or New Mexico wants to "urbanize" (i.e., concrete--Chavez's favorite money word) every square inch. Do not be fooled by Feller. If you want open space in Oceanside (ie, less crime, trffic,etc), then we need to vote Feller out!

Right This Time wrote on Sep 11, 2008 9:16 AM:I can't say I often agree with Ms. Nygaard, but during a rainy week a few years ago, I happened to stumble upon the falls, and it was stunning to see something like this right in Oceanside. I've lived here almost my entire life, and didn't even know it was there. I'd read about it in the paper, but still couldn't quite figure out where it was. I never expected it to be crammed right up next to the parking lot, but there it was.
I even grabbed my wife and kids and dragged them out to see it.

I'm not anti-development and don't see developers as evil, but at the same time, it's up to the City to make sure they do what they are supposed to, and don't do what they aren't supposed to. They clearly blew it this time, and I'm surprised no one has sued the pants off of both of them for building right up against this place.

So, for once (maybe the only once), go get em Dianne!

Groundswell wrote on Sep 11, 2008 9:18 AM:Thank you, Parks and Recs Commission and Mayor Wood, for bringing this forward. And thank you, Councilmember Sanchez, for being so passionate about the need to preserve these 4 acres of open space as parkland. Judging by their comments, I'm not sure whether the rest of the council really supports this or just voted contrary to their comments because its an election year. What I do know is there is a change in Oceanside. We residents want our leaders to stop being advocates for developers (not investors, Mr. Feller; these guys take millions of dollars AWAY from Oceanside, not into)and be advocates for the City of Oceanside.Perhaps the small-town antics of Rocky (the controller who throw temper tandrums when he doesn't get his way), Feller (who wants everyone to be able to build whatever they want regardless of the rights of others) and Kern (who calls people names publicly if he doesn't like them in a very mean way)have seen their last days of reigning/walking all over residents. I hope this is the election that will bring back family and hometown values back to this city that I love so much!

Have You Been There wrote on Sep 11, 2008 10:02 AM:In 2003 the City Of Oceanside let this very same developer build with in ten feet of the falls not observing the 60' buffer.That is why we are asking for the LAST FOUR ACRES left in Oceanside be designated as protected parkland.The preservation of the area to the north side of the falls is what is we are talking about. This is a priceless treasure,one of the most valuable locations left in Oceanside that could attract millions of tourists.This area was always a gathering place for the comunity,before all minning occured.We want it restored to a PARK for everyone to visit.The restoration will be paid for by the minning owner,not the citizens.
Discover more about this special waterfall.Go see for yourself.

bogie wrote on Sep 11, 2008 10:08 AM:Where can one go to see these falls? Are they accessible to the public?

We Can Fix It wrote on Sep 11, 2008 10:10 AM:How ? VOTE NO FOR JACK !
VOTE NO FOR ROCKY !
NO MORE PAY TO PLAY IN OCEANSIDE!

FTM wrote on Sep 11, 2008 10:20 AM:Hey, if the miners are willing to restore a park at the falls, why not? Comon! It would be great.

I guess letting them build close to the falls was a bone of contention and that's a fight that never seems to go away, but the idea of the park at the falls is a GREAT idea.

Let's do it.

Please dont call it a Jewel wrote on Sep 11, 2008 10:39 AM:This is just so typical of Oceanside. You get these aging, mindless hippies who want to celebrate and hold up for esteem something that is objectively, pretty marginal. Examples abound: The "Top Gun" House, the re-painted brick Oceanside sign at 5 and 76; the band shell at the beach, even the Marron Adobe. I mean, this EL SALTO ain't Niagara. It's not like people from around the state are going to come and look at EL SALTO FALLS. ("Honey, let's take the kids on a road trip to El Salto!") By holding it up as some kind of natural wonder, it just shows how provincial and tacky we are. I mean, if you want to see a real waterfall, something really cool, go see Klamath Falls. Or go to Yosemite. Or Hawaii. Suggesting that EL SALTO FALLS is in any way noteworthy or worth protecting makes us all look like small-minded idjits.

Is it a Treasure Worth Protecting wrote on Sep 11, 2008 11:30 AM:The loss of the Soto Falls was caused by the prior property owner’s decision to sell the land for a rock quarry. This entire environmental and historic asset was sold to the highest bidder. Now the public must step up to save the falls and the melted adobe? While I support the effort to save the falls, but lets don’t try blaming this issue exclusively on the bad guy developers. Like her ancestors before her, the current owner of the Marron Adobe, sold out to a bill board company yet pretends to protect the historic character of the site. If you want to protect the site donate it to a trust or the City for development into a park (after you are through living in it). Let stop the usual Oceanside pretense and the blamesmanship.

El Salto to the Shore wrote on Sep 11, 2008 11:34 AM:Did you know that El Salto is fed by artesian water and flows year round.Did you know that the Buena Vista Creek Valley was first recorded by the Portola expedition in July of 1769. Did you know that the El Salto Falls are a Sacred Native American site? Don't you think this would be a great spot to go on a family outing.They wouldn't have to travel far if El Salto were accessible as a park for all to see.A walking /bike trail from the falls to the beach sounds fantastic!!

FTM to Please call it Jewel wrote on Sep 11, 2008 11:48 AM:Please dont call it a Jewel:

Okay okay, we can call it anything, but hey IT'S FREE! The miners are willing to build us a park FOR FREE! What the heck is wrong with that??

Does it have to be Grand Canyon? It's just a little pond, we knw that - it's not like we are trying to make some grand statement.

It's a FREE park! The miners are willing to do it for free? Hey, why not? What the heck can be wrong with a free park??????

I don't get it.

Protection not desecration wrote on Sep 11, 2008 1:08 PM:We should all be offended by "Please don't call it a Jewel" who calls anyone advocating for this site "Aging mindless hippies and small-minded idjits."

I ask this poster: Why are you posturing and why so threatened that you would post such an ignorant comment?

Do some research on this site, explore its vital resources, and check out the diverse group of El Salto/BV Valley advocates. You will find a rich history and many, MANY different groups & individuals who are passionate about this special JEWEL that we MUST restore & preserve!

To John wrote on Sep 11, 2008 1:23 PM:you got that right. The concept of priorities is lost on our council.

Not even a rough jewel wrote on Sep 11, 2008 1:47 PM:I thought "Please don't call it a Jewel" was right on. I visited the site and once was enough! Don't waste your gasoline.
The 6 days that it rains here could possibly make it look somewhat better. Oceanside needs to spend money on police technology not another park. Use your head and go to Yosemite.

gimme a break wrote on Sep 11, 2008 3:34 PM:Well, last I visited Yosemite I read the sign above the park detailing ways pollution is destroying the park. Why should we drive up there when we've got beauty here? Sustainability, environmental causes, green engery, "just say no" to irresponsible development is the way to go!

If you claim to have visited El Salto and the BV Valley, did you do any research on archeological history? Or, the Native Tribe who lived there and are now advocating for this SACRED site.... the opportunity to restore the site for native plant restoration and wildlife corridor, the watershed issues?

"Once is enough" alright.... not one visit to this site (as the previous post declares) but, as the O'side's Mayor said last nite, letting development get too close to this site the first time was enough!

Get a clue and work to restore & preserve this site!

Vista Granny wrote on Sep 11, 2008 3:35 PM:To "Please don't call it a jewel" and "Not even a rough jewel" ----- I went looking for the falls a while ago, and was horrified to find a parking lot built on the top of them -- and the only view I could really get was looking down from the parking lot!!! At that time there were dozens of cars parked in front of the falls (stored there?) -- trash and graffiti were prolific -- and I was sickened. The Marron Adobe is beautiful, and the owner has a perfect right to live there -- and to leave it to whomever she pleases, but I do hope she leaves it to some person or organization which will take care of it. There is also a "melted" adobe in the area, but no one wants to rebuild it, just keep the ruins. The whole area, along the creek should have been preserved long ago. It is so rich with historical meaning. Perhaps a Native American group could try to wrest the falls from the present owners and protect them.

No Rocky No Feller wrote on Sep 11, 2008 3:39 PM:They are liars who fill take campaign monies from Big Developers not in Oceanside or San Diego....and They have VOTED YES TO THESE DEVELOPERS everytime!!!!!!!!!!

love waterfalls wrote on Sep 11, 2008 3:48 PM:Funny, I bought a small circulating waterfall machine to use for it's relaxing effect. Guess it's my little El Salto out of a box!

Water and waterfalls are vital, why else would C'bad have installed a fake waterfall in it's multi-million dollar golf course?

I can see this site becoming a relaxing and enjoyable destination, if O'side & C'bad do the right thing! Clearly, O'side (at least the P&R commission, the mayor & councilmember Sanchez) seems to have their priorites straight regarding this special site!

How or where wrote on Sep 11, 2008 4:02 PM:do you go to see these falls? Doesn't sound like the parking lot gives the best view...

To how or why- wrote on Sep 11, 2008 9:41 PM:To How or Where: Everyone would be able to see the falls from the FOUR ACRES we want to have designated as a PARK. It is the area just below Mossey Dealership ,the land goes right next to the falls. The developer that built the Walmart center and the parking lot 10' from the Waterfall, wants another shot at his idea of preserving the falls.He wants to build 600 homes in the quarry and possibly make the 4 acres in question the RV parking for his purposed project.Please join us and save the other half of this valley .Support having the old mine area reclaimed to openspace ,restored with public trail access and a venue suting a
BEAUTIFUL WATERFALL.The "restoration of the quarry" is paid for by the minning operation company.

Tiz the season again wrote on Sep 11, 2008 9:49 PM:Thank you! Mayor Wood, Councilwoman Sanchez,....... and "election" time voters Kern,Feller,and Chavez. We here in Oceanside are such a mess. Thats why I am voting for Chuck Lowery to replace Jack on the council.

About Tiz the Season wrote on Sep 12, 2008 11:39 AM:Gotta love it when a politician votes in favor of what someone supports, and get's slammed for it. Like these guys needed the "Nygaard" vote to get re-elected. Somehow I think they abandoned that election strategy long ago. Just who would they be impressing? Wood supporters? I'm still laughing at the logic.

BarbsKid wrote on Sep 12, 2008 1:08 PM:Well, I decided to go take a look for myself. THe falls are a bit difficult to locate, and awkward isn't even the word for viewing them....but....I managed to get some great snapshots with my digital, there were three or four other folks there this morning checking it out also. It is small, but it is also quite lovely and rather unexpected. I, for one, wouldn't mind a way to get in and really enjoy it. Maybe saving the falls isn't a bad idea, but the way our politicians go about things is.
:-)

To To how or why- wrote on Sep 12, 2008 3:58 PM:I'm sorry, I guess I was unclear. I know where the falls are, what I would like to know is, how do you get down to them to have a good look & maybe take a picture? Put another way, where do you access them from? Is there a footpath somewhere?

Save the Falls wrote on Sep 13, 2008 6:54 AM:This could be one of the first water Falls in the country lit up all night long. Whoever approved that billboard on the historic Marraon property was a genius. The light from this sign is bright enough to reach the falls a quarter mile away.

Robert from Oside wrote on Nov 15, 2008 11:30 AM:You must be kidding, Save the Falls. A billboard is urban blight and bright lights disturb wildlife and deprive them of sleeping areas and sleep.

It is too bad that the parking lot is close to the falls. And it is too bad they put a car dealership there. It used too be a beeutiful wilderness area back behind 7-11.