Conserving Water by Planting Trees

While it’s true that trees consume water, they also help conserve it.

Imagine a parking lot with no trees. A storm darkens the sky and unleashes a drenching rain. The resulting runoff washes across the parking lot and flows into a nearby storm drain, which funnels the water to the San Diego River and eventually the Pacific Ocean. The problem with this scenario is that little of that rain is absorbed.

Now visualize a parking lot full of trees. When the downpour comes, leaves break the force of falling rain. They also retain from 2 to 7 percent of the water produced by a short downpour, allowing it to evaporate back into the atmosphere.

As the rain falls more slowly, the runoff slows down and soaks into planters or other landscaped areas. Tree roots also bind the soil and guard against erosion. They also absorb water that would otherwise increase the flow of runoff.

For more information about the great things trees do for the environment, visit our friends at the Arbor Day Foundation at arborday.org/stormwater

Facebook Post Leads to Man’s Arrest

Suspect in ATM thefts

A man suspected of robbing three ATM machines in Santee was arrested Wednesday after a local resident  recognized the suspect from a surveillance camera picture posted on the sheriff’s department Facebook page.

George Adams, 23, was booked into jail on suspicion of four counts of robbery following his arrest  by deputies from the Santee station who received a tip from the Facebook reader.

The tipster said she recognized Adams as the man who gave her his name and phone number outside a local restaurant , where he was soliciting patrons repair their cars.

Using that information, detectives set up a meeting with the man, who showed up wearing the same cap and driving the same car seen in the surveillance photos.

The sheriff’s department welcomes the public to follow them on (click on the following)  Facebook, Twitter and Nixle.

Power Line Upgrade to Impact Traffic Flow in Santee

Motorists will have to be cautious along Magnolia Avenue and Mast Boulevard for the next several months because of major construction projects by San Diego Gas & Electric.

On Dec. 10, crews began installation of a new circuit that will require 900 feet of trenching between on Mast Boulevard between Magnolia Avenue and Cuyamaca Street. The project will be finished in early April.

The new circuit is needed to accommodate the expansion of the Las Colinas Women's Detention Facility  and other growth in the Santee area.

Later this year, perhaps in late spring, SDG&E crews will be replacing wood and steel poles with galvanized steel and concrete poles and overhead conductors along Magnolia Avenue.

The pole replacement is part of a major transmission line upgrade spanning 11 miles that link the utility’s three electrical substations at Sycamore Canyon, Carlton Hills and Mast Boulevard near Magnolia Avenue.

The project is expected to take 10 months to complete and will require lane closures and caution cones to be placed along Magnolia Avenue and Mast Boulevard. No road closures are expected.


Click on the link below to read the full text of SDG&E documents describing the project, which is pending approval before the California Public Utilities Commission.
http://regarchive.sdge.com/tm2/pdf/2433-E.pdf

January's Bird of the Month

January’s bird of the month is the rind-necked duck. We photographed this one at Santee Lakes, Lake 5 near the Santee Teen Center.

 At first, we thought this duck might be a greater or lesser scaup, which also has a partial blue bill.

However, the ring-necked duck has a peaked, angular head profile, distinctive white bill markings and dark upper wings that distinguishes it from the scaup.

The "ringneck" name is derived from a faint brownish ring around the base of the neck, which is visible only upon close inspection. The legs and feet are gray-blue and the iris is yellow. Ring-necked ducks dive in shallow water to feed on the tubers, seeds and leaves of and aquatic plants. They also eat aquatic insects, snails and clams.

Retire Your Clunker for a Good Cause

Now is a good time to get rid of that old clunker in your driveway that has been cluttering up your life and annoying your neighbors.

Consider donating your obsolete auto, truck, RV or boat to a nonprofit organization such as Wheels for Wishes or Cars4Causes.

Wheels for Wishes transfers the proceeds from donated vehicle to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants the wishes of children diagnosed with life-threatening medical conditions.

Donors may be eligible for a tax deduction.

Donors who give to Cars4Causes are allowed to designate which charity should receive the proceeds from the vehicle or boat that they have donated.

If you don’t know of a local charity, the newly formed Santee Community Foundation would greatly appreciate your donation.  The foundation’s mailing address is 10601 N. Magnolia Ave., Santee, CA 92071.