SPAGHETTI BOWL

The hillside at the west end of downtown on Main Street/Charing Lane and Windsor Blvd, known as the Spaghetti Bowl, was long a fire and safety hazard, and an eyesore. 

How exactly?

Around 2000, SLO County cut into the hillside and built a sidewalk and a 96-foot long wooden retaining wall. The location suffered from several problems:

  • The hillside was unstable and eroding, and frequently sent soil, rocks and plant debris onto the roadway. 
  • The hill was overgrown with invasive weeds, some of which had been cut and piled on top of the hill. These became a fire hazard.
  • This hazard was exacerbated when pine branches were cleared from power lines in late 2021 and left on top of the dried weed debris.
  • The retaining wall was damaged and losing structural integrity. 

The project improves public safety, restores ecological balance and enhances visual appeal.

What We Did

  • Cleared the fire hazards.
  • Removed the invasive plants.
  • Provided an amended environment for native plants to take hold.
  • Planted additional plants suited to the geography and microclimate.
  • Replaced the damaged top rail, and stained and sealed the retaining wall.

What This Means

  • Stabilizes the soil and helping prevent erosion.
  •  Reduces the fire hazard.
  • Creates a more welcoming, aesthetically attractive entrance to Cambria.
  • Supports butterflies and other native pollinators through inclusion of pollinator-friendly plan

This is a two-phase project - cleanup followed by replanting. Most of the replanting will happen in 2023, when we'll bring in native flowering plants and others that support pollinators.

HOW IT LOOKED

OUR WORK IN PROGRESS

A baby oak grows up!
A baby oak grows up!
Cisco Greco from Sticks & Stones cutting the hillside for our three little oak saplings grown from seed by Jason Anderson and donated to BCA.
Cisco Greco from Sticks & Stones cutting the hillside for our three little oak saplings grown from seed by Jason Anderson and donated to BCA.
Claudia, Julie Jorgensen, Gean Bronson-Means removing invasives.
Claudia, Julie Jorgensen, Gean Bronson-Means removing invasives.
We removed piles of previously cleared plant material that had become kindling.
We removed piles of previously cleared plant material that had become kindling.
Sure-footedness is a requirement!
Sure-footedness is a requirement!
This was a big job!
This was a big job!
Maneuvering the piles of dead brush down the hill takes teamwork.
Maneuvering the piles of dead brush down the hill takes teamwork.
Finally made it to the chipper!
Finally made it to the chipper!
The old rail was damaged from nails, screws and staples.
The old rail was damaged from nails, screws and staples.
Juan Leonardo removed nails, screws, staples, then prepped, stained and sealed the rail and wall.
Juan Leonardo removed nails, screws, staples, then prepped, stained and sealed the rail and wall.
The new rail in place.
The new rail in place.
The first flowers planted.
The first flowers planted.

THANK YOU!

Cambrians, as individuals and business owners, have come together to  make this project a reality. Our partners include:

  • The Cambria Community Council, which awarded us a $4,000 grant.
  • Growing Grounds and Clearwater Nursery, who provided discounted plant material.
  • Jason Anderson, who donated 10 native Monterey pine and oak saplings.
  • Michael Hill, civil engineer in charge of the Adopt-a Road program, who donated wildflower seeds.
  • Julie Jorgenson, landscape designer and Claudia Harmon Worthen, certified interior designer, who donated their design skills and labor..
  • Cisco Greco, contractor with Sticks & Stones, who donated the new top rail
  • Cambria Pines Tree Service’s Dennis White, who discounted labor.
  • California Conservation Corps, who donated labor.
  • And of course, our BCA volunteers!