This Week in Nellie Gail Ranch | March 25, 2022

From the week ending March 25, 2022

We have been monitoring the EHV-1 outbreak in San Juan Capistrano very closely as we keep in contact with the CDFA state veterinarians and local equestrian stables. In the past two weeks we have seen some positive signs regarding the containment of the EHV-1/ EHM virus in Orange County and the surrounding areas.

The following link has the current alert status for the outbreak. Of the three equestrian centers in San Juan Capistrano with reported cases CDFA reports one with no new cases since March 10th, another with no new cases since March 13th and a third with two asymptomatic horses confirmed positive March 22nd but permitted to be relocated to Tehama County in Northern California. For the states purpose they consider the last case at that stable to be March 17th.

https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/animal_health/equine_herpes_virus.html

Until the state release the three stables from quarantine status we continue to ask homeowners to avoid using the common watering areas as recommended by the state veterinarians due to the risk of cross contamination.

Please continue to require your boarders and personal trainers to continue with the following protocols:

1. Trainers, Instructors and Caregivers currently caring for any horses at Rio Vista, Rancho Sierra Vista or Sycamore Trails should be requested to suspend all work within Nellie Gail Ranch until the State lifts the quarantines.

2. Boarders, Trainers, Instructors and Caregivers who may be working with any horses away from Nellie Gail Ranch should be required to have a complete change of clothes, and hats, prior to coming to Nellie Gail Ranch.

3. Please do not visit the Equestrian Center. We want to minimize the number of people who may be in contact with horses.

Thank you for your supporting efforts to keep our equestrian community safe!

Association Clubhouse Parking

Association Clubhouse Parking Lot Re-Opens Saturday Afternoon

The Association Clubhouse parking lot has been closed for extensive maintenance Thursday and Friday this week. Re-striping will be completed Saturday morning and the parking lot will re-open for guests Saturday afternoon. After this weekend the asphalt will set over the next 40 days and we will close again on May 4th to apply a final sealcoat over the entire lot.

The new top coat further extends the lifespan of the parking lot and we revert back to seal coats every four years. You may also appreciate knowing the top layer of asphalt that was removed is returned to asphalt plants to be re-processed. Asphalt is 95% rock and sand and 5% bitumen (low grade crude oil) and is recyclable. We also decided to take advantage by having several truckloads taken to our Equestrian Center dumpster staging area that has never been paved. By using the asphalt spoils we are able to further stabilize the dirt path the trash hauling trucks use to service our dumpsters.

EPC Training and Beekeeping Clinic

The Association Clubhouse was host to two events this week benefiting attending homeowners .The Emergency Preparedness Committee presented a Water Preservation training session on March 22nd. Presenter Dr. Kenneth Cheng shared the importance of having water on hand for water service interruptions. It is important for homeowners to have emergency water on hand for their families as well as pets, horses and other animals that are cared for. Water storage barrels are available in 15-55 gallon sizes and they can be stored in garages or barns or other out of the way locations. If you are interested in purchasing any 55-gallon barrels please e-mail us at admin@nelliegailranch.org with the possible number of barrels you may want. We may be able to purchase in bulk and receive a break in the barrel or delivery cost. We will send a separate e-mail to anyone interested with a price once we have an idea as to how many storage barrels may be needed.Also presented this week was a clinic on beekeeping. Nellie Gail Ranch homeowner Pamela Fraser is a Master Beekeeper and she hosted an introduction to the Basics of Beekeeping. With our natural resources dwindling it is more important than ever to help bees thrive and continue to pollinate the flowers we love to look at and the foods we love to eat. The next time you find an unwanted hive in your irrigation box or under a house eve, please consider removal using a Honeybee Rescue & Relocation Beekeeper. One we are familiar with is Alberta The Beekeeper with HEY HONEY (949-646-2606). You can find additional rescue beekeepers via a Google search as well as beekeeping resources and information at the following websites:
• The Orange County Beekeepers Association http://www.ocbeekeepers.org
• Beekeepers Association of Southern California http://bascbees.org
• California State Beekeeping Association http://www.californiastatebeekeepers.com/index.html

Tree Mapping Software

The Board of Directors has approved purchasing a software license for mapping of trees in Nellie Gail Ranch common area and easements. Starting Monday representatives of Arbor Pro will be working throughout the community. Over the next four to six weeks they will be identifying and measuring trees at our parks, entries, streetscapes and trails. The software will track the type of tree, location, health and size. We will now be able to better manage maintenance of this very important community asset. We will use the software to track tree trimming frequencies, tree removals and tree planting.

Easter Egg Hunt