BajaNomad - Save Mision Santa Maria Project

Save Mision Santa Maria Project

David K - 4-20-2005 at 07:28 PM

The idea was proposed by Jack Swords and I have been making some connections to delay the falling of the east wall. I am exchanging emails now with people in Mexico and with INAH on this. I have shared the email with some of you I know are interested and have a fondness for this magic place in Baja.

Rain water has only one exit from the inside of the mission church, and that is out through the doorway. This has caused some rapid erosion as seen in the photo below.

I propose a simple and inexpensive fix that will not involve any digging through existing walls.

To install a 3 or 4 inch flex drain pipe from a few feet inside the doorway where a 6 inch catch basin with removable grate will be located, and out through the doorway several feet so the water will flow to the arroyo and no longer erode the wall base. A small berm or slope will be made to act as a dam preventing the water from flowing through the doorway, and forcing it into the drain.

Repairing the missing adobe has also been discussed, but that invoves more technical skills and is better left to the experts when they decide to do something.

If nothing is done, the wall will certainly fall. Until a formal INAH team has the finances and desire to preserve the site better, the above method can only help and will cause no damage to the walls.

The Baja-Rosario Cultural Festival in El Rosario will be the weekend of July 22-24... Before the next hurricane dumps on central Baja, I hope. From El Rosario, I propose to go to Mision Santa Maria and with some help, install the drain.

I have already a couple of volunteers... If you would like to help or if you would like to see this oasis mission with fellow Baja Nomads then please consider going after the festival. You will need a sturdy, high clearance 4WD vehicle to negotiate the three hour/ 14. 5 mile road from Rancho Santa Ynez. A winch or tow strap is a good idea. Photos of the road start at http://vivabaja.com/403/page2.html

Here is a Jack Swords photo looking out the doorway showing the erosion under the walls...

bajalou - 4-20-2005 at 07:37 PM

I'm going to see if we can make it.

:biggrin:

Mexray - 4-21-2005 at 12:09 AM

Got my new 4.10 gears and an 'E-locker' in the rear of the Bronco last week...the 'juices' are flowing...sounds like a tempting excuse for a trip...

I would expect some kind of 'permission' would have to be acquired to attempt this kind of project...sounds like a winner from here.

Can you promise that the Rattlesnakes will keep away?

[Edited on 4-21-2005 by Mexray]

surfer jim - 4-21-2005 at 08:33 AM

I may be able able to do this also....will bring some RAP MUSIC to keep snakes away......

David K - 4-21-2005 at 05:26 PM

That will keep away more than just snakes Jim!

TMW - 4-22-2005 at 05:51 PM

David, I'm not making any promises until the time comes, but I would like to volunteer and help.

Info on Mission

academicanarchist - 5-1-2005 at 07:35 AM

Neal Johns - 5-1-2005 at 08:13 AM

academicanarchist, us poor folks don't have Excel to open Book1.xls

I cant come, but.....

yankeeirishman - 5-1-2005 at 08:29 AM

DavidK....
I cannot make this trip...but ....are you taking cash donations for this project? If so...where so I mail in a check?

[Edited on 5-1-2005 by yankeeirishman]

Population of Santa Maria de los Angeles

academicanarchist - 5-2-2005 at 09:25 AM

Bruce R Leech - 5-2-2005 at 10:06 AM

an engineers opining.

from the photo it looks like the damage may be caused by the natural decay of the adobe. these walls always deteriorate at the bottom first because of the moisture that rises in the wall from a wick effect. the straw in the adobe stays moist for a longer time at the bottom of the wall and rots away so the clay sluffs away. in the photo the undercut seems to be about the same on the ends as it is on the sides of the wall. if this is the case your project will not have much effect on the integrity of the wall in the years to come . if you have more photos please post .

this opinion is only based on one photo so it is not worth much.some one who has been their and studied it certainly knows more than I

Santa Maria

academicanarchist - 5-2-2005 at 10:27 AM

Bruce. There are a couple of photos from both the interior and exterior at the Baja Mission site: http://www.davidksbaja.com/bajamissions/page8.html

Bruce R Leech - 5-2-2005 at 10:27 AM

I should add It appears that it is ground water not run off water that is causing this problem. If after a rain their is water polling on in or around the structure then It would be beneficial to drain this water away from the structure as far as is practical. if the only benefit will be to stop water from passing trough the door opining then the benefits will be limited.

More shots

academicanarchist - 5-2-2005 at 10:34 AM

Here are several more shots.
http://davidksbaja.com/403/page4.html
Obviously perculation of ground water through the lower reaches of adobe structures is a serious problem. At Sta Cruz mission, in California, the stone foundations of one adobe structure rise above the ground level.

re-enforcing foundations

academicanarchist - 5-2-2005 at 10:35 AM

Would a long term solution possibly be re-enforcing the stone foundations?

Bruce R Leech - 5-2-2005 at 10:41 AM

it doesn't look like there is a problem with the foundations. if there are any.there have been many attempts to save this type of structure from this kind of problem and none that work are cheep.

It's not a wise idea

jrbaja - 5-2-2005 at 10:47 AM

to try and change Mother Natures plans!

Bruce R Leech - 5-2-2005 at 10:59 AM

that is right Jr. it is vary expansive and rarely successful.

GOOD NEWS from INAH!

David K - 5-2-2005 at 06:01 PM

Thanks Bruce for your advice, and thanks Robert for posting those links.

The adobe was constructed upon stone foundation, I recall reading... as the stone is out of sight, below the melted adobe and sand.

I doubt if it is percolation up from the soil, as it is sand and drains well... The interior of the roofless church is like a huge valley to collect water when there is rain (rare, but happens), and it slopes to that doorway, the only exit for the water.

IF we can make a dam inside, in front of the doorway with a drain to take away the dammed water... that may be a good, simple, quick solution.
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Now, the news...

Between good people who love Baja (antigua California) history, a lot can be done. Ed Vernon, author of 'Las Misiones Antiguas, The Spanish Missions of Baja California'
has connections... from his effort I got this email on Apr. 25, 2005:

Hola David:

I have received a email from Ed Vernon regarding much needed work at Misi?n Sta. Maria. We have tried to get a response from Julia Bendimez the local director of INAH however she is at a meeting in the U.S. and not available at this time. As Ed may have told you, CAREM is a group of public citizens that are trying to save what is left of the Missions in Baja California. We also are attempting to educate the public about them and prepare them for presentation to the public. Our membership primarily consists of Baja Californians however we have members in the U.S. also. We do have a fund, the International Community Foundation, that will allow citizens of the United States to donate to us and receive a letter from the Foundation that will allow them to deduct their donation from their taxes in the United States. This explains who we are and a bit of how we operate. We have other projects but we are now here to discuss Misi?n Sta. Maria. Ed explained a bit of what needs to be done. I thought that we must have the approval of INAH but we are unfortunately waiting and I pray that the damage has not continued. What do you propose that we do and how? How much money will it take and where should we try to obtain the money? I will continue trying to contact INAH about some approval, if needed, for the work.

Thank you for your interest and help,
Regards,
Zella Rushing de Iba?ez (Zella)
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Ed Vernon is assisting me with reaching INAH personal... here is his email of Apr. 29, 2005...
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Hi David,
I just spoke to Julia Bendimez, the Director of INAH in Baja California, and she is very interested in preserving Santa Maria. It appears that she would be willing to send an INAH expert with you during your proposed trip late in July.
At that time perhaps the first steps to prevent further undercutting of the doorway could be taken. The INAH preservation expert could determine what further work would be practical and possible.
Will you please contact Julia and be sure to send her the photo of the eroded doorway so that the two of you can coordinate your efforts.
Good luck on this important project!
Ed Vernon
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Good news is that INAH is excited that we are doing this and will have one of their people (perhaps more) to join us in July!!! Now, I will share an email I got this weekend from Julia, dated Apr. 30...
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Thank you David,

The architect in charge of mission conservation is already informed about
the Santa Maria de Los Angeles site's problem. We have successfuly diverted
rain water in the case of the other more accessable missions such as San
Vicente Ferrer. Sta. Maria is as you know very difficult to reach and we
have'nt a vehicle that can even get into a days walk. Ed told me you do and
that you are going to El Rosario in July. Carlos can go with you and work on
a short term solution and asses what needs to be done to conserve the whole
site. Taking advantage of the opportunity perhaps we can send a couple of
signs to be instaled with information about the site for those fortunate
tourists that can reach it.

Regards.
Julia Bendimez
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and this email of May 1, from Zella...
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Great news everyone; We, CAREM, are very interested in this work also and hope to have some people there in July to followup. Dr. Mathes has a great idea to develop a "911 emergency team" with INAH experts to immediately respond to these most serious issues. Please let us know if we can assist in any way. So many thanks to you, Ed,Mike,David, and Jack. We are so happy to have Julia back and ready to help with this project. We know she loves our missions and will use the necessary INAH resources for these efforts.

Again, many thanks,
Zella
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Again, this is just a beginning, a simple effort which is more than has been done to date... If INAH can see the enthusiasm we Baja Nomads can have for helping preserve such an important historical site, it can only bring more attention to this and other missions on the peninsula that are disappearing at an alarming rate.

I hope we show up brave enough to handle the heat of summer, which can we quenched with ice cold drinks and dips into the wonderful oasis pools, nearby... No money needed for what I have in mind... just show your support by coming, and if you are healthy enough give a hand with the trench... I will obtain the drain pipe and catch basin, bring a couple trenching shovels and picks... if this ends up with the okay from INAH.

In this photo, the drain would go right through the doorway my daughter is standing in, from a short distance behind her... and out towards the arroyo:

In this photo, you can see once we are out of the doorway, the slope will easily carry away the water that falls in the mission, so not much trenching away from the doorway is needed... maybe an hour of work or less:

A half mile from the mission is this view:

So, come to Antonio's El Rosario Baja Festival July 22-24, then continue on with us to help Mision Santa Maria de los Angeles, 1767... the LAST Jesuit mission in the New World!
Note: 4WD, high clearance, experienced off road driver... locking rear differential would be a plus.

[Edited on 5-3-2005 by David K]

Cooling off near the mission

David K - 5-2-2005 at 06:24 PM

A mile past the mission is this nice sandy swimming hole (that's chicagoross and Rose):

Here is Ross, and Sarah (tad pole hunting)

Ross cooling his toes...

Plenty of shadey places to sit!

More photos of the mission valley, including petroglyphs and Inky the mystery dog (as told in Discover Baja's newsletter) at http://vivabaja.com/403

Bruce R Leech - 5-2-2005 at 06:48 PM

thanks for the photos David.

Bruce

Baja Bernie - 5-2-2005 at 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bruce R Leech
I should add It appears that it is ground water not run off water that is causing this problem. If after a rain their is water polling on in or around the structure then It would be beneficial to drain this water away from the structure as far as is practical. if the only benefit will be to stop water from passing trough the door opining then the benefits will be limited.

Bruce do you think some kind of french drain should be the first thing to be installed?

Bruce R Leech - 5-2-2005 at 07:33 PM

if there is any standing water after a rain then yes . If it is running off naturally then no.

David K - 5-2-2005 at 09:37 PM

The area inside the mission slopes to the doorway. Since this is the only place the adobe is 'eaten away', I tend to think it is flowing water during flash summer storms doing the damage. If INAH can do more than my proposal, all the power to them. As I said, this is just the fastest temporary remedy we can do on a hot summer day. The better thing coming from all this is awareness... to all you Baja Nomads and to INAH and other historic minded folks.

The 'Road' to Santa Maria...

David K - 5-4-2005 at 07:48 AM

Is only 14.5 miles long (from Rancho Santa Ynez, near Catavina), but takes about three hours to drive (with photo stops)... It is for 4WD vehicles with some ground clearance (ie. no passenger car 'all wheel drive' autos)... This is a road best traveled with others, so this is an opportunity to be with others and see this wonderful oasis mission site...

Just over a mile from arriving at the mission, the tougest grade is located... going to the mission it is downhill. Heading back, climbing this grade is the hard part.

In 1999, Baja Mur and I both were thrown from our rides (motorcycle and quad) climbing up this grade... So, I named it 'The Widow Maker'!

But, we got there, and back...

David K - 5-4-2005 at 07:56 AM

... with only a small dent in the lower body... :cool:

The second evening an entire Jeep club drove in, and included Cherokees... So, if you need a gauge.

[Edited on 5-4-2005 by David K]

David K - 5-8-2005 at 10:18 PM

Here is one frame from BajaMur's 360 degree panorama, showing the doorway and wall...

The entire panorama link is at: http://hometown.aol.com/murcarver/pan/panorama.html

The happy person in that pan, is me... What a great Baja place... This was on May 1, 1999.