Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Tree Hugging

Don't the trees along Arroyo Drive look beautiful this time of year? By the way, I have a new column going up at South Pasadena Patch sometime this morning. It's all about one of my favorite subjects: South Pasadena's many, many trees. Our city has a history of protecting and cherishing our trees, and our community is all the better for it.

Meanwhile, construction is set to begin Wednesday on LA county's controversial Santa Anita Dam Riser Modification and Reservoir Sediment Removal Project. Why is this of interest to me? Because the proposed project would decimate nearby Arcadia Woodlands. Arcadia is slated to lose some 179 legacy oak trees, many over a hundred years in age. This woodland area also includes sycamores, California bay, elderberry, toyon, sugar bush and dozens of other native plant species. It provides a natural habitat for deer, bears, owls, hawks and bats as well as countless species of birds. If the county moves forward, it will turn a thriving, dynamic, regenerative, intact ecosystem (as well as a natural groundwater storage area) into a dump for sediment. And it won't just be the trees and animals who will suffer if the region is destroyed. The area is particularly hospitable to human beings, too. It is located at the northern end of an accessible urban trail that is level, flat and easily enjoyed by children and the elderly.

Several alternatives have been presented by concerned citizens, all of which have been rejected or passed off as unfeasible. I'm not blindly advocating that trees take precedence over dam safety or that flood control isn't a major (not to mention historical) issue in LA County. But in my opinion, officials have been at best disingenuous about this issue. When it comes to the grave decision to destroy a precious natural habitat -- one that can never be recreated -- the powers that be had damn well better exhaust all options before bringing in the bulldozers. Once a grove of century old trees is buried in sludge, it's too late to realize there might have been a wiser alternative.

Please join me in asking that LA County spare one of our few remaining woodlands by signing this online petition. So far, over 1300 concerned people have added their names to the list. If you are feeling particularly inspired, LA County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich's office phone number is 213-974-5555. He might be able to help, and would certainly be more inclined if enough people bugged him about it.

For more information, Arcadia Patch is providing great up-to-date coverage of this developing story. Sierra Madre Patch also has an interesting article here. I'm not the only one putting out the call for support. See Pasadena Adjacent for a list of other bloggers who want to save the Arcadia Woodlands.

UPDATE 4:25PM: Damn. Pasadena Star News is reporting that environmentalists lost the appeal. Razing of Arcadia Woodlands is slated to begin as scheduled tomorrow.

12 comments:

Judy Williams said...

It seems unimaginable that people would want to destroy the woodlands! I hope that all of the opposition voices are heard!!!

wv: sayin

I'm just sayin'........

Anonymous said...

Wow, I had no idea this was happening.

Green Guy said...

I have followed this story and read the documents and it seems to me that they are rushing to seize these lands and eventually use the area as a regional dump. I hope something can be done to stop it.

Now I will go read your column.

Anonymous said...

Good job. I haven't read a single word in defense of what they're doing. Ignoring public opinion is an epidemic around here.

San Diego Farmgirl said...

Sounds like it's time to dig out the rolling pins.

Anonymous said...

I saw your link off Twitter. I'm shocked by this. I know the area well and it would be a travesty to bury it with sediment. I don't understand why this is the county's solution. Thanks for the information and the links.

--MM

Laurie Allee said...

I am absolutely no expert but I have waded through the documents provided over at Arcadia Patch and it really seems bizarre to me that this is happening. There is a definite need to solve the sediment issue, but the officials seem hell-bent on destroying this place instead of really looking at what so many others are recommending.

Shanna said...

I signed the petition long ago. I think I am soon after #450.

You post was really well thought out and well written. I will explore the links you gave. I'm with Farmgirl...time to show up with those rolling pins.

Gretchen said...

I am shocked to learn of this. Is this really the only solution? If the area had homes the DWP wouldnt bury them in sediment. What poor stewards of this earth are we?

Laurie Allee said...

Pasadena Star News just reported that environmentalists lost the appeal to stop the destruction. What makes me the most sad is the cavalier attitude taken by officials about this whole thing.

Laurie Allee said...

BTW, I posted the Pas Star News link in the update at the bottom of the post above.

Gunn said...

Great that you and others are involved in this!