UPDATE: Oak Trees in Arcadia Woodlands Face Removal Wednesday; DPW Report Released
DPW report rejects alternatives. Construction to commence on Wednesday, Jan. 12.
Construction on the controversial Santa Anita Dam Sediment Removal Project will begin Wednesday, according to a cover page memo attached to the latest report issued by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works (DPW).
179 oak trees, dozens of sycamore trees and other plant life face destruction if the county goes through with its plan.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors issued a 30-day delay in the project on Dec. 7. During that time, the DPW was to look at alternatives to the project.
The DPW hosted a public meeting on Dec. 16 at Highland Oaks Elementary School in which several alternatives were presented by citizens against the removal of the trees.
The new DPW report, turned in by the agency to the Board of Supervisors last night, rejects the alternatives presented. The report is attached to this article.
The project calls for a conveyor belt to move 500,000 cubic yards of debris from the dam to sediment placement sites located within the city of Arcadia on land owned by the county.
250,000 cubic yards of debris would be placed on 11 acres of untouched land currently home to the oak trees and sycamores. The other 250,000 cubic yards of debris would be placed on the existing lower sediment site.
The DPW had already presented several alternatives in the project's Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR), all of which were determined to be unfeasible. A copy of the EIR is attached to this article.
Arcadia resident Camron Stone proposed another alternative, called alternative no. 5, to the Board of Supervisors, DPW representatives, and Mayor Peter Amundson of Arcadia. Stone suggests placing 125,000 cubic yards of the debris on the existing upper sediment placement site, but the DPW insists that there is not room as the site must maintain some capacity in case of emergency.
The trees are not doomed just yet. The Board of Supervisors could potentially step in and put a halt to the project at their weekly meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 11, though it is not known if they will discuss the project or the DPW's report.
Even if the Board of Supervisors do not act on the matter, tree advocates are expected to attempt to stall construction. Litigation has been threatened by Glen Owens, the Monrovia Planning Commissioner who has assumed a leadership role in the tree movement.
"The final stand will be civil disobedience at the gate," Stone said.
Oak tree advocates have started on online petition to save the trees. So far 726 people have penned their digital signatures to the document.
In a show of solidarity, area bloggers have also taken to the tree's cause today.
Patch presented a photo gallery of the Arcadia Woodlands on Tuesday.
kim c
9:20 am on Saturday, January 8, 2011
This total disregard and continuing attitude that the convenience of man is the first and foremost priority in this world is disgusting. When will we finally start to learn from nature rather than destroy it? Keep your words and actions flowing...exhaust all possibilities if that fails, show up at the gate Wed. morning!!!
Anonymous Resident
12:28 pm on Saturday, January 8, 2011
I'm a local resident and I reluntantly accept the need to remove the trees. It is the best solution. Please remember Kim, we created this mess, not the county. We created the need for these dams, these drainage sites, paved roads, highways, etc... all for "the convenience of man." It all started before I was born. It all started because we wanted to live as close to the mountains as possible and how do you think that was accomplished? I like living here. If I need to show up Wednesday morning, I'll bring my chainsaw.
Mel Jenkins
1:03 pm on Saturday, January 8, 2011
Enough.
Enough of arrogant officials.
Enough of contractors with whom deals have been made out of public review.
Enough loss of natural areas.
Enough is enough. California is fortunate enough to have after-the-fact remedies, such as "Recall-Votes."
Keep setting good examples for the rest of the United States.
Stop this project.
patty
7:17 pm on Tuesday, January 11, 2011
'Aside from being beautiful, trees have always been the central critical element of our life-support system on earth. Trees literally make life possible;
by producing oxygen, capturing water, preventing floods, building and feeding soil, providing habitat for bugs, birds, fish and billions of other species, and converting the sun's energy to food...the list goes on.
As humans have done throughout the ages, we have forgotten theses facts and think of trees only as decorations. As documented in Jared Diamond's book "Collapse", every civilization that forgot its trees began a cascade of life support failures, and ultimately disappeared. Those who remembered and cherished their trees and reversed the trend, saved themselves.'
taken from Seeding News, by TreePeople