PHOTO GALLERY: A Walk Through the Arcadia Woodlands
Will the end of the moratorium mean the end for the oaks?
Photos
Though many readers are no doubt aware of Los Angeles County's controversial Santa Anita Reservoir Sediment Removal Project, most have never been to the Arcadia Woodlands nor seen the 179 oak trees that face removal if the county goes through with its plan.
Days before the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors' moratorium ends and the county's Department of Public Works turns in its report on potential alternatives to the destruction of the oak trees, I, along with Arcadia resident Camron Stone, plant expert Tom Kurthy and photographer Leo Jarzomb of the Pasadena Star-News, took a walk through these woodlands that have created such an uproar. And while the private security guards patrolling the sediment placement sites kept a close eye on me and my cohorts, I did manage to take a few pictures while also hearing from Stone about a potential alternative for where to put the debris.
Stay tuned. The next few days should be interesting.
Sarah Stenzel
6:09 am on Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Great job reporting on this issue, Matt. Keep up the good work!
Matt Burch
2:08 pm on Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Thanks for your kind words, Sarah!
Caitlyn Hatman
9:57 am on Tuesday, January 4, 2011
I love the Arcadia Woodlands pictures, such pretty fall colors! It would be sad to see all of those beautiful oak trees go! I will for sure stay tuned to see what the alternative options are to the destruction of this woodland area.
Matt Burch
2:19 pm on Tuesday, January 4, 2011
I'm glad you enjoyed the pictures, Caitlyn! And thanks for visiting the site. We should have an update on the story within the next few days.
Christine Teeple
11:29 am on Saturday, January 8, 2011
I attended the meeting on December 16th at Highland Oaks School and there were many viable alternative options suggested rather than removal. It appeared the DWP was just going through the motions of listening to these alternatives but were not going to investigate them further.
I do understand the possible danger if the dam failed to residents in the Highland Oaks area in which I reside, however they should investigate other options rather than removing the grove of trees. Firstly, instead of trucking in and depositing sediment from other basins they should take that to landfills or companies that require this type of material (suggested in the meeting).
I signed the petition and forwarded onto many others to sign. I just read in the LA Times today that they are moving ahead with the removal of the trees. Is this the end of our cause or should we continue to pressure the county?
Jean Mller
6:06 am on Thursday, January 13, 2011
We have Sycamore trees here in New England and as a life-long tree lover I find them to be one of the most stately tree in this area. Their branches twist and turn at amazing angles, the bark 'plates' they shed each year are like a touch of nature to my hands. Even here, when one has to be cut down for construction, my heart breaks a little more. Please, save them and all the other living growing vegetation!
JMM