Battle for Arcadia Woodlands Could Extend to Courtroom

on the county's controversial Santa Anita Dam Riser Modification and Reservoir Sediment Removal Project, opponents of the project have retained a lawyer and are prepared to take legal action to keep contractors away from the trees.

Monrovia Planning Commissioner Glen Owens, a leader of the tree movement, met with an attorney Sunday afternoon.

"We're going to do what we have to," Owens said, though he declined to state what legal action would be taken.

Patch has learned that Owens' lawyer will file a letter with the county asking for another short moratorium on the project. Under pressure from environmental groups and concerned citizens, the Board of Supervisors delayed the project a minimum of 30-days on Dec. 7.

If the Board does not grant an extension of the now-expired moratorium, it is expected that Owens and his lawyer will file a temporary restraining order in an attempt to halt construction on the project.

"After careful study of the DPW's report to the Board of Supervisors, it is obvious to us as well as many of you, that the report seriously incriminates the DPW in a massive fraud perpetuated in both their "planning process/public outreach" and in the Final EIR," Arcadia resident Camron Stone wrote in an e-mail sent to tree advocates.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Works (DPW) has outlined its reasons for removing the trees in both the final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and again in a new report issued last Thursday to the Board of Supervisors.

Around 500,000 cubic yards of sediment from the Santa Anita Dam will be removed to bring the Santa Anita Dam into compliance with state seismic regulations. The sediment removal will also free the flow of water and provide additional storage to supply the water needs of the area.

About 250,000 cubic yards of debris would be placed on 11 acres of untouched land in the Middle Sediment Placement Site (SPS) currently home to the oak trees, sycamore trees and other plant vegetation. The remaining 250,000 cubic yards of debris would be placed on the existing Lower SPS.

The proposed project area is located within the City of Arcadia on land owned by the county. Both the Angeles National Park and Arcadia’s Wilderness Park are north of the area, while single-family residential homes are to the west and south of the area. To the east is open space owned by the City of Monrovia.

Both the EIR and the latest DPW report are attached to this article.

In his e-mail, Stone contends that the real purpose of the project is to "convert the Santa Anita [sediment placement sites] into a massive regional debris dumping site welcoming a constant stream of dump trucks from across the San Gabriel Valley traveling through the residential areas of Arcadia and Sierra Madre."

"Glen and I believe that the immediate legal strategy should focus on this fraud perpetrated by the DPW as the fastest way to procure a temporary restraining order," Stone wrote.

Owens will be paying for the legal representation out of his own pocket. In his e-mail, Stone requests financial assistance from tree supporters, directing potential donors to Owens' charitable non-profit organization, the Big Santa Anita Canyon Historical Society.

The Board of Supervisors will hold their next meeting on Tuesday. There is nothing on the meeting's agenda about the woodlands and it is not known if the topic will be discussed.