From: "Yard, John" <syjy0 at smtp.ais.ucla.edu>
Subject: Tujunga Wash
Date: Tue, 16 Nov 1999 17:20:14 -0800
Fish and Game Considers Appeal
after Tujunga Wash Rebuff
The California Department of Fish and Game is evaluating a a
possible appeal of a ruling by an arbitration panel that opened the
way
for the construction of a golf course in the Tujunga Wash. The
arbitration panel said that Fish and Game did not have jurisdiction
over the area, because the Tujunga Wash floodplain should not be
considered a "streambed". California law gives the Department
of Fish and Game regulatory authority over streambeds and wetlands.
The Department issued in February a set of regulations over the Wash
that would have made development of the proposed golf course
impossible.
Fish and Game fears that the development will lead to the
extinction of two endangered species, the slender-horned
spineflower,
and the Santa Ana sucker. The Tujunga Wash is one of the two major
areas of alluvial floodplain habitat left in Southern California.
Los Angeles City Councilman Joel Wachs, the leading golf course
proponent, said he was "pleased" with the arbitration panel's
decision.
Wachs, a candidate for mayor of Los Angeles in 2001, must leave his
councilmanic seat that year due to term limits, and fighting
for the golf course builds his bona fides amoung conservative San
Fernando Valley voters and business interests. Wachs orchestrated
approval of the golf course by the LA City Council, after the
developer,
Foothill Golf, sued the City of Los Angeles for $215
million. The project was initially rejected by the City Council
as environmentally unsound.
California Natural Resource Secretary Mary Nichols,
and Department of Fish and Game Director Robert Hight will decide
shortly whether to file a lawsuit to overturn the arbitration
panel's
decision. To give them your input, write :
Mary Nichols
Secretary, Resources Agency
1416 Ninth Street
Suite 1311
Sacramento, California 95814
Robert C. Hight, Director
Dept of Fish and Game
1416 9th Street, 12th Floor
Sacramento, California 95814
John Yard
UCLA
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