In the course of some recent research I happened upon some Whittier Daily News Stories on the Puente Hills Landfill Native Habitat Restoration Authority and its activities and projects.
The contrast between its habitat restoration focus and the bulldozers-and-buildings focus of the San Gabriel River Discovery Center Authority is truly striking.
The newspaper's Mike Sprague wrote on Nov. 21 that about a dozen preservation authority volunteers "helped clear non-native plants in the Whittier hills and put in some that are indigenous to the area."
"This was the first restoration day of what is expected to take place every other month, said Shannon Lucas, ecologist for Puente Hills Landfill Native Habitat Preservation Authority."
(An ecologist! The preservation authority has an ecologist. Perhaps if the Discovery Center Authority spent less on lawyers and public relations consultants it might be able to afford an ecologist too.)
I also happened upon a story (sorry, no link) from June 1, 2006, in which Sprague writes about the dedication of a "$1.2 million wildlife underpass that creates a critical link between the Whittier Narrows nature area and the Cleveland National Forest 31 miles away."
The underpass, 12 years in the making, really got going when "preservation authority officials obtained funding for the project through the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Caltrans."
Contrast this preservation-and-restoration focus with the development focus of the Discovery Center Authority.
Whereas the preservation authority is working to connect and to improve the wildlife corridor, the proposed Discovery Center--and the other development projects to which it opens the door at the Whittier Narrows Natural Area--threatens to impede wildlife movement.
But it shouldn't come as a surprise that the environment, habitat and wildlife are not the priority for the Discovery Center Authority--the focus of the agency is the construction of a building, after all.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Just my imagination, runnin' away with me... But, if we really hafta hafta hafta get our tax dollars spent on a big whacking construction project to the wonders of engineering local native waters, I'd like to see FRIENDLY tunnels, attached to one or more of the little creeks from the (Puente and Monterey) hills under all the roadways and other impediments between the east side of Workman Mill and the west side of ol' haunted Lincoln Avenue, with a few additional broad bridges across the channelized year-round strips of the rivers. Powered by natural means and various kinds of motion generated by the passage of cars on the roads, as well as being lit by day with sunlight transmitted by optical fibers and mirrors, the sides and ceilings would be made to resemble romantic rocky gorges and caves (think Indiana Jones movies sans the perils - and there WOULD be security patrols and cams!) with vegetation (think the tropic houses at the Arboretum) and hydroponics exhibits, and dioramas and murals. A border - with benches, trash receptacles, etc. - would be sectored by one wall for the quiet strolling of humans and domestic animals. Next to it, "dark ride" rail cars (think of Disneyland) would provide enjoyable sit-down transit. Between the quiet tracks and the rest of the tunnel, a greenery-clad "haw-haw" barrier, then a broad naturalistic path of minor riparian environment for the terrestrial and aquatic wild critters. People would pay a less-than-busfare fee for the ride, which would contribute to the upkeep. There might be pretty, glittery annexes along the human path to shops, restaurants, etc. It could become as popular as San Antonio's Riverwalk, a well as TRULY providing lifetimes of service in many ways for man & beast.
ReplyDeleteOf course I REALLY wish we could have such as system clear through the hills to Griffith Park and beyond!