A battle is brewing in the San Fernando Valley involving the Sepulveda basin wildlife preserve.
Environmentalists say the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers wiped out a big chunk of land, and with it, they violated an agreement to protect the wildlife preserve.
Elizabeth Espinosa has more on this growing controversy.
12 Comments to “Activists Accuse Gov’t of Stripping Sepulveda Wildlife Preserve”
December 27, 2012 at 10:18 PM
What wildlife? What controversy? I have never seen any wild animals in there…maybe a few killer microbes but that's it.
December 28, 2012 at 8:12 AM
Birds, squirrels, etc. etc. Those are all wild animals that live in and among trees.
December 28, 2012 at 3:48 PM
Nelson, there are dozens of species of birds that are/were resident or spent the winter/summer visitors in this area. A typical morning's list of birds for the area that was razed would be between 30 and 40 species of birds. Bobcats and Coyotes also used to be resident here. Perhaps you're not aware of the specific area that was cleared.
January 14, 2013 at 8:38 AM
Have you even ever been there? I'm guessing not, or you were just really distracted commenting on how much of a waste nature was that you forgot to notice the nature.
December 27, 2012 at 10:49 PM
I ride my bike from mission hills up to the sepulveda basin every weekend and I was surprised to see those big trees cut down. Poor birds and photographers, they are not going to see each other anymore.
December 27, 2012 at 10:50 PM
I am glad because it stunk so bad driving all year on the 405 freeway going north and south for many years. Possible sanitation and bacteria problems. The government needs to clean and control the area. I have house finches every start of spring for over 20 years at my front door porch area making nests and having baby birdies. If I have to cut a tree that is what I do. They always know they are welcome to come back.
December 28, 2012 at 3:49 PM
Teri, there was never any odor coming from the area that was cleared. I've been there dozens of times.
December 27, 2012 at 11:02 PM
The USACE is busy, they are busy, they don't seem to be able to take care of the international harbor claimed by the US Congress in Code of Federal regulations title 33 sec 80.1118. which has been commonly known since Senator Roosevelt’s 1961 bill HR 157, as Marina Del Rey. But are they taking care of the laws covered in CFR 36 327. 1-31?
JC Boyce
December 28, 2012 at 12:48 PM
The Army Corps likes to do these hatchet job. They have no regard for wildlife and wildlife habitat. They also like to waste money.
December 28, 2012 at 12:55 PM
Funny how these massive clear cuts happen right around the holidays. LACDPW used this strategy when clearing the old growth sycamore woodland in Arcadia. They too, hoped they would be shut out of the news cycle. Good thing SCPR and KTLA don't play that game. Great reporting, thanks for covering this very important story.
One question, where was the CEQA compliance? A project like this requires and initial study and public comment period, and, due to the impacts on threatened plant communities and rare birds, probably a full blown EIR. No? Audubon would be smart to sue. Maybe the Sierra Club could help bankroll such an effort
December 29, 2012 at 12:14 PM
It's criminal that an EIR was not ordered. Alexander Deraney's actions need to be investigated. The public has rights which were clearly violated in this situation. This was 43 acres of valuable marshland containing important wildlife. What a disastrous waste of life and public money.