CONGRATULATIONS — You Have Made a Big Difference!

November 8, 2017 — The LA County Board of Supervisors by a unanimous vote yesterday substanially modified and reduced the Flood Control District's Big Dig program for Hahamongna Watershed Park. Responding to the enormous community concerns about the size and impacts of the program, the Supervisors adopted an amendment to the program sponsored by our local Supervisor Kathryn Barger.

There is no doubt that these changes were motivated by the unified community opposition to the Big Dig and by the lawsuit filed by the Arroyo Seco Foundation and Pasadena Audubon on behalf of all those who love Hahamongna.

Thanks so much for your support!

Here are the major improvements of the amended program:

  1. Amount of Sediment to be Removed Reduced from 2.4 million cubic yards to 1.7 mcy.
  2. County will work with the US Army Corps of Engineers to complete the stalled Arroyo Seco Ecosystem Program.
  3. County will contribute $2.5 million to complete the US Army Corps study.
  4. Work with Pasadena to improve stormwater capture and groundwater replenishment in the Arroyo Seco Spreading basins in Hahamongna.
  5. Provide an annual report on cost and progress of the sediment removal program.
  6. Ensue that all changes will be covered by the Revised EIR.
  7. Authorize Flood Control staff to maintain the sediment storage at a safe level in the future.

Supervisor Barger's Amendment

Supervisor Barger is the One

She listened, and she led. Supervisor Kathryn Barger took a hike with ASF Managing Director Tim Brick through the middle of the Hahamongna basin on a hot September day. Then she considered carefully community input and decided to move to scale back the Big Dig and its worst impacts.

Pasadena Mayor Terry Tornek also played a big role in modifying the program.

Thanks so much to both public officials for their leadership.

There are still important issues that we have concerns about, such as air quality and the number of diesel trucks, the amount and quality of the mitigation program, and the extent and impacts of the permanent habitat destruction. We will continue to work on these issues.

We would like to hear your feedback about the changes. Please send an email to: info@arroyoseco.org.

We still have unpaid legal and campaign expenses for our NoBigDig program. Please celebrate our accomplishments with a financial contribution.