April 2014

Celebrate Earth Day By Acting To Protect and Preserve the Arroyo Seco

The Arroyo Seco Foundation was re-established 24 years ago with a massive Earth Day extravaganza, dubbed the Arroyo Seco Earth Festival, at four sites in the Arroyo, so we have always considered Earth Day a very special event to cultivate environmental awareness.

This year there are grave threats and terrific opportunities for the Arroyo:

  • County Flood Control's sediment removal at Hahamongna could be devastating;
  • The US Army Corps' plan for the LA River includes a dramatic transformation of the Arroyo Seco Confluence;
  • ASF is working with Pasadena Water & Power to enhance local water resources while restoring stream and wildlife values in the Arroyo Seco Canyon.

The best way to act this Earth Day to improve the local environment is to join or renew your membership in the Arroyo Seco Foundation.

Thanks so much for your support.

Hahamongna Walkabout Makes a Statement: Go With the Flow

Participants in this year's Hahamongna Walkabout did their part to reduce the sediment threat at Devil's Gate Dam and made a strong statement for a more natural approach to the Arroyo Seco when they transported buckets of sediment from behind the dam down to the stream below it.

The Walkabout also highlighted some of the many things that make Hahamongna special and underscored why we need to protect its unique habitat and environmental values. The Arroyo Seco Foundation thanks all of the presenters and everyone who took the time to come learn about one of our reagion's great natural treasures. Special thanks to Mickey Long, Tim Brick, Michele Zack, Julia Bogany, Tim Martinez, Gary Takara, Morey Wolfson, Mary Barrie, Marietta Kruels, Dorothy Wong, and Inge Wiersema.

Hear what participants had to say:

Atwater Appointed MWD Representative

Richard AtwaterThe Arroyo Seco Foundation congratulates Richard W. Atwater on his appointment to Metropolitan Water District of Southern California Board of Directors on March 31, 2014. Mr. Atwater has a record of over 35 years of achievement in government and water resources management and will vote on water issues that will impact residents of the Foothill Municipal Water District, as well as the 19 million other Californians who live within the six-county Metropolitan service area.

"I believe the current statewide drought highlights the importance to the economy to have reliable water supplies. I look forward to working with other regional water leaders on initiatives to drought proof our region through increased conservation, stormwater capture and recycled water development. I look forward to discussing our water issues and receiving recommendations from constituents as we work together to address this historic drought crisis."

ASF Interns Spearhead Special Projects

Interns Jose Raya and Kendra Elliott have been busy laying the groundwork for important Arroyo Seco projects. Jose, an engineering student at Cal State University at Los Angeles, is conducting a study of the impacts of Brown Mountain Dam in the upper Arroyo watershed. Kendra is developing a database on key planning elements of the many parks along the Arroyo Seco stream as part of the Arroyo River Parks campaign.

Thanks, Jose and Kendra, for your dedicated service.

Volunteer for ASF!

Stream Team

Are you interested in volunteering for the Arroyo Seco Foundation? We have several activities and ongoing tasks that we could use your help for! No specialized knowledge or skills are required; all you need to do is fill out a short survey and let us know how you would like to help.

Fill out our volunteer questionnaire!

Click here for more information about upcoming volunteer activities.

For more information about volunteering or to RSVP for an activity, contact Scott Cher at scott@arroyoseco.org.

Welcome to the Arroyo Seco Calendar!

Your guide to special events related to the Arroyo Seco, the Los Angeles River,
the San Gabriel Mountains, and key environmental issues in our region.

Click on the date or title link for full details.

Date
Start Time
Title
Event Summary
2014-04-2610:00 AMEarth Month Weed Removal at Devil's GateHelp remove invasive plant species from the natural streamzone below Devil's Gates Dam and protect our native riparian ecosystem.
2014-04-2712:00 PMWildflowering L.A. Spring Exhibition and Events at THE SHEDLAND invites you to the Spring Exhibition for Wildflowering L.A. on Saturday, April 26 and Sunday, April 27, 2014 at THE SHED. The exhibition will feature flower cuttings, photos fresh from the project sites, artist-designed posters, educational activities.
2014-05-0311:00 AMPasadena Earth and Arts FestivalFree all-ages event in Old Pasadena... Live music from local bands, dancing and an interactive drum circle... Kids and parents get creative with art workshops... Eco-friendly exhibitors will display and sell green products and services... Sample tasty treats from popular local restaurants and a "Sustainable Beer Garden"... Try something new!
2014-05-0411:00 AMNorth East Trees Earth Day FestCome to the Earth Day fest, where local artists, environmental organizations and sponsors will be exhibiting and selling at this FUNdraiser for North East Trees. Learn what local environmental groups are doing in your area, as well as ways you can get involved.

News of the Arroyo

An archive of news stories about and related to life in the Arroyo Seco.

Click on the title link to read the entire story.

Title
Summary
Mobile classroom rolls out to teach students about L.A. RiverApril 13, 2014 — Friends of the LA River (FOLAR) have unveiled a mobile classroom to educate Angelenos about the Los Angeles River. Note Sahagun's description of the Arroyo Seco in the first paragraph: "a big, desolate flood-control channel strewn with trash and hemmed by freeways, power lines and railroad yards."
LCF Council receives Devil's Gate Dam updatesMarch 19, 2014 — County officials tried to scare local residents and the La Canada City Council with flood threats again Monday night. The truth is: a few residents downstream of Devil's Gate Dam will be subject to floods whether or not sediment is removed from the dam until the County does something to improve flood management along their deficient flood channel.
Federal appeals court upholds delta smelt protectionsMarch 13, 2014 — Pumping restrictions to protect the endangered Delta smelt and other species are appropriate, a federal appeals court has ruled, overturning a previous decision by federal Judge Oliver Wanger.
Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy Grant to Fund Bike Path in CityMarch 12, 2014 — Assemblymember Chris Holden, a member of the Governing Board of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, announced on Thursday that the City of South Pasadena has been awarded a $410,000 grant from the SMMC to help fund the Arroyo Seco Bike Trail.
Secretary Jewell, Mayor Garcetti Announce Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnership to Connect LA Youth to Great OutdoorsMarch 10, 2014 — In a mid-afternoon ceremony at the LA State Historic Park (Cornfields), Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewel and Mayor Eric Garcetti announced that LA has been selected as a pilot city to connect urban youth with the great outdoors.

Arroyo Seco Foundation
Los Angeles River Center, 570 W. Avenue 26 #450, Los Angeles, CA 90065
PO Box 91622, Pasadena, CA 91109
(323) 405-7326 | info@arroyoseco.org

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