Letters: A river of trash in the San Gabriels

Re “An alpine creek that reeks,” Sept. 30

My parents were born in the San Gabriel Valley, my father in 1928 and my mother in 1932. My grandfather helped to build the road through the San Gabriel Canyon during the Depression; his family lived in camps along the road as it was built.

Needless to say, this was my father’s playground as a child; as an adult, he introduced us to the beauty and wonders of the San Gabriel Mountains. We spent many wonderful weekends camping at Crystal Lake, cooking Sunday breakfast over a campfire. We would drive to the East Fork of the San Gabriel River just to spend the day riding the first spring rapids after the snowmelt. My father and brother spent many weekends hiking back in the canyons to fish all morning and bring home dinner for that night.

What a majestic place it was.

Now when I visit the canyon I see so much filth that my heart just fills with sadness. What possesses people to destroy such natural beauty? Strict enforcement of the law is a must if we are going to save this jewel.

Vickie Casas

Los Angeles

Any other public recreation spot with this many visitors would have the necessary infrastructure for such large crowds. But the problems extend beyond the East Fork to much of the San Gabriel Mountains.

The solution is for federal legislation to designate this place a national recreation area to improve management, resources and funding.

A recreation area can boost critical services such as more rangers and trash containers. We ought to care about the East Fork, which is in the Angeles National Forest. The forest gives Los Angeles County one-third of its drinking water.

Ignoring the East Fork’s problems would be tragic. Even with all of our scientific know-how, we can’t create new rivers and mountains.

Annette Kondo

Los Angeles

The writer is communications director of the Wilderness Society.

Many years ago our father would drive us to the East Fork of the San Gabriel River to fish for trout. It may not have been pristine then, but it was clean and serene. The fish we occasionally pulled in were stocked trout even then, but the experience was wonderful. Most of the anglers and hikers were respectful of this magnificent refuge from the hectic city life below.

The transformation reported in this article is troubling. Thankfully, groups such as the Sierra Club and Friends of the River are working to heal the East Fork.

Yet it is quite obvious that our government agencies are handicapped. We must adequately fund these agencies.

There is a real need for both greater enforcement and education to raise awareness among those who use the river. This is our church, our temple; let’s treat it as such.

Jeffrey Eulberg

Reseda

It’s too bad that some people make such a mess on the San Gabriel River. It’s too bad that the poor, underfunded Forest Service is too strapped to do anything about it. But what’s really too bad is that while Forest Service workers are whining about money, they’re driving around in new vehicles and building a large new administrative building in Arcadia.

Meanwhile, the East Fork is a midden, picnic areas and campgrounds are closed, and the Chilao Visitor Center off Angeles Crest Highway is closed. Is a rearrangement of financial priorities in order?

John Hazlet

Pasadena

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