Local News in Brief : Authorities Decide Reseeding Unneeded

Slopes of the Santa Susana Mountains charred by a fire above Granada Hills and Porter Ranch last week will not be seeded with soil-holding rye grass because more than enough natural seed survived the blaze, Los Angeles County authorities said Friday.

Although the area faces the threat of erosion and mudslides if heavy rains occur before the natural grass grows back, authorities believe that drainage systems in nearby developed areas will be able to handle the runoff.

Joe Ferrara, head deputy forester for the county Fire Department, said a weeklong study by soil and vegetation experts of the 3,200-acre burn area determined that a soil bed containing nutrients, roots and natural seed went largely undamaged because the fire moved quickly, leaving only slight surface damage.