City Considers Proposal for Setting Aside Chatsworth Reservoir as a Nature Preserve

The Chatsworth Reservoir, a haven for migrating birds and other wildlife, would be declared off limits to development under a proposal being considered by Los Angeles planning officials.

The proposal by Los Angeles City Councilman Hal Bernson would designate the 1,323-acre site in the northwest San Fernando Valley as a “nature preserve” and would keep the area generally closed to the public. Only limited recreational activities, such as guided nature tours, would be allowed in the preserve, Bernson said.

Bernson urged planning officials to support the proposal during a public hearing Monday at the Van Nuys Woman’s Club, saying the city had to “find ways to preserve these rare, unusual areas for future generations.”

Daniel Green, the hearing officer conducting the meeting, said the Planning Department would urge the City Council to set aside the reservoir as a nature preserve.

The Chatsworth Reservoir, which is owned by the Department of Water and Power, was drained for repairs in 1969 and never reopened because its retaining wall was damaged in the Sylmar earthquake two year later. The reservoir became an unofficial wildlife refuge for--among other things--deer, bobcats, coyotes, hawks and Canada geese.

The City Council was given the authority to establish nature preserves under an ordinance approved last August that would designate thousands of acres of public property as open space and thus limit their development potential. The measure does not apply to private property.

Monday’s was the first of several hearings Planning Department officials will hold as they prepare to carry out the open-space ordinance. Another hearing will be held today at City Hall.

Members of a homeowners’ group praised the reservoir plan Monday but said the ordinance setting aside open space was seriously flawed.

“This is a good start, but it is not adequate,” said Gordon Murley, president of the Federation of Hillside and Canyon Assns. Murley said the federation represents 60 homeowner groups from Pacific Palisades to Eagle Rock.

Murley said the ordinance contains loopholes that would allow the city to construct large buildings in parkland or other open space. These same loopholes also would allow the city to sell its land to private interests that could then develop the property, Murley said.