Be Vigilant on Reservoir

The dream of permanent preservation of Chatsworth Reservoir inched closer to reality last week after the president of the Department of Water and Power Commission assured the Los Angeles City Council that he would draft a protection plan within the next few weeks.

It’s about time.

Commission President Rick Caruso had initially told council members that the 1,300-acre reservoir site could be used for everything from a housing project to sports fields, but backed down after residents, environmentalists and the council itself balked at anything beyond outright preservation.

Caruso’s assurances should end the bickering between him and the council, which heated up in January after Caruso failed to produce a long-promised report on the reservoir’s future. It was the third time the council had to postpone discussion of how best to use the property in the northwest corner of the San Fernando Valley. The land is owned by the DWP. With billions of dollars of debt, the agency is keen to raise cash by selling off some its property--including the Chatsworth Reservoir, which could fetch a nice price from private developers.

In January, City Councilman Hal Bernson--long an advocate for leaving the land undeveloped--called Caruso’s absence and repeated delays a “stonewalling tactic.” By last week, however, the anger was replaced by kind words as Bernson and Caruso agreed to keep the land as it is and to improve public access. Although designated a protected wildlife refuge in 1997, the dry reservoir is closed to the public.

Establishing the reservoir as a place where people can get away from city life and see firsthand how the Valley looked in centuries past should be a top priority for the council and for Caruso. Bobcats, Canada geese and badgers all find refuge in one of the region’s few remaining Valley oak savannas. Despite the remnants of old dams and pumping stations, the grassy expanses dotted with wetlands evoke images of the past.

Too few spots like the Chatsworth Reservoir remain in this metropolis. Those that survive deserve the most vigilant protection. The council--and the public it represents--has made its wishes clear. Now it’s up to Caruso to follow through on that desire and ensure that the natural treasure in his care is not squandered.