DWP Must Act on Refuge

Should the Feds declare Chatsworth Reservoir a national wildlife refuge?

It’s an intriguing idea, floated by a U.S. Fish and Wildlife official in Ventura at the urging of a longtime advocate of a Chatsworth nature preserve. Los Angeles County does not have a national wildlife refuge, so the reservoir’s 1,300 acres could be a unique opportunity for Fish and Wildlife to educate millions of people about the environment.

Worth looking into? Absolutely. But the Department of Water and Power, which owns the reservoir, shouldn’t wait for the federal government to give the go-ahead for what could be a yearlong study before taking action on a preservation plan.

The fate of Chatsworth Reservoir has been in limbo long enough. Not used for water storage since 1973, it has been coveted by developers, sports groups and conservationists. Until April, the DWP talked about developing at least a portion of the site for housing or sports fields.

Certainly both are needed here in the ever-crowded Valley. But also needed, as more and more people move here, are open spaces and natural areas, places where future generations can enjoy an increasingly rare piece of the Valley’s natural heritage. Chatsworth Reservoir is one of the largest expanses of open space in the Valley. Its years in limbo have made it a de facto preserve, an oak savanna home to badgers and bobcats and an important stop in the Pacific Flyway.

Yes, playing fields and wildlife viewing exist side by side in other parks, like Hansen Dam and Sepulveda Dam recreation areas, but rare is the park that preserves a wild setting in its entirety, right smack in the heart of the country’s second largest city. Such a sanctuary has widespread support, as shown by the efforts of City Councilman Hal Bernson, a former businessman who says he is “not the greatest environmentalist” but who has worked unceasingly to preserve the site. At his urging, the City Council has directed the DWP to do so.

Since April, when the DWP released a draft preservation plan, the debate has moved beyond whether the old reservoir should be preserved to who would best manage such a sanctuary. Even so, the commitment so far is just words and good intentions. What is needed are plans and action.

It’s time for the DWP board to sign off on the plan and on a timetable. If it wants to pursue a national wildlife refuge designation, by all means do so, but work simultaneously with local groups that have expressed interest in forming a partnership to give this natural treasure the protection it deserves.