Golf Development in Hill Canyon

A recent ride through Hill Canyon by equestrians organized by the Hill Canyon Preservation Coalition illustrates part of the disinformation by the proponents of the development of a golf course in this scenic riverbed habitat.

Thousand Oaks city planners argue that the destruction of the natural canyon by golf fairways would allow the creation of trails in Hill Canyon. Nothing could be further from the truth. The canyon is currently crisscrossed by an extensive trail system, which includes water crossings through the Arroyo Conejo Creek. These trails connect to Wildwood Park, Santa Rosa Valley Park, the Santa Rosa Valley and the Conejo Valley Ring Trail. Under the plans for the golf course, this current Hill Canyon trail system would be reduced to a single trail pushed to one side of the canyon away from the creek.

Another myth is that the canyon has become a dumping ground for trash.

Anyone who takes the time to hike, bike or ride through Hill Canyon will realize that this is untrue. Any open space is prone to some trash, but this is not particularly the case here. The valley floor, studded with oaks, sycamores and other mature trees, is as beautiful a sight as any in Ventura County. One very ancient rusting car frame is on property owned by the county, not the city of Thousand Oaks. Hopefully this will be removed soon. But do we advocate creating fairways in the Grand Canyon when someone leaves litter? No, we clean it up.

I hope the decision makers in Thousand Oaks will realize that the many concerns about building a golf course in Hill Canyon outweigh the benefits. There are other choices for creating golf facilities in Thousand Oaks that would not include the degradation of one of our last few Ventura County wetland environments.

MARK BURLEY

Camarillo