Foes of Newhall Ranch to Hold Rally

Environmentalists are expected to continue their fight against the 20,885-home Newhall Ranch subdivision with a rally today decrying proposed changes to the river that runs through the site.

As part of its project, developer Newhall Land & Farming Co. hopes to build flood-prevention banks along the Santa Clara River, as well as utility crossings and other features that require a federal environmental permit. The permit application is being reviewed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which has invited the public to give comments at a meeting today in Castaic.

Environmentalists say the project would threaten habitats and endangered species on the river, and put undue stress on the aquifer that feeds it. They plan to take up those issues at the meeting -- and at the rally beforehand.

“Basically, if the [permit] were granted, it would allow the entire project to move forward,” said Johanna Zetterberg, a Sierra Club conservation coordinator.

Newhall spokeswoman Marlee Lauffer has long maintained that the company would be a good steward of the river. She said the river plan for Newhall Ranch would be similar to one devised for Valencia, the company’s development in nearby Santa Clarita.

But Ron Bottorff, who heads Friends of the Santa Clara River, said the Valencia river plan has suffered from inadequate environmental monitoring. He also said he fears that the company will not treat the river tributaries on Newhall Ranch with the proper care.

“They’re being turned into concrete boxes,” he said.

Opponents of Newhall Ranch have suffered some major setbacks. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved the project in May, and in October, a Kern County judge ruled against the Sierra Club and other groups that had sued to block it.

Environmentalists have appealed that decision. Meanwhile, they are vowing to fight the more detailed, block-by-block plans that the developer must now submit for further county approval.

“So you really can’t even say the project has been approved -- it hasn’t,” said Lynne Plambeck, president of the Santa Clarita Organization for Planning the Environment. After gathering the public’s comments, the Army Corps will release a draft report on the river plans.

Tonight’s meeting will start at 6:30 at Castaic Middle School, 28900 Hillcrest Parkway.