From syjy0@smtp.ais.ucla.edu Sat Feb 14 13:30:40 1998 Received: from mxu1.u.washington.edu (mxu1.u.washington.edu [140.142.32.8]) by lists.u.washington.edu (8.8.4+UW97.07/8.8.4+UW97.05) with ESMTP id NAA21596 for ; Sat, 14 Feb 1998 13:30:39 -0800 Received: from a01exchange1.ais.ucla.edu (smtp.ais.ucla.edu [128.97.98.82]) by mxu1.u.washington.edu (8.8.4+UW97.07/8.8.4+UW97.09) with ESMTP id NAA27232 for ; Sat, 14 Feb 1998 13:30:38 -0800 Received: by smtp.ais.ucla.edu with Internet Mail Service (5.5.1960.3) id <1MQFXQ2S>; Sat, 14 Feb 1998 13:24:21 -0800 Message-ID: <019B8DB18120D011868208005A88C5347082DD@smtp.ais.ucla.edu> From: "Yard, John" To: "'consbio@u.washington.edu'" Subject: Tujunga Wash Status Date: Sat, 14 Feb 1998 13:24:20 -0800 X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.1960.3) The Tujunga Wash is a large alluvial flood plain located in the foothills of the San Gabriel mountains in Southern California, USA. It is wholly located within the city of Los Angeles. At one time there were many alluvial flood plains in Southern California but encroaching human development has overrun most of them. There have been sporadic attempts at development in the Tujunga Wash since before World War I, but catastrophic flooding literally washed these homes and roads out to sea. With the destruction of the alluvial flood plains went the plants and animals that specialized in that habitat. The Tujunga Wash is the principal home of the slender-horned spineflower (Dodecahema letoceras), a plant on both the California and United States endangered species list. About 1000 plants live in the Wash; isolated populations live elsewhere. The Wash is also home to the Gnat Catcher, the Cactus Wren, and other endangered species. In the late 1980's the Tujunga Wash was acquired by Cosmo World, Inc., of Japan. Cosmo World is perhaps best known for its acquisition approximately at this time of world famous Pebble Beach Golf Course. Cosmo lost over $50 million on Pebble Beach when it was sold in the early 1990's. For over 11 years Cosmo World and its leasee Foothill Golf Development have been attempting to build a golf course in the Tujunga Wash in the face of opposition from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the California Department of Fish and Game, and Los Angeles environmental groups. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has issues multiple jeopardy opinions stating that building the proposed golf course would lead to the probable extinction of the spineflower through habitat loss. Last August the City of Los Angeles City Council rejected Foothill Golf's request for a conditional use permit by a vote of 10 to 4, shocking local political observers who considered the golf course a "done deal". Foothill Golf responded by filing suit against the City of Los Angeles for $250 million, claiming that the city's decision constituted a 'takings' of their right to profit from their property. ( In August the land was evaluated by the Santa Monica Conservancy to be worth slightly more than $3 million ). On February 12th the City of Los Angeles settled the lawsuit with Foothill Golf, essentially surrendering to Foothill Golf. Unless being overridden by the Los Angeles City Council, the golf course will be built in the Tujunga Wash, and the spineflower will travel down the road to extinction. Last August the Los Angeles City Council proved that it was receptive to the arguments of the ecological and scientific community. It is important at this juncture that the members of the Los Angeles City Council know that this issue remains alive to scientific community. They need to know that their actions, which they have taken at some political risk, are responsible and consistent with the best interests of the community. Included here are the addresses of the members of the Los Angeles City Council. If possible, please write them to express your support of their actions in saving the Tujunga Wash from development. If you have questions, I will be happy to supply more detailed information and documentation. John Yard syjy0@smtp.ais.ucla.edu 818-352-3361 Los Angeles City Council members Councilman Richard Alarcon 200 N. Spring St #218 Los Angeles Calif 90012 Councilman Richard Alatorre 200 N Spring St #375 Los Angeles Calif 90012 Councilman Michael Feuer 200 N Spring St #380 Los Angeles, Calif 90012 Councilman Mike Hernandez 200 N. Spring St #318 Los Angeles, Calif 90012 Councilman Nate Holden 200 N. Spring St #230 Los Angeles, Calif 90012 Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski 200 N. Spring St. #275 Los Angeles, Calif 90012 Councilwoman Laura Chick 200 N. Spring St. #281 Los Angeles, Calif 90012 Councilwoman Ruth Galanter 200 N. Spring St #239 Los Angeles, Calif 90012 Councilwoman Jackie Goldberg 200 N. Spring St. #240 Los Angeles, Calif 90012 Councilwoman Rita Walters 200 N. Spring St. #260 Los Angeles, Calif 90012 Councilman Hal Berson 200 N. Spring St. #237 Los Angeles, Calif 90012 Councilman John Ferraro 200 N. Spring St. #M-30 Los Angeles, Calif 90012 Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas 200 N. Spring St. #290 Los Angeles, Calif 90012 Councilman Rudy Svorinich 200 N. Spring St. #236 Los Angeles, Calif 90012 Councilman Joel Wachs 200 N. Spring St #M-39 Los Angeles, Calif 90012 .