Conservationists Hope To Save Trees In Arcadia

ARCADIA (AP) — Conservationists are protesting a plan by Los Angeles County officials to cut down 179 oak trees and 70 sycamores to create a space to spread silt, rocks and vegetation dredged from the nearby Santa Anita Reservoir.

On Friday, county Supervisor Mike Antonovich called for a 30-day hold on plans for creating a spreading basin for about 50,000 cubic yards of material.

The Los Angeles Times reports that if local residents can't work out an agreement to save the trees, the Department of Public Works will clear the county-owned canyon overlooking Arcadia in January.

Officials say the reservoir needs to be dredged in order to operate at full capacity and meet seismic standards.

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