The HIGH SPEED RAIL THREAT to LOS ANGELES DRINKING WATER

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Rosa Patterson
8 years ago
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1 The HIGH SPEED RAIL THREAT to LOS ANGELES DRINKING WATER INTRODUCTION On December 2 nd, 2014, the High Speed Rail (HSR) Project released new maps showing recently proposed alternate rail routes that go above and tunnel through the Angeles National forest. These new routes differ significantly from the I5 SR14 transportation corridor that was described in the original High Speed Rail legislation and that was voted on and passed by the Citizens of California by a small margin. The concept of new routes was introduced in Spring 2014 and the possibility was presented to the public as a vague swath through the Angeles National Forest in June On Dec 2nd, three specific proposed alternative routes E1, E2, and E3 were released to the public. These routes veer away from established transportation corridors and instead go across, over, and tunnel through the communities of Shadow Hills, Sunland, and Lake View Terrace and into the Angeles National Forest where they travel across, over, and tunnel through sensitive environmental land, watershed, and wildlife habitat. OAK SPRING AND OTHER YEAR- ROUND SPRINGS THAT PROVIDE LOS ANGELES WATER Oak Spring is a historic headwater of the Los Angeles River that is located in the Angeles National Forest, above Little Tujunga Canyon (to its west) and Gold Creek Canyon (to its north). Although some local springs are seasonal, this vitally important spring feeds the Little Tujunga watershed all year long. Oak Spring s waters flow year- round from its source above Little Tujunga Canyon, down into the Little Tujunga Wash, then into Hansen Dam. One- seventh (15%) * of the City of Los Angeles s drinking water flows into and through the sands of Hansen Dam. All of this life- sustaining water comes from Big Tujunga and Little Tujunga. Oak Spring and other springs feed Little Tujunga. Other year- round springs that feed the Little Tujunga watershed include part of the Fascination Springs complex **, Larsen Spring, Hidden Spring, Indian Spring, Marek Spring, Kagel Spring, and many more. Kristin C. Sabo December 2014 (Oak Spring year- round water - photo taken in November 2014 before the rains began, by K. Sabo)

These new routes differ significantly from the I5 SR14 transportation corridor that was described in the original High Speed Rail legislation and that was voted on and passed by the Citizens of

2 In drought- stricken California, headwaters of the Los Angeles River providing vital drinking water year- round to Los Angeles and the North East San Fernando Valley must be fully and completely protected. These waters include Oak Spring and the other year- round springs feeding the Little Tujunga watershed. THE HSR THREAT TO OAK SPRING AND DRINKING WATER FOR LOS ANGELES In examining the HSR maps released in December, it s clear that Oak Spring and other year- round Little Tujunga Watershed springs are under significant direct threat from the E1, E2 and E3 proposed rail paths. The hydrology of year- round springs like Oak Spring can be extremely fragile when land in the general vicinity is exposed to geological, sonic, vibrational, pressure or topographical changes or disturbances. Surface construction and construction equipment activity can damage, reroute, reduce or completely stop water flow from fragile year- round springs like Oak Spring. Small earthquakes or tremors can reroute, reduce or completely stop water flow from fragile year- round springs like Oak Spring. Highly invasive geologic activity like tunnel construction, tunnel use vibrations, and piston- like airflow disturbances can reroute, reduce or completely stop water flow from fragile year- round springs like Oak Spring. This type of damaging activity does not need to be directly located at the spring, either. Activity sometimes a mile or more away has been known to impact vital springs like these. Proposed Routes E1, E2 and E3 involve drilling 2 or 3 major tunnels either directly under or in very close proximity to Oak Spring and other year- round springs. E1 is above- ground in a portion of Little Tujunga Canyon, creating repeated sonic air flow disruptions and pressure events when 5 HSR trains per hour (one way) race along this route. p. 2

THE HSR THREAT TO OAK SPRING AND DRINKING WATER FOR LOS ANGELES In examining the HSR maps released in December, it s clear that Oak Spring and other year- round Little Tujunga Watershed springs are

3 Water is a precious commodity in Southern California and the City of Los Angeles. We cannot afford to lose one single source. So why is HSR threatening to irreparably damage Los Angeles water supply with major construction at, around and under Oak Spring and the other Little Tujunga Watershed drinking water springs? Any HSR route must not be built that might disrupt or damage such vital water resources as Oak Spring and other year- round springs providing drinking water to Los Angeles, particularly when other locations for the project exist, are well- studied and are viable. Keeping HSR routes completely out of the Little Tujunga Canyon watershed is the best way to protect these vital water resources for all of Los Angeles and the North East San Fernando Valley. (View into Little Tujunga, Hansen Dam and Sylmar from Oak Spring Saddle photo taken November 2014 by K. Sabo) Notes: Oak Spring - - the perpetual spring and headwater of the LA River located in the hills above Lake View Terrace near Gold Creek - - should not be confused with Oak Spring Canyon in Santa Clarita which is a headwater of the Santa Clara River and part of a different watershed. * = In their 2006 Tujunga Watershed study, the River Project calculates that the watershed provides 15% of LA s drinking water. This is approximately split between Hansen Dam (70%) and Pacoima Dam (30%), making the contributions of Big Tujunga and Little Tujunga to be 11%. Since 2006, when the River Project study was written, ground water injection wells have been constructed at Hansen Dam that increase the contributions of Big Tujunga and Little Tujunga to the aquifer. Therefore, the 15% level used in this article is appropriate. ** = The Fascination Springs complex is above a thin ridge between Big Tujunga and Little Tujunga and feeds both watersheds within the Tujunga Watershed. Both flow into and through Hansen Dam. p. 3

Any HSR route must not be built that might disrupt or damage such vital water resources as Oak Spring and other year- round springs providing drinking water to Los Angeles, particularly when other

4 IMAGES Some of the year- round springs in the Little Tujunga Watershed threatened by proposed HSR routes E1, E2, and E3. p. 4

5 PROPOSED HSR ROUTES E1, E2, and E3 and the original viable route (I5- SR14) passed in the HSR legislation. p. 5

6 OAK SPRING (November 2014, before the rain) view of the historic Los Angeles River headwater from the Oak Spring Trail near Oak Spring Saddle. OAK SPRING (October 2014) plants growing in the flowing water channel even during severe drought. p. 6

Untreated (left) and treated (right) Sierra Nevada forests in Amador County, CA. Photos: Sierra Nevada Conservancy

Untreated (left) and treated (right) Sierra Nevada forests in Amador County, CA. Photos: Sierra Nevada Conservancy Case Study Mokelumne Watershed, CA and Santa Fe, NM Avoided Costs: The Economics of Watershed Restoration Forested headwaters are the source of much of the West s drinking water. Protecting and restoring