County says it is addressing local West Nile threat
The Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors is beginning a project this week to remove vegetation from Zuma Creek in response to a potential West Nile threat in the area. A horde of mosquitoes near the creek last month had attacked workers, causing them to fear they had contracted the mosquito-borne virus.
According to a statement from the county, on the day of the incident, Beaches and Harbors “performed an emergency breach of the Zuma Creek via a small channel to allow water to drain from the area of vegetation for more effective treatment. With the high tides and the wave action, the channel closed and we, again, opened the channel on Oct. 3 to allow the water to run freely from the creek to the ocean.”
More complex actions required permits from various agencies, most of which the county expected to receive this week. The goal is to clear channel areas three feet wide down to the surface of the soil, and remove all plants and bulrushes, including the roots.
“All channels are to be maintained clear and free of bulrushes and other impeding vegetation year-round,” the county stated.
The county’s Public Health Department wrote in a statement to Beaches and Harbors that the threat of West Nile transmission at Zuma is low. Also, it stated that the presence of mosquitoes does not always indicate that the mosquitoes carry West Nile, and current tests did not find the virus in the mosquitoes collected in the area. To reduce mosquito bites, the department recommends wearing protective clothing (long pants, long-sleeved shirts) and using insect repellents containing 10 percent to 30 percent DEET on exposed skin, especially at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes feed.
For further information about West Nile health issues, call 213.240.7941.
Rescued fawns released into wild
The California Wildlife Center last month released six fawns into the wild that it had been rehabilitating at its newly completed fawn enclosure. The fawns had come to the CWC suffering from various problems, including abandonment and being hit by cars.
A CWC press release states, “The new enclosure not only allowed for the fawns to recover and/or mature, but also gave CWC staff and volunteers the unforgettable experience of watching the process through eight video monitors. The monitors were set up throughout the enclosure and were streaming live into the office’s television system. This allowed CWC staff to gain front row access to the fawns while not affecting their recovery process.”
Planning Commission to meet on Trancas park
The Planning Commission on Monday will vote on the proposed Trancas Canyon Park. The commission will be asked to approve the project’s environmental impact report and make a recommendation to the City Council on the final design.
The proposal for the park on a 13-acre piece of land on the east side of Trancas Canyon Road calls for a two-acre multisports field with a natural grass surface, a one-acre open space for dogs, a parking lot and other features.
The meeting will begin at City Hall’s Council Chambers at 6:30 p.m.
Forum to address education issues
Assemblymember Julia Brownley will be part of a panel discussion in Santa Monica this week on Wednesday titled “Why Sacramento Matters: How it Impacts Our Schools.” Brownley is a former member of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District and the incoming chair of the Assembly’s Education Committee.
Also taking part in the panel discussion will be Darline P. Robles, superintendent of the Los Angeles County Office of Education; Tim Cuneo, the interim SMMUSD superintendent and Malibu resident Pam Brady, president of the California State PTA and former SMMUSD board member
The session will take place at the SMMUSD Board Room, located at 1651 16th St., from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Those with questions should call 310.720.8761.
-Jonathan Friedman