Keeping Our River Pristine
T“Conservation is a state of harmony between men and land.” – Aldo Leopold
he preservation of our natural resources is a duty we take very seriously at the City of Santa Clarita. As a prior Parks Commissioner and lifelong nature lover, I know that Santa Clarita’s beautiful open spaces, parks and trails are treasures that we must preserve for all future generations to enjoy.
We are fortunate to have the longest free-flowing river and one of the last two natural river systems remaining in Southern California run right through the middle of Santa Clarita. This river is called the Santa Clara River and is sometimes called “the wash” because of its usually dry appearance. However, it is indeed a river and an important resource as it replenishes our local groundwater, which supplies approximately half of our drinking water.
The river is a vital resource to others besides you and me. Many plants and animal species call this place their home. The river is a lively natural resource habitat to 14 endangered bird species, six endangered plant species, 57 archeological sites, and 12 historic landmarks. In fact, if you were to visit the Santa Clara River after a rainy day, you may hear frogs croaking in the evening or spot other wildlife.
To help keep this river pristine, the City kicked off an annual River Rally Clean Up in 1994 to provide our community with an opportunity to come together each year to help clean and protect a portion of the Santa Clara River. Through the work of volunteers at the annual River Rally event, more than 410,000 pounds of trash has been removed from the Santa Clara River. My deepest thank you goes out to each volunteer!
If you’re interested in participating in this event, there will be an opportunity to do so later this year. Please visit GreenSantaClarita.com to learn more.
However, there’s plenty you can do before the Rally to help preserve the river. As we’re deep into April, we may remember why the saying, “April showers bring May flowers,” exists. We’ve already experienced some days of rain here in Santa Clarita and have seen pockets of flowers blooming here and there. For this reason, many residents begin tending to their gardens and applying fertilizer and pesticides during this time of year.
I’d like to remind my fellow gardeners to not apply pesticides or fertilizers if there is a forecast of rain in the next few days. It’s also important to turn off sprinklers to avoid overwatering your landscaping. Rain and over irrigation allow chemicals to wash off your property and flow into our Santa Clara River, polluting the water. With your help, we can reduce the amount of pollutants that end up in the river.
Another way pesticides flow into the river is with our approach to prevent pesky little insects from invading our homes and businesses. The common urge is to get rid of the ants quickly by applying pesticides that may be harmful to our surroundings including your family and pets. Prevention is key in reducing the ant problem, but if ants have already found a way into your home, please try safe alternatives to pesticides first.
A great way to deal with ants is to put one teaspoon of liquid dish soap into a spray bottle and fill it the rest of the way with water. Spray any ants you see with this soapy water and it will take care of the ants and prevent the others from following their trail.
And finally, please remember, “Only rain, down the storm drain.” What ends up in the gutter, ends up in the river. Properly dispose of waste and do not dump chemicals, furniture or litter. It is illegal to dump materials such as paint, cement or motor oil into the gutter or catch basin. To dispose of bulky items such as furniture, you may schedule a free pick-up through Waste Management by calling (661) 259-2398.
These are just tips you can start applying today. Simple as they may be, they can go a long way in helping us keep the Santa Clara River free of pollutants, trash and debris. Remember that 50 percent of our drinking water comes from under the Santa Clara River and tributaries; what goes into our river goes into our drinking water. I encourage you to be a part of the solution for a better environment and help preserve the river’s natural beauty and variety of wildlife.
Laurene Weste is a Councilmember of the City of Santa Clarita and can be reached at: lweste@santa-clarita.com.