Creek cleanup reaches critical stage
Needles now being found
By Stephanie Bertholdo bertholdo@theacorn.com

Along with the usual blight of beer cans, paper, bottles and other trash, the Cornell Preservation Organization said illegally dumped hypodermic needles have been found in local creeks.

To remedy the growing concern over creek pollution, which threatens the habitat of many species and erodes the ocean's ecosystem, the organization and the Triunfo Lobo Community Association is staging its eighth annual Creek and Canyon Cleanup Day on Feb. 24 from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Several creeks have been targeted for clean up, including Medea, Triunfo, Lindero and Chesebro creeks.

Colleen Holmes, CPO president, hopes the event will attract a large number of volunteers from Agoura Hills.

Holmes said the areas underneath the freeway need special attention. Storm water creek specialists are expected to tackle the area since the hypodermic needles require special handling.

To encourage participation, the environmental group will hold a barbecue lunch at the southeast corner of Agoura and Kanan Roads, on property owned by developer Ted Moore.

In addition to food enticements, several organizations will be on hand to provide information, including Heal the Bay, the National Park Service, the Dept. of Water and Power and other environmental groups and government agencies.

Officials from the city of Agoura Hills and Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky are also expected to attend the event and speak about state and federal laws on pollution.

Cleanup teams will be formed, but before anyone ventures into the creek they must take proper measures to fight the invasion of the insidious New Zealand mud snail. Less than one-eighth inch in size, the tiny snail has been found spreading in Malibu Creek. Experts believe the snail wreaks havoc on the native watershed population by consuming algae, which results in a loss of forage for fish and amphibian populations. The creek volunteers will be shown how to deal with the snail.

To add a little fun to the cleanup effort, CPO plans on creating some friendly competition between teams.

"Cute prizes will be given out for the most unusual trash found, the largest amount of trash collected (and other categories)," Holmes said. She said the prizes will be donated by local businesses.

Holmes said CPO will continue to accept donations for the barbecue and prizes.

For further information, call Colleen Holmes at (818) 5979788, Chet Yabitsu at (818) 5979447, or meet at the southeast corner of Agoura and Kanan Roads on Sat., Feb. 24. at 8:30 a.m.