Resource Conservation District lands new home
By John Loesing newstip@theacorn.com

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers RECOGNITION- Rosi Dagit, left, a biologist with the Resource Conservation District, accepts a certificate of commendation from board members Dan Preece and Nancy Helsely.

The Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains moved into its new home at Peter Strauss Ranch in Agoura- and celebrated with a housewarming, appropriately enough, on the evening of the summer solstice, June 21.

The district, which moved from its original home in Topanga, provides educational programs about all facets of conservation. It conducts research about the environment, and it helps local land use officials with planning and restoration work.

Appreciation awards were presented to Woody Smeck, superintendent of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, and Zev Yaroslavsky, Los Angeles County supervisor, for their support of the conservation district.

A separate award went to actress/activist Wendie Malick ("The Hill," "Big Day" and "Just Shoot Me!") for her outstanding performance in "The Clean Water Act and Our Backyards: Improving Water Quality in the Santa Monica Mountains" and for her longterm commitment to the environment.

Rosi Dagit, the district's senior biologist, received thanks for her many years of research and dedication on behalf of the Santa Monica Mountains. Jean Dillingham received praise for her pioneering work on conservation education.

One of the district's most popular offerings- the environmental education program at Topanga State Park, Sepulveda Basin and Malibu Lagoon- was established through Dillingham's leadership.

Dagit's work has included important research about the post-fire recovery of oak trees, western pond turtles and brown bats. She also enlisted the help of local elementary school students in the removal of wrecked cars and other debris from Topanga Creek.

Each year, more than 6,000 school children take part in districtled activities.

Among other accomplishments, the district has developed extensive inventories of the plant and animal species in the mountains. It has studied the endangered steelhead trout that swims in local creeks and has organized native plant sales, public workshops for brush control and stream bank stabilization projects.

"RCDs are where your tax dollars meet the land, in benefit to the government, citizens and the environment," said Nancy Helsley, Resource Conservation District president. "RCDs are the best bang for the buck."

Rich history

The agency's original name was the Topanga-Las Virgenes Resource Conservation District, Helsley said.

Born of a nationwide effort in the 1930s to help landowners with their conservationrelated problems- such as soil loss and erosion- the district began operating in 1961.

Using technical expertise and a $400,000 grant from the National Resource Conservation District, the local agency in 1992 created the Malibu Creek Advisory Council. The Malibu group comprises citizens and agency stakeholders who are concerned about pollution of the 110squaremile Malibu Creek Watershed, which extends from the Las Virgenes Valley to the Pacific Ocean.

In addition to coordinating the advisory council meetings- the next one is on Thurs., July 26 at Mountains Restoration Trust Headwater Quarters in Calabasas- district watershed coordinator Melina Watts is inviting community members to attend a "Green With Envy Santa Monica Tour" on Tues., July 24.

Case in point

To complete the Malibu Creek restoration project along Lost Hills Road in Calabasas, the conservation district worked closely with Los Angeles county and city of Calabasas officials. Severe stream bank erosion had created a palisade of unstable ground and much unwanted sedimentation.

The project got underway in 1997 with a complete grading of the site. After additional soils were put into place, the banks were covered with special erosion prevention cloth and planted with native species plants.

The project was completed in December of '97 just in time to be tested by the heavy winter rains. There was minor plant loss along the western stream bank, but the majority of plants survived. The following spring the willows had established a foothold along the bank and were able to stabilize it from future damage. Today, almost 10 years later, the streambed contains a thick blanket of shrubs, trees and seasonal wildflowers. The leading players

Past district directors have included Albert Hoyt, Jill Swift, Helen Funkhouser, Whitney Reeve, Helen Martin (wife of actor Will Geer), Jill Workman, veterinarian Al Plechner, college professor Barbara Hopper and Calabasas City Councilmember Lesley Devine.

Respected Topangan Betty Doughner served for more than 30 years as the district's manager and guiding spirit. City of Calabasas founding father and fourtime mayor Dennis Washburn has been a director and past president of the agency.

New board members Carol Felixson, director of education and outreach for the UCLA Stunt Ranch Reserve, and Steven Rosentsweig, A.E. Wright Middle School principal, are getting up to speed on district programs and projects.

Assisting the board are Glenn Bailey, a past director, Colleen Holmes, owner of a local landscape design and building firm, and Stephen Jewett, a retired conservationist. Setting up in the new offices at Peter Strauss Ranch will be Dan Preece, executive officer; Casey Burns, district biologist; John Hendra, administrative supervisor; Irene Quinones, administrator; Steven Vodantis, education coordinator; and Steve Williams and Stevie Adams, conservation biologists.