| Our Vision "Promoting ecologically sound watershed management and preserving open space wildlife habitat in balance with the adjacent urban environment." Our Mission To foster better understanding and stewardship of the Tujunga Watershed, ensure effective flood control, promote resource restoration, and to improve sustainable watershed health, functions, and uses. Goals / Objectives To preserve the Big and Little Tujunga washes as wildlife corridors to link Hansen Dam Basin with the Rim of the Valley Corridor Park. To raise public awareness of the Tujunga Watershed and encourage participation in management and protection of our watershed resources. To identify problems and issues of importance to local citizens, groups, and users of the watershed. To diminish and eliminate further degradation of the watershed and its resources. To promote, preserve, and protect appropriate uses of the watershed. To increase the viability, diversity, and health of the watershed and its ecosystems through best management practices. To implement monitoring methods for water quality and, via data collection, to set baseline for future environmental impact assessment of the watershed. To promote an integrated approach to meeting water quality regulations for the watershed. To create and support implementation of a comprehensive Watershed Management Master Plan (WMMP) which addresses current and potential problems, solutions, prioritization of projects, funding opportunities, restoration and enhancement measures, and monitoring programs within the Tujunga Watershed. |
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| Construction debris, of unknown toxicity, dumped into the largest of the Hansen Dam Lakes (in violation of California law) by the Army Corps in spring 2002. Local activists (many of whom are on the TWS P&O Committee) continued to pursue the issue. In March 2003 the Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously for the "expeditious" removal of the debris. |
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| The fight for environmental justice never ends, so words of inspiration are appreciated. The following is from a speech given by Bill Moyers on June 4, 2003: "Ideas have power - as long as they are not frozen in doctrine. But ideas need legs. The eight-hour day, the minimum wage, the conservation of natural resources and the protection of our air, water, and land, women’s rights and civil rights, free trade unions, Social Security... all these were launched as citizen’s movements and won the endorsement of the political class only after long struggles and in the face of bitter opposition and sneering attacks. It’s just a fact: Democracy doesn’t work without citizen activism and participation, starting at the community. Trickle down politics doesn’t work much better than trickle down economics. It’s also a fact that civilization happens because we don’t leave things to other people. What’s right and good doesn’t come naturally. You have to stand up and fight for it - as if the cause depends on you, because it does. Allow yourself that conceit - to believe that the flame of democracy will never go out as long as there’s one candle in your hand." To launch a PDF (Acrobat) version of the entire speech, click HERE |
| Through its Planning & Organizing Committee, the TWS is in the process of incorporating as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, educational organization. Questions? contact website administrator: web@tujungawatershed.org |
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