Santa Clarita Organization for Planning The Environment

Joe Bahar, President of the West Valley Community Coalition, spoke at last month's SCOPE meeeting, discussing strategies and issues surrounding the tremendous victory over the Ahmanson Ranch project in the western San Fernando Valley. There are parallels to our local fight against Newhall Ranch, but on an even larger scale: water, traffic, watershed destruction, smog, open space, schools, taxes, sprawl... Many thanks to Joe for sharing his knowledge, enthusiasm, suggestions, and "never-say-die" attitude. Come to the next SCOPE meeting and share the knowledge!

SCOPE and the Santa Clarita Oak Conservancy held a tree planting ceremony in memory of Michael Kotch at the eastern trailhead of Towsley Canyon Park. He died one year ago on August 11th at his home in Castaic of an apparent heart attack. He was 52 years old.


Michael Kotch was an M.I.T. graduate in aerospace engineering who worked for Unisys Corporation for almost 25 years. He was also active in Santa Clarita as a member of the City Formation Committee that helped found the City of Santa Clarita in 1987, an elected member of Newhall County Water District and the President of SCOPE from 1992 to 2000. He is remembered on the Water District for his careful scrutiny of engineering projects and fiscal matters as well as for donating all his meeting stipends to various non-profit organizations in the Santa Clarita Valley.


	During his term on SCOPE, he was instrumental in organizing and chairing many educational events on planning issues such as the Livable Cities Conference and presentations on the Santa Clarita Valley's Significant Ecological Areas and the Development Monitoring System. Under his watch, SCOPE won public interest litigation that increased school fees and established library fees throughout Los Angeles County. He also fought for accurate water supply reporting, protection of the Santa Clara River and of our native oaks.


"We will be planting a Valley Oak (Quercus Lobata) in memory of Mike", said Cynthia Neil-Harris, Board member of the Santa Clarita Valley Oaks Conservancy, before the plating. "This is the largest and most regal of the California oaks. Many of these oaks were cut down in Significant Ecological are 64, the Valley Oaks Savannah, for the Westridge Project. Mike's efforts helped to reduce the number that were destroyed by over 100 oaks. It is also the same kind of tree as the Pico Canyon "Old Glory" Oak. "It will be a fitting epitaph for a man whose fortitude and perseverance helped safeguard the natural beauty of Santa Clarita for all of us." said Oak Conservancy President, Ken Buchan.


	Michael Kotch died on August 11th which is celebrated by Catholics as the Feast Day of St. Claire. "It is especially appropriate that this tree be dedicated to Mike on St Claire's Day, said Lynne Plambeck. "St. Claire is the namesake of the Santa Clara River that Mike worked so hard to save. She was also a follower of Saint Frnacis of Assisi, known for his care of birds and animals as well as humankind." This Valley Oak is one of the many trees that are being planted by the Santa Clarita Oak Conservancy in its efforts to re-forest the Santa Clarita Valley with native oaks.

Update as of Feb 12, 2004: The tree, though scarred by the flames, nonetheless survived the "Val Verde/Simi" wildfire of 2003, and will be budding out shortly with the coming rains.

Over the Santa Susanna hills the Ahmanson Ranch project was approved 10 years ago. The opponents of this project were told it was a done deal. The community didn't agree and rallied together and never gave up. Today the State of California has negotated with the landowner to work out a purchase agreement so that this land will be left as open space forever. For more info, see the Stop Ahmanson Ranch website.

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