Reservoir Should Be Saved

The article “Plan Sinks for Homes at Reservoir” (Feb.22) shows that Art Gastelum, director of the mayor’s Office of Economic Development, and others who share his thinking need to change their attitudes about what is best use of the Chatsworth Reservoir.

Gastelum’s proposal was to put in relatively low-cost housing to lure teachers to Los Angeles. Councilman Hal Bernson spoke for many citizens by calling the plan “moronic.” He said the reservoir is “one of the most ecologically sensitive areas in the city of Los Angeles.” This helped stem the tide of this latest demonic plan, a plan which reflects the belief that land should be exploited.

Gastelum and his constituents pay lip service to naturalists when they say they’ll only take a portion and leave the rest for hikers. Actually, the entire area inside the reservoir’s fence line needs to be preserved.

Truly the best use of the land would be for naturalists to hold outdoor classrooms for nature study and appreciation. This would happen if the DWP sold the acreage to the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, to be held until the state Department of Parks and Recreation could purchase it.

This type of purchase would allow the acreage to be turned into a wildlife sanctuary. Public-spirited organizations such as Save Orcutt Community and the Santa Susana Mountain Park Assn. have devoted nearly 20 years to attaining such acreage.

NANCY RAZANSKI

Chatsworth

Razanski is the vice president of the Santa Susana Mountain Park Assn.