Sure, Fine, Just Not Here

Is this a

dog in a puddle?

dog in an airplane?

dog in quicksand?

dog in a soccer field?

dog in a cake?

If you chose "dog in a soccer field," you are correct. Boz is standing on the planned location of "Sycamore Athletic Field" at Hahamongna Watershed Park.

Last July the citizens of Pasadena made it clear to the City Council that we do not want soccer fields in Hahamongna. (Not one citizen spoke in favor of the fields.) At the time, two fields were planned. We had half a victory. The the soccer field planned for the above location is still planned. The one for the location below was scrapped.

...If Boz were in the picture, we'd call it "dog in a lake." But Boz isn't much of a swimmer.

I hope the City Council will scrap Sycamore Field, too, not just because it's in a flood plain but because it's in the watershed. Pasadena gets 35% of its water from groundwater sources, the watershed being one of those. And despite these photos, evidence continues to mount that water is becoming more scarce in southern California. Where we live, water shortage is now a permanent condition.

Officials all over southern California are scrambling to buy water. Our own Water Conservation Manager, Nancy Long of Pasadena Water and Power, says "future droughts are inevitable. With Southern California's water supply uncertain, we can't afford to waste it." (current newsletter, page 7)

Those who built the Rose Bowl and the Devil's Gate Dam can be forgiven for building in a watershed. They were ignorant of the the conditions under which we'd live today. We know better.

Come to the Pasadena City Council meeting tomorrow (Monday, 10/17) and have your say. The Council meets at City Hall, 100 North Garfield Avenue, Room S249 at 6:30pm. Hahamongna is the first thing on the agenda so we shouldn't have to stay all night to be heard.

Our city continues to demand that its citizens save water. We're happy to do it. We expect our City to do the same.