The uproar over the recent Army Corps of Engineers' actions at the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve is continuing. And our friends at the San Fernando Valley Audubon Society tell us that they aren't going to let up until things are made right again. San Fernando Audubon has a lot more about this on its website, including some stunning before and after photos (the photo above is from the chapter of what used to be a wooded pond).

This week, Audubon California weighed in on the issue with a letter to the Army Corps supporting the position of the local chapter, and encouraging the Corps to do the right thing. Here's the full text of the letter:

To: Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District

On behalf of Audubon California and our more than 150,000 members and supporters in California I wish to express our deep concern about the circumstances surrounding the Corps’ recent actions at the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve – actions that have harmed the capacity of this important urban wildlife area to support populations of resident and migratory bird species protected by both state and federal law.

The issue first came to our attention just before the Christmas holiday by our local chapter, the San Fernando Valley Audubon Society, a highly respected group that has enjoyed and helped restore habitat in the Sepulveda Basin for several decades. Upon our further inspection, it is clear the Corps did not adequately reach out to the community to determine a course of action that could accomplish the stated goals of the project while sustaining the wildlife values of this unique area.

We fully endorse the position established by the San Fernando Valley Audubon Society in their ongoing discussions with the Corps to remedy the damage done.

Audubon both appreciates and respects the mission and the world of the Army Corps to keep our nation safe and to be exemplary stewards of the environment. Audubon has worked successfully with the Corps on projects in other venues notably the South Fork of the Kern River that have improved both public safety and environmental protection. The situation at Sepulveda Basin does not meet the standard of resource stewardship and partnership that we know the Corps holds very high and we urge you to learn from this experience and embark on a shared course of action that restores the area’s habitat values.

Sincerely,

Dan Taylor

Director of Public Policy

Audubon California