Nov 26 2010
Proposed chain-link fence at Lake Casitas is a huge mistake and waste of money
Written by Suza Francina on November 1, 2010
To a wild animal there is a world of difference between the current open barbed-wire fence and a six-foot chain link fence topped with barbed wire.
In spite of the protests of the Ojai Wildlife League and other citizens since last May, the California Bureau of Reclamation has approved the Casitas Municipal Water District’s request for a mile long six-foot high chain-link fence topped with three strands of barbed wire.
According to the “Categorical Exclusion Checklist” report, the proposed chain-link fence will replace the existing barbed-wire fencing, that was built when Lake Casitas opened in 1960. It is expected to cost $140,000 and will be erected along the current fence line around the northeast border of the Lake Casitas Recreation Area, along Santa Ana Road.
The new fence is being characterized as no more than a replacement of the original. The “Categorical Exclusion” report states that “In general, the new fence would take up the same footprint as the existing barbed wire fencing…”
It is our opinion that the process used to come to this conclusion is flawed. To a wild animal there is a world of difference between the current open barbed-wire fence and a six-foot chain link fence topped with barbed wire.
The Casitas Lake area is pastoral open space with hundreds of deer and other wildlife dependent on the Lake Casitas water supply, especially during the hot summer months. The lake is a sanctuary for wildlife. Residents who walk this area early in the morning have observed many animals coming down from the hills, crossing the road and going through the existing fence to get to the water.
The Ojai Wildlife League (OWL) is concerned that if animals cannot get through the proposed chain-link fence using existing wildlife corridors, that they will be in serious trouble.
Along with other members of OWL I walked the fence line with a map of the new plan in hand. Unlike the proposed chain-link fence, the current fence is low enough and has openings so that wildlife coming down from the hills across from Santa Ana road can go under, over and even in between the strands of the fence to get to the lake to drink.
The public has been told that eleven sections of the new fence (about 20% of its length) will consist of the original barbed wire. According to the report: “In some areas where the existing barbed-wire fencing is still functional across drainages and high points, the barbed-wire fencing would be left in place in order to facilitate animal passage.”
As I and the other OWL members walked the area, we tried to visualize how animals coming down from the hills would find their way to these openings in order to have access to the lake.
A biologist and longtime resident in the area who has spent many years observing animals cross Santa Ana Road pointed out that deer prefer to jump in areas that are level with the road on both sides of the fence, not across drainages and high points.
Wildlife looking for openings in a fence this close to the road have a much greater chance of being killed or injured and causing vehicle accidents and injury to humans.
Public Safety Concerns
The rationale that the public has been given for this new fence is that there is a need for security for the public water supply. In addition, the threat of the invasive Quagga mussel is still present, and the perimeter of the lake needs to be protected from illegal boat entry.
It is the position of the Ojai Wildlife League (OWL) that there are other ways to address these issues, that allow animals safe passage to drink from the lake. These alternatives include the use of more wildlife friendly permeable fencing, more of the existing wooden posts around the lake that prevent boats from entering illegally, more signs with stiff fines for illegal boat entry, etc.,
All across the country fences create barriers and traps for wildlife, from large animals to birds, causing injuries and often slow, painful deaths.
A guide entitled “How to Build A Fence With Wildlife in Mind,” explains that even when animals do clear fences or crawl underneath or through them they often bear countless scars from wire strands. Saddest of all, some fences are barriers to fawns and calves, even if adults can jump over. Separated from their mothers, the youngsters curl up and die of starvation, stranded and unable to follow the herd.
It is not possible to protect every source of drinking water by surrounding it with a fence. This would include every river and stream if those watercourses eventually ran into lakes and reservoirs. All of the Ventura River, Coyote Creek and the North Fork of Matilija Creek would need to be fenced off. Santa Ana Creek and North Fork Coyote Creek also flow into the lake.
The irony is that even with the proposed new fence trespassers can still enter through the spaces allowed for animal passage. And even barbed wire topped chain-link fences can be rendered useless with a pair of heavy-duty bolt cutters.
If the fence is supposed to be for the security of our drinking water one wonders how a fence is going to stop an airdrop of some massive quantity of poison in the middle of the night, or other clandestine activity?
How is a fence going to stop a terrorist from paying his $10 entry fee, driving a van to some easily accessible piece of shoreline, and discharging some substance into the lake in broad daylight?
It is impossible to make our water supply completely safe, even if we had airport like security at the Casitas gate entrance! There are too many points of entry and they can’t all be protected.
In addition to these concerns, there is the issue of safety. This fence is right along a main artery to the lake and sees lots of traffic, especially during weekends, holidays and special events.
The fence is located between speeding car traffic and the lake, with wildlife caught in the middle. What happens when a herd of deer that is accustomed to jumping the old fence is faced with this new higher chain-link barbed wire topped fence?
Do we fully understand the safety issues both for humans driving by the fence, especially at night, and the consequences of forcing different kinds of animals to share small openings to access water?
Instead of spreading out the nightly animal migration to the lake, this fence would be funneling all of the wildlife into a handful of small openings.
Wildlife corridors are miles wide, not a few feet wide. Some of the openings in the proposed fence are in brush filled barancas that deer do not usually push their way through. Deer usually stay in open areas where they can jump and flee from predators. The other three sides of the lake are not only heavily brushed they are mostly upslope and steep terrain.
There will be many different kinds of wildlife traffic funneled into these small openings: deer, foxes, coyotes, bears, skunks, raccoons, road runners, opossums, squirrels, wild cats, feral cats, feral pigs and mountain lions, some with their offspring following along.
This chain-link fence creates a situation that forces animals into small openings on a road where people often travel over 50 mph, slowing down at the curves or the natural inclines of the road. On a moon-lit night drivers tend to look at the lake and are often not giving the road their full attention. This could translate into accidents on a road that has no lighting at night.
OWL has contacted CMWD Board Members, public officials, wildlife biologists and other experts to express their concerns about the impact of this chain link fence.
If there must be a new fence, OWL is advocating permeable fencing rather than chain link and recommends that the Board reconsider its decision and adopt this more animal friendly type of fencing.
The proposed chain-link barbed wire topped fence is slated for construction in mid November. There is only a very small window of time to voice our objections and ask the CMWD Board and those who have jurisdiction over the Board to reconsider this decision..
The Ojai Valley is known as a community that protects open space and respects wildlife. Lake Casitas is visited every year by wildlife enthusiasts and educators from all over Ventura County and beyond. It should be a model for coexistence between humans and animals.
The consequences of this proposed chain ink fence in this open space watershed will be devastating for years to come.
It is not too late to call the Bureau and Casitas Water board members and express your concerns about the proposed chain-link fence.
Here’s the link for the Casitas Board info.:
http://www.casitaswater.org/lower.php?url=board-of-directors
richhandley@yahoo.com
Richard Handley
reygacho@netzero.net
Russ Baggerly
prefkaiser@earthlink.net
Pete Kaiser
hicki@aol.com
Bill Hicks
anjword@sbcglobal.net
Jim Word
Suza Francina is a former mayor of Ojai and a founding member of the Ojai Wildlife League.