To: Fran Pavley, California State Senator, Julia Brownley, California State Assemblymember, Zev Yaroslavsky, Los Angeles County Supervisor, Michael Miles, Director, Caltrans District 7, Craig Sap, Angeles District Superintendent, California ...
NO MORE POISON
The undersigned agree that:
1) The use of toxic chemicals to kill unwanted plants, insects, and animals in the Topanga Creek watershed presents a risk of undesirable, unknown, and unintended consequences that is unacceptable to us.
2) We demand that any entity operating in the Topanga Creek watershed, including all governmental, quasi-governmental, non-profit, not-for-profit, and for-profit entities, immediately and permanently refrain from using toxic chemicals to kill plants, insects, or animals in this watershed.
3) We call on all Topanga residents and businesses, and those who work for them, to immediately and permanently refrain from using toxic chemicals to kill plants, insects, or animals on their property, and to employ non-toxic methods of pest control instead.
Why is this important?
The Topanga Creek Watershed is a fragile and important ecosystem, home to over 8,000 people and a rich variety of native plants and animals, including endangered species.
For many years community members have tried to stop the dispersal of toxic chemicals designed to kill unwanted plants and animals, and to urge the adoption of non-toxic methods of pest control.
Despite our efforts, in April and May of 2012 Caltrans resumed spraying herbicide along the side of Topanga Canyon Boulevard, and California State Parks, along with our elected officials, have continued to allow herbicide to be dispersed in Lower Topanga.
We are now calling for all citizens, elected officials, and entities operating in our watershed to finally respect the will of the community, and to end their participation in or support for this antiquated, short-sighted, and dangerous practice.
For more information about the Topanga Creek Watershed Committee and non-toxic methods of weed and pest control, please go to www.TopangaCreekWatershedCommittee.org.