by Les Hall

Neighborhood efforts to prevent Santa Ana’s section of Santiago Creek from being turned into a barren flood control channel have been ongoing for about 2 years. It's time for another update, and also past time to recognize and thank those who have assisted.

Most of us learned about what was planned at a public meeting on January 26, 2023 hosted by OC Public Works and the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Not on our radar, but in 1986 a regional USACE flood control project had been authorized by Congress that included Santiago Creek. After almost 40 years they were finally getting to us. Residents were shocked to learn that the project as designed would turn Santiago Creek from the 5 Fwy to the Santa Ana River into a barren flood control, essentially removing all trees and other vegetation.

The Fisher Park Neighborhood Association (Fisher Park NA), other neighborhood associations and residents immediately reached out to our elected representatives for assistance, including Lou Correa, Vicente Sarmiento, Jessie Lopez, Avelino Valencia and Tom Umberg. We also reached out to other organizations and individuals focused on environmental and habitat protection.

Fisher Park NA’s General Meeting on April 26, 2023 focused on Santiago Creek. In addition to Fisher Park residents we also invited residents from other local neighborhoods who all got a crash course in how best to advocate for the protection of the Creek and how to be more effective working with the offices of our political representatives. Guest speakers included Manny Escamilla, Senior Policy Advisor for OC Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento, and Theresa Sears, environmental and community activist from the City of Orange and member of a coalition working for years to protect the entire Santiago Creek Greenbelt.

Another public meeting was scheduled by OC Public Works and the USACE on May 3, 2023. This time local residents were joined by Congressman Lou Correa and staff, including Alison Fox and Claudio Gallegos, Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento and staff, including Manny Escamilla, and Councilwoman Jessie Lopez and staff, including Rudy Rosas from Santa Ana Public Works. Local residents continued to speak out against the USACE plan and were not convinced it was reasonable, given its lack of focus on habitat protection and stormwater capture. Neither were our political representatives, and we continue to be thankful for their strong support.

On September 15, 2023 the USACE released its Draft Supplemental Environmental Assessment and Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (SEA/IS/MND) for its flood control project, which is a legally mandated public notice to give an opportunity for public comments. These public comments become part of the legal record and have the potential to change or stop the project.

Fisher Park NA and local residents continued to lobby in various ways for protection of the Creek: Randi Iggulden (Floral Park resident) posted numerous calls to arms on Nextdoor. Andrew and Erica Moir (Fisher Park residents) designed a flyer for residents to respond to the USACE plan and Fisher Park NA distributed 1,500 copies to neighbors in Fisher Park, West Floral Park, Riverview, Casa de Santiago and Floral Park. Charlie and Molly Martin (West Floral Park residents) created a change.org petition. Voice of OC published an article about Santiago Creek that got the attention of various environmental organizations including Orange County Coastkeeper, Sea and Sage Audubon, the Endangered Habitat League, Friends of the LA River, and the OC Sierra Club, and these organizations and their members continue to support protecting Santiago Creek. The OC Sierra Club sends out periodic updates advocating for protection of Santiago Creek to its 20,000 members, friends and supporters in Orange County. Thank you again to these organizations and residents. We are especially grateful for their assistance.

The USACE and OC Public Works held their last public meeting about their project on November 6, 2023. Congressman Correa attended via Zoom from Washington, DC. Also attending were local Orange County and Santa Ana public representatives, and residents mostly from Santa Ana, the City of Orange and Villa Park. Essentially everyone present spoke against the project.

Fisher Park NA along with several other organizations filed a formal response to the USACE’s SEA/IS/MND on November 30, 2023, as did other organizations and individuals.

On April 4, 2024 Congressman Correa helped coordinate a public presentation by the Orange County Water District (OCWD) discussing water conservation, storage and groundwater replenishment involving both the Santa Ana River and Santiago Creek. Congressman Correa and Justin Gay, Deputy District Engineer the Chief of Programs and Management of the Los Angeles District USACE were also in attendance. The importance of stormwater percolation into local groundwater aquifers was emphasized, and specifically the possibility of controlled waterflow through Santiago Creek for increased periods of time throughout the year for additional groundwater percolation was also discussed.

Progress in the U.S. Congress
USACE projects across the country need to be authorized through biennial legislation, and this year the Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (WRDA) was vigorously negotiated in Congress. Earlier this year Congressman Correa was able to include language in the House version of the WRDA that continues flood control work on upper portions of Santiago Creek, but pauses work on lower Santiago Creek between the 5 Fwy to the Santa Ana River unless and until the project is redesigned to minimize harm to existing trees, especially since it’s one of the last naturalized green spaces still left in Santa Ana. The Senate version of the WRDA was just finalized, and through the efforts of local residents and organizations lobbying California Senators Alex Padilla and Laphonza Butler, and Congressman Correa’s ongoing negotiations, language protecting Santiago Creek’s trees was also just included in the Senate version: Section 1311 contains the language applicable to Santiago Creek. We can all celebrate winning this battle, but there’s still more work to be done.

Fires in Santiago Creek
Several years ago there was a fire in Santiago Creek caused by an individual starting a fire who was subsequently arrested and incarcerated. Recently on Monday, July 22, 2024 there was another fire in the Creek at about 10:00 pm. This one was started next to the Baker Street pedestrian bridge apparently by individuals setting off fireworks. It quickly burned through dry grass and was in the process of igniting a couple large trees before firetrucks from the OC Fire Authority arrived on River Lane and extinguished the fire. However, they needed a chainsaw to cut through a neighbor’s fence to reach the fire. Turns out there was easier access to the fire from the Baker Street cul-de-sac in West Floral Park, but the emergency calls came from the Fisher Park side of Santiago Creek so that’s where the trucks went.
As bad and dangerous as this fire was, there were a few positive developments, the first of which was the OC Fire Authority making better contingency plans for potential future fires in the Creek. Several residents indicated they were contacted by the OC Fire Authority to determine better emergency access locations in case of a fire.

There have always been some jurisdictional issues involving the Baker Street pedestrian bridge. The City of Santa Ana and Santa Ana Public Works are responsible for the bridge over Santiago Creek, and Orange County and OC Public Works maintain the Creek under the bridge, which among other things includes removing dry brush, refuse and tree maintenance (to be discussed later). A few issues re: the Baker Street pedestrian bridge had been unresolved for a long time but were finally addressed. Live branches from trees adjacent to the bridge had been trimmed by OC Public Works a couple years before, but tree trimmers left a large dead branch just hanging next to the bridge. There was also a Canary Island Palm on the other side of the bridge with dead palm fronds on the tree and around its base – a huge fire risk that would have exploded if the fire had reached it. Responsibility for trees adjacent to the bridge with branches blocking it and/or falling into the Creek? Still not 100% clear, but Michelle Micallef, Santa Ana Public Works Community Liaison was contacted after the fire for assistance. Michelle and Nabil Saba, Santa Ana Public Works Director, met and reviewed the situation at the bridge, and despite not resolving actual responsibility they recognized the severe fire risk and immediately had City crews clean up and remove dead branches and palm fronds on and under the trees.

They also identified and corrected a second issue involving the Baker Street pedestrian bridge. Whoever set off fireworks on the night of July 22 were able to do so in darkness and were hard to identify. There are two streetlights near the bridge, one on each side. Turns out one is owned and maintained by the City and the other by SC Edison. Both lights were inspected and now illuminate the bridge at night. Thank you Michelle, Nabil and Santa Ana Public Works for your quick response and assistance to Santa Ana residents.

Orange County Public Works sent an inspector and also recognized the continuing fire danger in Santiago Creek because of large areas of dry grass, dry brush and low hanging dry tree branches. In the past OC Public Works had just sent crews into the Creek without warning or contacting residents. This time through the efforts and oversight of our elected representatives and their offices, a meeting was scheduled on Monday, August 19, 2024 in Jack Fisher Park to discuss brush clearance and tree trimming in Santiago Creek and address residents’ concerns. Hugo Pineda, OC Public Works Sr. Engineering Manager of Maintenance Programs, his staff, joined by Congressman Correa, Supervisor Sarmiento and Councilwoman Lopez, explained their plans and addressed residents’ concerns. Much better than crews just showing up in the Creek with chainsaws.

It also turned out that OC Public Works’ jurisdiction and maintenance obligations for Santiago Creek only applies west of the Flower Street Bridge. The City of Santa Ana and some private residences are responsible for Creek maintenance east of the Flower Street Bridge. OC Public Works’ fire safety work plan only applied to portions of the Creek adjacent to Fisher Park and West Floral Park, and the plans involved 2 steps. The first was the immediate clearance of dry grass and brush, dying vegetation and fallen tree branches. This work was quickly completed and we’re unaware of any problems.

The second step involved trimming some trees for fire safety issues, and also “for the health of trees in the area.” OC Public Works committed to not topping trees, agreeing that actually harms the tree. There was an understanding that some low hanging branches would need removal to preclude a fire ladder effect in the event a fire started on the ground. And an understanding that some additional vegetation might need removal, but OC Public Works committed to exercise restraint and only carefully trim trees and other vegetation where necessary. However, because there are limited reasons for trimming trees for their health, residents remained concerned, but essentially took OC Public Works at their word but would remain vigilant. The main takeaway from this meeting was that OC Public Works was planning to be responsive to residents’ concerns, and that our elected representatives had our backs.

Then another positive thing happened. OC Public Works reached out and offered neighborhood residents the opportunity to walk through the Creek with them before tree trimming commenced, and also planned to bring a representative of their tree trimming company, West Coast Arborists. A limited number of neighbors living in Fisher Park and West Floral Park were contacted, mostly neighbors living adjacent to the Creek who wanted to protect the entire Creek. On Tuesday, September 17, 2024 the group met with OC Public Works staff and their arborist at the Flower Street Bridge and we entered the Creek. Especially because the trimming company seemed overly aggressive when they trimmed trees in the Creek before, there were concerns we were going to have some contentious discussions and disagreements. However, as we walked and discussed what, why and how they planned to trim there was a surprising consensus and little disagreement. Mainly their plan was to just remove dead branches, a few branches dangerously overhanging residents’ property lines and branches that blocked passage of maintenance and emergency vehicles (16’-16.5’ clearance required). We also confirmed trees wouldn’t be topped and upper tree canopies wouldn’t be removed or thinned. There was also some discussion about the need to trim some high and dry vegetation, especially if it reached the bottom of trees. Also discussed was maintaining some amount of “line of sight” under dense vegetation to see what or who might be there.

Fisher Park had invited Joel Robinson, a tree expert from Naturalist-for-You, to accompany our group and assist with independent professional advice as needed. However, both Joel and the arborist basically agreed on everything and it seemed an educational and positive experience for everyone involved. Our thanks to Joel and also to the Fisher Park and West Floral Park neighbors who participated in planning and/or in walking Santiago Creek with OC Public Works: Andrew and Erica Moir, Mike and Maggie Miller, Tom Cannon, Helen Palermo, Ted Mendres, Charlie and Molly Martin, Phil Schaefer and Peter Schutt. Mainly it was a great opportunity to improve coordination, cooperation and develop a more positive working relationship with OC Public Works. Before trimming, OC Public Works even sent a plan and diagram of where and what they were going to trim, and trimming has been completed.

New USACE Plan
Going forward we’re still hoping the USACE’s new plan is a good one. When they revise the plan we’ll still have the chance to review it again. There’s clearly some work that eventually should be done to counter erosion and shore up some of the Creek walls, but definitely nothing close to the original plan that required tree removal and total destruction of Santiago Creek’s natural habitat.

For a long time most neighborhood residents took the Creek’s natural habitat for granted. Beautiful mature trees and other vegetation made even greener during rainy seasons. Owls, hawks and other wildlife living in a bird sanctuary. But for Orange County and Santa Ana this area has also been seen as a liability for flood, fire and maintenance issues. We still have additional work to convince them that this area is more of a valuable asset to be preserved and protected, and less just a liability to be dealt with. Additional Santa Ana residents have become aware of the value of the Creek and its natural habitat, and we also have the support of our elected representatives and they understand our commitment to protecting the Creek. Environmental organizations like Orange County Coastkeeper, Sea and Sage Audubon, the Endangered Habitat League, Friends of the LA River and the OC Sierra Club recognize the Creek’s value to Orange County’s entire ecosystem, and they continue to support protecting its natural habitat and we are extremely thankful for their help.

Residents in Santa Ana where the lower Santiago Creek is located continue to support and be supported by residents and organizations in the City of Orange and Villa Park where the upper Santiago Creek is located. There was a successful effort to prevent a wetlands adjacent to upper Santiago Creek (the Hurwitz/Chandler site) from being turned into a landfill by its owners. The property was transferred to the City of Orange and will be preserved as natural open space. This wetlands will also act as a safety valve to absorb stormwater and reduce some of the flood risk along lower Santiago Creek.

There have also been some preliminary discussions with the Santa Ana Parks, Recreation and Community Services Agency and the Parks Commission about the possibility of creating a Limited Access Habitat Preservation Park in a portion of the Creek where docent led tours, local schools and residents could visit, but the park would exist mainly for habitat preservation. As such it would be more recognized and supported as an asset of the entire City of Santa Ana. There have also been preliminary commitments from Santa Ana to commence periodic mounted police or ranger security patrols in Santiago Creek.

The Santa Ana Zoo is also aware of the significance and value of the Creek’s natural habitat, and would support efforts to revitalize it with additional controlled water flows that would also increase percolation and help recharge local groundwater resources. The Santa Ana Zoo has a mission beyond its physical location to educate the public about the importance of the environment and habitat preservation, and plans to use all of Santa Ana’s parks to accomplish this mission. They recently opened the Santiago Creek ECO Center in Santiago Park, and they’re considering installing owl boxes and bat houses at the ECO Center, and even Jack Fisher Park, other City parks and maybe additional parts of Santiago Creek. Efforts to increase community support, assistance and to develop additional ideas for protecting Santiago Creek’s habitat continue.