Friends of Whittier Narrows

The Place 01 / 07

The Place

A Piece of Wild
Los Angeles.

In the midst of overdeveloped Greater Los Angeles, exists a stretch of the San Gabriel River in the last 40 miles from the San Gabriel Mountains to the ocean. It passes through the Whittier Narrows Natural Area.

The Natural Area has over 300 species of birds, two Endangered, others Threatened and of Special Concern. It was described by a local woman whose family did not travel for vacations as, "My Yosemite."

A young local man said when he visited, he was in awe to see more than one tree together like a forest. The core area was set aside by the National Audubon Society as a preserve in 1939 — the first Audubon center west of the Mississippi. The Gabrieleño Band of Mission Indians Kizh Nation calls it their historical sacred land.

300+Bird Species

1939Year Preserved

2Endangered Species

Hand-drawn map of Whittier Narrows Natural Area along the San Gabriel River

The Threat — 2006

They Planned to
Demolish Everything.

In the fall of 2006, Grace Allen, president of the Whittier Narrows Nature Center Associates, alerted others about a multi-government agency — The San Gabriel River Discovery Center Authority (DC). They were planning to demolish the Nature Center and replace it with a mega building complex.

The project would eliminate dozens of trees for the preferred option: a 20,000 square foot main building with a 114-space parking lot.

$22MPublic Tax Dollars

20,000Sq Ft Building

114Parking Spaces

Illustration of a bulldozer clearing trees at Whittier Narrows

Alert & Action — 2007

Friends Is
Formed.

Among the initial people recruited by Grace Allen were a university professor biologist, nature center volunteers including local bird expert Ed Barajas. In September 2006 we participated in the Scoping Meeting for the DC, a requirement of the California Environmental Quality Act.

At first, what became Friends of the Whittier Narrows Natural Area was an informal group. But in 2007 we thought we needed a lawsuit to stop them and had to raise funds for it. In August of 2007, we formed the nonprofit 501(c)3 Friends of Whittier Narrows Natural Area.

Local young people exploring Whittier Narrows Natural Area

Organizing — 2008–2010

Taking the
Fight Public.

During these years, Friends continued to provide information to the community. We organized art shows, poetry readings, community picnics, and went to city council meetings. We spoke at schools and intervened at public meetings.

On one public Earth Day at the Sanitation District, officials threatened us and told us to leave. We informed them of our free speech rights and stayed.

From 2007 and 2008 the Significant Ecological Area Technical Advisory Committee (SEATAC) of the Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning met several times on the DC project. On May 5, 2008, SEATAC voted not to recommend the project.

May 2008SEATAC Votes Against

Community members gathered after a picket at Whittier Narrows

Petition & Pressure — 2010–2011

1,100 Voices
Against.

In January 2010, the DC voted to build their second largest alternative: a 14,000 sq ft facility and 114-space parking lot. In the vote they recognized destruction of existing natural area, affecting endangered birds, use of more global water, and contributing to climate change. Their rationalization was that it was more "important for the children."

In 2010, the Kizh Nation joined the fight to save their sacred land at Whittier Narrows. In 2011, we submitted a petition against the DC signed by 1,100 people. During this time the DC was setting up unannounced presentations at city council, school board and campus meetings — so that Friends could not intervene. But we found out about many anyway because we kept tabs on internet announcements posted at the last minute.

1,100Petition Signatures

2010Kizh Nation Joins

Kizh Nation chief speaking about protecting sacred land at Whittier Narrows

The Trial — February 2011

"The Project
Is Illegal."

"The project is in violation of the California Environmental Quality Act." — Judge Toribio, Superior Court of California

In February 2011, Judge Toribio of the Superior Court of California ruled in favor of Friends of Whittier Narrows. The DC's Environmental Impact Report was found inadequate. The project was declared illegal.

The DC appealed. Friends continued to fight. The legal battle stretched on for years.

Courtroom scene during the Whittier Narrows legal trial, February 2011

Victory — 2014–2017

Nothing
Can Be Built.

In 2014 and 2015, the Army Corps of Engineers announced that the Whittier Narrows Dam was structurally unsafe and needed to be reinforced to meet the new conditions brought by climate change in the San Gabriel Mountains and the San Gabriel River.

In 2017, the Corps made the final declaration: there would be no building. They said they had to protect habitat and that archaeological studies were needed. Most importantly, the current dam is a threat to the over one million people downstream.

2017 — Nothing Can Be Built. The Natural Area is Protected.

Whittier Narrows Natural Area wetlands and open space

My Yosemite.

— A local woman, describing Whittier Narrows

In the midst of overdeveloped Greater Los Angeles, there is a place where herons stand in still water, where coyotes move through tall grass, and where over 300 species of birds have found sanctuary. This is the story of the people who refused to let it disappear.

Those Who Stood With Us

The Community
That Refused to Yield.

University professors, professional biologists, and SEATAC committee members who documented the ecological importance of the Natural Area and testified to its irreplaceable value.

The Gabrieлеño Band of Mission Indians Kizh Nation, whose ancestral sacred land includes Whittier Narrows, joined the fight in 2010 and brought national attention to the cause.

Young people, poets, and artists who organized art shows, poetry readings, and community picnics — turning a legal fight into a cultural movement rooted in the neighborhood.

Over 1,100 residents who signed the petition, showed up to city council meetings, and carried hand-drawn signs that said what everyone felt: Save Whittier Narrows. I Speak for the Trees.

Scientists and biologists at Whittier Narrows

Students and artists at Whittier Narrows

Young protester holding a sign at Whittier Narrows

The Record

The Story: timeline of saving Whittier Narrows

A Piece of WildLos Angeles.

My Yosemite — a quote about Whittier Narrows

The CommunityThat Refused to Yield.

Gallery.

A Piece of Wild
Los Angeles.

The Community
That Refused to Yield.