UPDATE:
The county plan was conceived with sensitivity to the environment.
The plan is to use concrete mixed with local rock to shore up the sides of the wash. This is expected to reduce or prevent the erosion that has been occurring. This shoring will still allow water to soak into the ground from the wash rather than funnel the water away.
In addition, there will be barriers designed to slow the water down. This will in theory reduce the amount of mud and rock being carried down the wash and ending up on the low bridges.
The county is going to remove trees from the area during the project. However, after the work is finished in the wash the county will replace the trees in a managed fashion. Currently the area is very overgrown and many of the trees are intertwined in such a way that the county has deemed the area a fire hazard.
Not sure if I agree completely with them about that. But they’re not going to be clear cutting.
Here is a PDF of an artists rendering of the completed project.
There is a meeting scheduled on July 18 from 5 PM to 7:30 PM at the Old Museum. This is an open meeting to all who have concerns or questions about the project. There is a full size poster of the project on display at the Community Center.
I don’t know how many folks from the area read this blog but I’m going to post this just in case.
Your County Tax Dollars at Work!
A 3.6 Million Dollar Atrocity
The County of San Bernardino is once again showing up with plans to do a bunch of “necessary” work. In keeping with their normal method of operation.
If completed, their plans will devalue our property and the natural beauty of Wrightwood.
This time it’s the Eastern Sheep Creek wash.
For years San Bernardino County has spent a fortune each year to keep the low bridges on Lone Pine Canyon Road and Highway 2 from being washed out.
Their efforts have consisted of digging the wash itself out. This has made the wash deeper and more narrow, increasing the speed and force of water flowing in the wash, during Spring melt and heavy rains.
Instead of raising the bridge, the county “engineers” keep trying to lower the river.
They’re apparently confused as to why their efforts have only made matters worse.
In years past, before the county’s modifications, the wash was more like a creek that rarely rushed fast enough to move Volkswagen sized boulders or substantial amounts of mud.
These days, after a rain the water is a rushing torrent which presents a danger to anyone who may be near the wash edge, causing considerable erosion as well.
The County’s Final Solution is to concrete the sides of the wash. To turn the scarred eyesore they created, into a monstrosity like the LA River. Thereby completely destroying the natural beauty of the area.
Where will all the water go? Past Highway 2 and beyond, into homes North of Desert Front road. What had been a rarely flooded area will become another “project” for the San Bernardino Engineers.
It gets better! The county is also planning to remove a wide swath of trees on both sides of the wash. So instead of having a rather nice view down onto the desert… Our view will look more like the surface of the moon. No doubt the county will keep the area clear so that they can have access to maintain the concrete barriers.
This will affect every single homeowner on both sides of the wash. Not only in devaluing our property but also our enjoyment of our homes and the area.
We all moved here because we appreciate the beauty of our surroundings. We chose not to live in LA, OC, or San Bernardino. We chose earth beneath our feet and trees growing wild… not a concrete jungle.
The county “Engineers” forget that we the residents and homeowners have the right to be informed and presented with their plans.
Lets remind them, help put a stop to this obscenity.
Unfortunately time is short.
This project will go before the Board of Supervisors on July 9th.
This is item 52 on the agenda for the meeting.
For those of you who can attend, the meeting begins at 10am in the San Bernardino Government Center.
Located at 385 N. Arrowhead Ave. San Bernardino, CA 92401
The irony is that LA has undertaken a project called the LA River remediation project. This is a project costing hundreds of millions of dollars to return the LA river to it’s natural state.
Yet the myopic San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors is willing to spend millions to create an eyesore like the LA river.
The solution is the same solution as back in the 1930s. Build bridges that clear the washes by a substantial margin. Not a bare 3 to 5 feet.
Had the county spent the same money they’ve spent in yearly bulldozing, clearing and “Flood Control” over the past 25 years, on simply building two proper bridges. By now we’d have shiny stainless steel suspension bridges plated in gold crossing sheep creek wash at Hwy 2 and Lone Pine Canyon road.
We’d also have well a well maintained Hwy 138, Hwy 2, and roads throughout Wrightwood.
Contact the Deputy Director of Flood Control Regarding Granite Sheepcreek Project.
Kevin Blakeslee (909) 387-7918
kblakeslee@dwp.sbcount.gov
and his boss
Director Gerry Newcombe (909) -387-7906
Fax (909) 387-8130
Let them know what you think of the plan.
A 14 year old in West Virginia was wearing a t-shirt at school like the one at the right. (I pulled this image from the 
