Seven Uprooted Sycamore Trees to be Reused at Malibu Lagoon

Seven, 30-year-old sycamore trees uprooted this week during the overhaul of the Malibu Lagoon will be reused within the project, a California State Parks official said Thursday.

The trees were downed by a bulldozer as part of a process called "grubbing," which is the removal of vegetation.

Suzanne Goode, a Senior Environmental Scientist for State Parks, said the sycamores will not be taken off site.

"About three of them are going to be put in the bottom of the lagoon for fish habitat and to create a little roosting area for birds. A couple of them are going to be turned into benches for the park for the amphitheater."

She said the trees were not in their preferred habitat.

"We can’t leave them there. It’s going to be a salt marsh," Goode said.

Opponents of the project have raised alarms over the recent work, alleging that animals were killed during the bulldozing.

"I saw trees uprooted with roots exposed in the air. I've seen animals taken away in buckets. I see no evidence of any dewatering permits that are in draft form. I've seen the lagoon mysteriously breach on Saturday night," Damon Duval said while sitting on the corner of Pacific Coast Highway and Cross Creek Road in Malibu Thursday.

Alessandra DeClario of Malibu, who also sat on the street corner surrounded by signs protesting the project, said she is upset that California State Parks has come in and "taken over our town."

"I'm upset because I know animals are being killed. I don't have to be told. I could feel it," DeClario said.

Wendy Werner, who is opposed to the project, said she witnessed animals being chucked into buckets.

"I have video of them going into bushes after they were bulldozing. They’ve got nets and buckets and they’re going in there and taking animals after they bulldoze. They’re not supposed to do that," Werner said.

Dave Ruth -- who serves as a liaison between California State Parks, the lead agency on the project, and the contractor Ford E.C., Inc. -- said he walks the project site every 20 minutes and has not seen any animals killed from the bulldozers.

"Absolutely not. We've probably come close to running over a few people by accident. I think there are more people than animals here right now," Ruth said.

He said in the past few days he has seen a mole, some field mice and lizards.

"All the people who are here care about the animals, the fish, the birds, the wildlife," Ruth said.

Craig Sap, District Supervisor for the Los Angeles District, said the California Coastal Commission gave State Parks the go ahead to begin removing vegetation, even though its dewatering plan is in draft form.

"We did receive clarification we are allowed to do everything up to dewatering," Sap said. The contractor is working to update the dewatering plan with the lagoon's current conditions, which is required under the permit.

He added that no tidewater gobies have been found in the lagoon's channels.