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From the "Mustang Daily", January 24, 1996
It's not just another pipeline it's an environmental disaster, some say.
The state water pipeline project is scheduled to begin construction in Poly and Stenner Canyons in late March or early April, cutting through the canyons with a 20 foot wide trench and an even wider construction easement.
And some people are not happy.
From Native American groups that have threatened to sue the Department of Water Resources (DWR) to environmentalists who voice concerns about the impact of digging a trench through natural preserves, questions have have been aired across the state. Cal Poly is no exception.
The pipeline's route, which environmentalists claim can be easily diverted to avoid the most major losses, has come under heavy criticism of late from environmentalists seeking to preserve the natural resources of the canyons resources like a stand of ancient oak trees and sensitive perennial pools.
Pre construction preparations of the pipeline route are scheduled to start next month, according to Bob Kitamura, Poly's director of facilities planning.
There is no question the pipeline will go through. The proposed route is the problem, according to Steve Marx, a Cal Poly English professor.
However, Cal Poly needs to stand its ground and fight against the DWR, Marx said. "There's been no address of the concerns (about the ecological impact)," he added. "As far as I can see, no one cares."
Marx openly questions the methods employed by Cal Poly's administration in dealing with the DWR. "The administration is acting as a buffer between the community and the DWR," Marx said. "They say, 'We're taking care of it, stop making so much noise, we're taking care of it.' "I have no idea what their motives are. Maybe there's some sort of mitigation going on somewhere else maybe down in Long Beach."
Frank Lebens, Cal Poly's vice president for administration and finance, said he believes the methods employed by the university have been effective. He also said taking an aggressive stance would be detrimental. "We've tried to work cooperatively with the DWR," Lebens said. "After all, this is state land we don't get the protection that private land gets. "It's a matter of approach," he continued. "I think we've been fairly successful. We've been able to get a number of concessions over the last two years.'
However, Kitamura said he believes the issues raised by Marx and Phil Ashley, biology department technician, are important. Ashley made the original recommendation for changing the route of the pipeline.
"Their concerns are real," Kitamura said. "They need to air those concerns." Although Kitamura wants Marx and Ashley to speak their minds, he was quick to point out that their opinions are not offficial. "Neither represent the campus," Kitamura said.
However, Kitamura, who does represent the university, is not yet finished in the process. "We're looking at a couple of environmental issues still," he said. Marx said he believes community involvement can still change the proposed route of the pipeline.
"There's a large population here," Marx said. "They can still put a lot of pressure on the DWR to be sane, just to be sane and choose a route that isn't so insane. They've chosen the worst (ecological) route."
Marx wants to get the community, especially Cal Poly students, involved in the pipeline discussion.
"Let's witness what's happening," Marx said. Their whole strategy is that nobody is looking. I'm eager to take people on hikes, just to get people to see what's being destroyed."
For more information about hikes along the proposed state water pipeline route, contact:
Steve Marx at 756-2411 or e-mail him at smarx@calpoly.edu.
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