Water board votes in favor of Lazy River project
by Kelly Feser Eells

Having been at the center of many an "upstream" battle, the alternative swimming facility proposed for the recreation area at Lake Casitas has earned the right to relax - or to at least become a Lazy River.
At its Sept. 11 meeting, Casitas Municipal Water District's board of directors voted unanimously in favor of the project, "finding no significant environmental impact," adopting a formal resolution (negative declaration of environmental impact report) to that effect, and authorizing General Manager John Johnson "to release the project for bid."
The board also thanked "all the community members who had come forward in favor" of the project, several of whom were in the audience. "It's a pleasure seeing so much effort being made by the community," said board director Jim Coultas, "on the project's behalf; so much positive input. I always suspected the negative input would be small."
While there was no negative input at Wednesday's meeting, the project had been stymied by charges that it would increase traffic; compromise bio-resources; was poorly planned - complaints lodged, primarily, by the Audubon Society.
"The Audubon's position," said Johnson, "was that this facility would greatly increase traffic. We responded by looking at the existing water playground (Blue Heron), and saw that the number of annual visitors, 750,000 to 800,000 per year, had remained fairly constant.
"There's more evidence that weather affects visitor activity," Johnson added, indicating that enhancing existing recreational opportunities would not translate to more cars but to more enjoyable stays. "In addition, the hours of operation aren't peak traffic hours." He explained that the water playground opens after most people have left for their morning commute, and closes after most have returned home.
"Their next issue was the viewshed," said Johnson. "We pointed out that most of this project is underground. Lights, perhaps a bridge or two, and landscaping is all that's above ground. As for lights, another concern, the lake already and always has had lights - the recreation area, RV area, maintenance areas. It, the lake, isn't the 'dark' area they say it is."
Johnson further noted that, "as for the 'sensitive habitat' issue, well, there is no insensitive (recreational activity) in this one- to one-and-a-half acre area. And no agency, county, state, or otherwise, has identified any sensitive bio-resources" in this area. There was also a concern about land use," added Johnson, "but this is an area that has been operated as recreational for more than 40 years. We've, basically, reconstructed existing facilities all to the betterment" of the property, he said, citing examples like the installation of hookups that "reduce gas consumption" and RV pads, "which have kept the dirt from flying," etc.
Riverside Street resident Sharon Troll said, "I applaud you for being so patient with this" project and its dissenters. "I'm employed by the Boys and Girls Club of Ventura and, while I'm very passionate about our natural resources and wildlife, I'm even more passionate about children."
Ojai resident Bea Foley asked the board's permission to "submit all these signatures I've collected" in support of the project. "Over 500, which I collected within two days, and an additional 50 I collected today. And there would be even more, I'm sure, if I had more time," she chuckled, adding that she has long been in favor of the project.
"I first heard about it when I went to make a reservation for a party for my grandkids (at Blue Heron) and couldn't get in. And I agree with Mrs. Troll that, we're not going to be able to teach our children how to respect the environment without giving them adequate opportunity to learn how."
Miss Teen Oak View, Elizabeth Tousignant, agreed. "I'm all for it. Growing up in Oak View, well, there wasn't much to do (for me). But my little brothers and sisters love having a water playground, and this project would be a great addition" for all ages.

© 2002 The Ojai Valley News

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