SAN FERNANDO VALLEY : Katz Urges State to Buy Wetland to Save Wildflower

State Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sylmar), angered by a developer’s threat to remove an endangered wildflower from Big Tujunga Wash, Thursday advocated buying the rugged and environmentally sensitive wetland and making it public parkland.

Katz’s remarks came as Cosmo World Corp. threatened to remove the slender-horned spineflower, a frail and unremarkable-looking endangered plant, from a 355-acre parcel that it wants to develop as a luxury golf club. State officials plan to go to court next week to block Cosmo.

Katz said his office is urging state officials to move quickly against Cosmo. The threat against the spineflower “has galvanized a lot of folks out here,” Katz said. “There are people who are literally ready to chain themselves to the bulldozers if it comes to that.”