In defense of Laguna Creek

Bob Borthwick

Growing up outside of Los Angeles, I loved visiting Laguna Beach. The

ocean was the main attraction, but other coastal communities also had

beautiful beaches. What made Laguna so special to me was the

experience of driving through Laguna Canyon to get to the beach. The

rock outcrops, the oaks on the hillsides, the sycamores in the side

canyons, birds circling and the ever-present feeling of peacefulness

... what better entrance to a village?

The centerpiece of every canyon is its watercourse; in this case,

Laguna Creek. As in any area that is comprised of steep hillsides and

flat canyon bottoms, the flat areas typically get developed first.

So, Laguna Creek has been subjected to manipulation of its natural

watercourse since the town was settled. First came the roadway, which

essentially followed the creek. Next came roadside and Downtown

development, which necessitated channelization of the creek for flood

protection. Little by little, willows ad sycamores along the creek

were uprooted to make way for concrete and structures.

To date, Laguna Creek is a channel from the ocean to Dog Park.

From the Dog Park to El Toro Road, the creek is contained in an

earthen ravine (the area includes the Sun Valley Neighborhood).

Upstream from El Toro Road to the headwaters near Laguna Lakes,

Laguna Creek lacks visual identification due to the original Laguna

Canyon Road construction in the watercourse, and current grading for

the new alignment project.

With the exception of scattered landmark sycamore trees in

undeveloped portions of the canyon, Laguna Creek currently lacks the

visual identity that is pictured in early plein air paintings of the

canyon. Sunset Magazine described these early Laguna artists as

follows: “What they captured in their works as they explored the area

around Laguna remains in some ways the purest portrayal we have of

Southern California. Their depictions of shadowed, green hills

plunging to canyons, sycamores lining gently running creeks, or lines

of white foam against a blue ocean onto an empty beach fixed a vision

of all that once was here ... “

It’s not too late to reclaim this beauty and save Laguna Creek.

All along the creek, native sycamore, oak and willow trees can be

planted to restore the riparian landscape that once was Laguna

Canyon. A pilot project adjacent to the creek and Laguna Canyon Road

in the Dog Park / Verizon area is in the planning stages, with

initial funding by the Beautification Council.

This is not a true creek “restoration” project, since both

concrete and earthen channel portions will remain. However, this

project is about much more than mere creek “beautification.” By

planting native trees that once graced Laguna Canyon, the creek can

once again become the visual thread that links the various segments

together. After the creek begins to re-establish its visual identity

(and thus its dignity and respect), there will hopefully be renewed

energy for water quality cleanup, debris removal and other related

efforts to make Laguna Creek cleaner and more hospitable to wildlife.

This is about renewing the soul of our canyon ... and in a broader

sense, the soul of Laguna.

Restoring Laguna Creek is envisioned as a volunteer effort and has

already been endorsed in concept by the Laguna Greenbelt, the Laguna

Canyon Conservancy and the Laguna Beach Beautification Council.

If you would like to learn more or become involved, there will be

a public Town Hall informational meeting at 7:30 p.m. April 21 in the

City Council chambers. All are welcome.

* BOB BORTHWICK is a landscape architect with a longtime interest

in creeks and waterways. He was appointed by the Orange County Board

of Supervisors to the Aliso Creek Planning Task Group in 1974, was

responsible for designing a portion of the Santa Ana River Greenbelt,

and is currently working on the Village Entrance.