LOS ANGELES, CA – It is a common joke in Los Angeles that nobody walks, but that is not the case in Orange County. Just steps away from the 133 in Laguna Beach is a wide-open space – where the only traffic is foot traffic.
- OCTA buying natural land
- Offsetting environmental impacts of freeway projects
- 1,300 acres preserved
Melanie Schlotterbeck loves to explores nature – or what is left of it. Schlotterbeck said she has gridlock to thank for places like this.
“It’s important for us to have a place to go exercise, recreate and find solace,” Schlotterbeck said.
Spectrum News went to a property in Laguna Beach with Lesley Hill, a biologist with the Orange County Transportation Authority. The spot is the latest of seven parcels of natural land the OCTA bought to offset many of the freeway projects all over Orange County.
The construction projects include expanding Interstate 5, and the widening Interstate 405, between State Route 73 and 605. While traffic relief sounds good, biologists are pointing out that residents share California’s land.
“I was born and raised in OC there’s not a lot of habitat left that’s why we have endangered species,” Hill said.
All the properties purchased came from willing sellers. However, Hill said even though the 1,300 acres preserved do offset some of the environmental impacts of the freeway projects, there is bloodshed.
“This is what it used to be. So when that gets more and more pinched down, the animals that depend on it and can’t move anywhere else have nowhere else to go,” Hill said.
Schlotterbeck appreciated the acres preserved so far, but it still pains her to see the overdevelopment of the natural landscapes.
“I struggle when animals are displaced or killed on the sides of roadways because we tend to be encroaching on their habitat,” said Schlotterbeck.
According to Schlotterbeck, we need to be careful of the concrete footprint we put on society.
“It’s a relief for me as a hiker environmentalist to see my grandchildren will be able to hike with me,” Schlotterbeck said.