Pasadena to Look Into "Swath of Destruction" in Hahamongna (Video)

A Pasadena city committee will be reviewing recent clearing and plant destruction done in Hahamongna Watershed Park during road widening and maintenance work done by So Cal Edison.

Discussion of the issue was brought up at Monday's Pasadena City Council meeting by the Arroyo Seco Foundation director's Tim Brick, who presented the issue during the public comment session.

In the video above, Brick describes the work as creating a "swath of destruction" and questioned why Edison, a private power utility that provides electricity to communities across Southern California, should have access to the park at all.

"It's time for the city to ask the question of why Edison is allowed to continue a commercial operation in the area," Brick said at the meeting.

Photos of the impacts of the recent work taken by Altadena wildlife advocate Lori Paul can be viewed at the Arroyo Seco Foundation website.

Council members agreed to review both the issue of why Edison's current work was done without consulting the city first and the larger issue of whether Edison should continue to have access to the park.

Brick said his understanding is that Edison was granted the easement in the 1940s and said he does not believe Edison has submitted to any environmental review before doing maintenance to the power lines in the park over the years.