Actor Grand L. Bush delivers powerful speech to save SoCal's endangered river

March 4, 2010 - PRLog -- By the time it was his moment to speak before the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, Grand L. Bush was only allotted a mere sixty seconds to explain why the endangered Santa Clara River should be saved. The veteran Hollywood actor was prepared to spend a standard three minutes at the microphone.

Following a grueling three-hour wait, Bush presented board members with portfolios -- each containing a total of 52 evidential photographs taken by award-winning landscape photographer Peter Goin, head of the "Water in the West" project.

The photographs were commissioned by Animals on the Edge president Leo Grillo. Animals on the Edge is a global conservation group dedicated to preserving the world's ecosystems.

At issue is the Lennar Corporation's plans to build a massive community along the banks of the Santa Clara River. Opposing factions fear that the home builder's plan could destroy Southern California's last major wild river.

More than 38 species of threatened or endangered plants and animals inhabit the river system.

"We ask that you, within the power your voting public has instilled in you, help us
preserve the Santa Clara River from being further destroyed by the Lennar Corporation, which has already choked and re-channeled a section of it in Valencia," Bush read from a prepared statement. "There's nothing we can do about that now. But if you allow it, this same company will thrust this vital water source into extinction."

Although Bush's time had long run out, he continued to appealed to board members, speaking clearly and with great passion at a near breathless accelerated rate.  

"How quickly we are to frown on destruction in developing countries, stopping
hungry bulldozers in their tracks, while turning a blind eye to the fate of our own, the Santa Clara River," Bush continued. "This important ecosystem also courses through the hearts of many who visit from around the globe to vacation or study its wondrous biodiversity."

Bush then informed board members that European wildlife photographer Chris Weston will be teaming with the region's top scientists to document the river's endangered biology.

After Bush was pressured to end his presentation, he received no comment from the board, which included Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Gloria Molina and board members Mark Ridley-Thomas, Don Knabe, Zev Yaroslavsky and Michael Antonovich.

The board approved a revised environmental impact report for Lennar's proposed Newhall Ranch development in 2003.

The general public has until March 17 to voice its opinion about Lennar's newest re-circulated alternative. Letters may be sent to the following:

Enrique Manzanilla, Director
Communities and Ecosystems Division
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
REGION IX
75 Hawthorne Street
San Francisco, CA 94105

Or the public can send an email message to Paul Amato, the lead reviewer of this project, at amato.paul@epa.gov.