Four tree sitters brought drama to an environmental clash in Arcadia, but could not prevent LA County officials from sacrificing an oak grove for a flood control project.
Four were arrested for trespassing after sitting in the tree.
By day's end Wednesday, the county's contractor had cleared half of the 11 acre site, according to LA County Public Works spokesman Bob Spencer. He said crews were working around two trees in which the tree sitters had taken position before dawn.
At least one of them could be seen on a wooden platform wedged into place between branches.
But going into the night, the tree sitters still refused to budge. One of them was identified as John Quigley, the activist who previously attracted attention eight years ago when he occupied an oak tree in Santa Clarita's Pico Canyon in order to prevent the tree from being moved to make way for development.
Devising a way to remove Quigley from the tree back then took Sheriff's deputies more than two months.
This new struggle focuses on a grove of some 179 oaks in the mouth of Santa Anita Canyon, in property purchased by LA County for flood control half a century ago. Spencer said Public Works needs to remove erosion debris that has accumulated upcanyon in the Santa Anita reservoir, and plans to use a conveyor belt to move that debris to the site of the grove after it is cleared.
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The site has long been marked "no trespassing," though some neighbors have gates allowing access from their backyards.
Protestors contend the county should have found another location to spare the oaks.
"To dump mud and silt there is crazy," Quigley told NBCLA via cellphone from his perch in the tree, adding "I'm going to maintain my position as long as I can."
After that inital cellphone conversation with Quigley, NBCLA tried to reach him again, but every call went straight to voice mail, which was already full. One of Quigley's allies in the efforts said his cellphone battery had run out of power.
Other protestors took position at the east end of Elkins Drive, in front of the gate that leads to the public works property. When Sheriff's deputies warned the two women to move or face arrest, they agreed to quit their post. But by early evening, more demonstrators, incuding actress and activist Daryl Hannah, arrived at the location for a candlelight vigil in support of the tree sitters and their cause.
Deputies from the Sheriff's Temple City Station remained on scene into the night. Capt. Joe
Fennell said negotiators had tried to talk down the tree sitters.
The tree sitters were taken into custody overnight.
