ahamongna Watershed Park is made up of about 1,300 acres, between Devil’s Gate Dam and the Arroyo Seco Canyon on the northwestern edge of Pasadena.

haha In November 2005 the city of Pasadena purchased some land from Metropolitan Water District, which added 30 acres of beautiful, oak-filled open space to the park. This additional acreage is known as the Hahamongna Annex.

The annex has been incorporated into the Hahamongna Watershed Park Master Plan (HMP), which establishes a framework for recreation, water resources, flood management, land use, habitat restoration and cultural resources in the area.

Every master plan is required by law to include a master environmental report about potential environmental impacts that may be associated with a project – traffic, air quality, noise and others – and determines which ones are significant and how they could be mitigated (reduced) if necessary. Such a report was adopted by city council in 2003 for the HMP.

The annex is considered a new project because it came into being after the adoption of the original park master plan, and its environmental impacts must be evaluated. Therefore, an environmental report, called an initial study (IS), has been prepared to determine whether the proposed HMP annex activities may cause any additional impacts that were not analyzed in the Arroyo Seco Master Environmental Impact Report (EIR); the IS also identifies the mitigation measures from the master EIR that are applicable to the HMP annex.

Sometimes these environmental reports include references to previously proposed components of a project that were never approved and therefore are not included in the final plan. This is the case with two potential impacts that are included in the EIR for the HMP but are not included in the plan itself: a large parking structure and a new, paved road through the park.

Several options were considered for a parking structure within the park, but such a structure was never recommended and therefore is not in the plan; the possibility of extending the existing park road was evaluated as well, but after strong opposition from the public and the Hahamongna Watershed Park Advisory Committee, the option of the road extension was not included in the plan.

The final draft of the annex plan, the IS and a schedule for the project can be found at www.cityofpasadena.net (click on Hahamongna Annex under “Hot Topics”). The plan has been going through review by various commissions and committees and will go to the city council in September.

For more information call 744-4321.

Your Personal Guide to the Arroyo

One of the country’s most beautiful natural areas is right in your backyard. Now you can carry a full-color guide in your back pocket!

The Arroyo Seco Trails Guide, published by the Parks and Natural Resources Division of the Public Works Department, shows – and tells – you the best places to walk, hike, jog, ride a horse, bike, fish or picnic throughout the spacious preserve.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and home to a treasure trove of flora and fauna, the arroyo spans eight miles through Pasadena from the mountains to our southern city limits.

In addition to marking 22 miles of trails, the guide details the area’s rich history, ecosystem and landmarks. It also notes bridges, streams, trailheads, picnic areas, restrooms, parking lots, bus stops and recreational facilities, making it easy to plan your next adventure.

Find the guide at any Pasadena library or community center, City Hall, Permit Center, Pasadena Convention & Visitors Bureau or www.cityofpasadena.net (click on Arroyo Seco under “Hot Topics”). For more information call 744-4321.

Design Guidelines are Nearly Ready

Have your say on draft design guidelines for neighborhood commercial centers and multifamily homes before they’re submitted for final approval at a Design Commission meeting set for Monday, Aug. 24, at 6 p.m. at Pasadena Senior Center, 85 E. Holly St.

The subject of a series of community meetings this year, the guidelines set new standards for how our neighborhood commercial centers and multifamily complexes of three or more units should look. A final draft, which incorporates an abundance of public comments, will be available at www.cityofpasadena.net/guidelines beginning Friday, Aug. 7.

During the Aug. 24 meeting, the commission will review and discuss the final draft and take additional comments from the public before passing it along to the city council for consideration in late August or early September. Once final guidelines are adopted, the city will host discussions and public meetings on how they will be applied.

Complete details – including a map of affected areas, project schedule, documents for review and space to submit comments – are available at www.cityofpasadena.net/guidelines. There are a number of ways to provide your feedback: online, during the public meetings, by calling 744-7806, by emailing kevinjohnson@cityofpasadena.net, by faxing to 396-7259, or sending them via postal mail or dropping them off at 175 N. Garfield Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101-1704.

Teach Your Pooches Good Manners

Your dog gives you a nice sloppy kiss before work, but what happens after you leave? Many dog owners don’t realize that their beloved Fluffy may be annoying neighbors by barking all day.

Dogs bark for many reasons: They’re being playful, warning of danger, threatening an intruder, or just plain lonely. It becomes a problem when barking disturbs the peace.
If you’ve received a complaint, sign up for dog obedience class or read a good book on the subject. Common tips include treating the mail carrier and delivery people as friends, spending more time with your pooch, allowing him more access to the yard and not rewarding your barking dog with play time.

Neighbors can report problems to the Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA at 792-7151. If your dog is the offender, you’ll be contacted by an animal control officer.

For a complete list of dog-care tips and upcoming classes, visit www.pasadenahumane.org.

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