Hansen Dam Volunteer Patrol

What has the Hansen Dam Volunteer Patrol accomplished?

With summer entering its final weeks, this is probably a good time to begin to analyze some of what the Hansen Dam Volunteer Patrol program has accomplished.

The Hansen Dam Volunteer Patrol has assisted Park Rangers and LAPD officers for nine different weekends starting with Memorial Day weekend. This summer has been the first that this idea has been expanded to include as many volunteers as step forward on a week-to-week basis. Accordingly, it has also been a summer of trial and error with what works best in different situations with different volunteers.

In the interest of keeping things as simple as possible in a complex situation, the first six weekends were spent working on the now well-documented safety concerns associated with the LA City part of the Big Tujunga Wash. As official volunteers with the Dept. of Recreation and Parks, community members assisted Park Rangers or LAPD officers in prevention and education -- preventing unsafe conditions through educating the public on:

· possible unsafe area closures (determined by officers on duty) · park rules, regulations, and public safety contact numbers · safe locations to enjoy picnicking, swimming, and other activities

Over Memorial Day weekend, well over 1500 members of the public were contacted and provided with information on places to enjoy the park in activities such as safe swimming and safe places to have open fires or barbecues, and LA City Parks rules, regulations and park safety phone numbers. During the course of the summer, the number of observed unsafe and illicit activity in the Big Tujunga Wash appears to have decreased significantly.

Unless the area is specifically designated for them, off-road vehicles are illegal in every Los Angeles City park. Hansen Dam seems to have become a preferred place for this illegal activity, unfortunately. The past few weekends, Big Tujunga Wash has been a relatively calm place. With a number of now-experienced volunteers available, under the direct supervision of peace officers, the Hansen Dam Volunteer Patrol has begun to tackle more complex issues like the serious off-road vehicle problem in the LA City portion of the Hansen Dam Basin.

On Sunday August 13th, in addition to the continued work at Big Tujunga Wash, two park rangers and volunteers on horseback successfully removed 18 off-road vehicles from Hansen Dam, made contact with Hansen Dam Aquatics, facilitated pick up of an abandoned dog, took a report of motorcycles harassing equestrians, and handed out numerous "Park Safety phone numbers" cards.

On Sunday August 20th, two park rangers, mounted volunteers, LA CEMP (Civilian Emergency Mobile Patrol), LA County parks officers, Aquatics, and Animal Services were on patrol. Approximately 15 off-road vehicles were removed, approximately 35 educational contacts made and "Park Safety phone number" cards handed out, and an unfortunate incident with an illegal pony rental/vendor was handled.

On Sunday August 27th, 2006, one park ranger, volunteers on horseback, and LA CEMP removed approximately 20 off-road vehicles, made 150 educational contacts, assisted Aquatics and LAFD with a near-drowning, and posted a homeless encampment for removal.

I should note that Aquatics was also on patrol all of these dates, but I don't know their specific activities.

This Labor Day weekend, the Hansen Dam Volunteer Patrol will be working on Sunday and Monday. If you have a few hours to volunteer, please contact myself at ksabo@wildwildwest.org or 818-470-1746 as soon as possible. Thank you in advance.

Onward and upward…

Sincerely,

Kristin Sabo (volunteer coordinator)What has the Hansen Dam Volunteer Patrol accomplished?

With summer entering its final weeks, this is probably a good time to begin to analyze some of what the Hansen Dam Volunteer Patrol program has accomplished.

The Hansen Dam Volunteer Patrol has assisted Park Rangers and LAPD officers for nine different weekends starting with Memorial Day weekend. This summer has been the first that this idea has been expanded to include as many volunteers as step forward on a week-to-week basis. Accordingly, it has also been a summer of trial and error with what works best in different situations with different volunteers.

In the interest of keeping things as simple as possible in a complex situation, the first six weekends were spent working on the now well-documented safety concerns associated with the LA City part of the Big Tujunga Wash. As official volunteers with the Dept. of Recreation and Parks, community members assisted Park Rangers or LAPD officers in prevention and education -- preventing unsafe conditions through educating the public on:

· possible unsafe area closures (determined by officers on duty) · park rules, regulations, and public safety contact numbers · safe locations to enjoy picnicking, swimming, and other activities

Over Memorial Day weekend, well over 1500 members of the public were contacted and provided with information on places to enjoy the park in activities such as safe swimming and safe places to have open fires or barbecues, and LA City Parks rules, regulations and park safety phone numbers. During the course of the summer, the number of observed unsafe and illicit activity in the Big Tujunga Wash appears to have decreased significantly.

Unless the area is specifically designated for them, off-road vehicles are illegal in every Los Angeles City park. Hansen Dam seems to have become a preferred place for this illegal activity, unfortunately. The past few weekends, Big Tujunga Wash has been a relatively calm place. With a number of now-experienced volunteers available, under the direct supervision of peace officers, the Hansen Dam Volunteer Patrol has begun to tackle more complex issues like the serious off-road vehicle problem in the LA City portion of the Hansen Dam Basin.

On Sunday August 13th, in addition to the continued work at Big Tujunga Wash, two park rangers and volunteers on horseback successfully removed 18 off-road vehicles from Hansen Dam, made contact with Hansen Dam Aquatics, facilitated pick up of an abandoned dog, took a report of motorcycles harassing equestrians, and handed out numerous "Park Safety phone numbers" cards.

On Sunday August 20th, two park rangers, mounted volunteers, LA CEMP (Civilian Emergency Mobile Patrol), LA County parks officers, Aquatics, and Animal Services were on patrol. Approximately 15 off-road vehicles were removed, approximately 35 educational contacts made and "Park Safety phone number" cards handed out, and an unfortunate incident with an illegal pony rental/vendor was handled.

On Sunday August 27th, 2006, one park ranger, volunteers on horseback, and LA CEMP removed approximately 20 off-road vehicles, made 150 educational contacts, assisted Aquatics and LAFD with a near-drowning, and posted a homeless encampment for removal.

I should note that Aquatics was also on patrol all of these dates, but I don't know their specific activities.

This Labor Day weekend, the Hansen Dam Volunteer Patrol will be working on Sunday and Monday. If you have a few hours to volunteer, please contact myself at ksabo@wildwildwest.org or 818-470-1746 as soon as possible. Thank you in advance.

Onward and upward…

Sincerely,

Kristin Sabo (volunteer coordinator)