Ecology Center Statement

The Board of Directors of the Ecology Center has learned recently of the plans of Congregation Beth El to develop its new campus at 1301 Oxford Street. While we understand and support Beth El's need to build a facility that will better serve the needs of its congregation, we have some problems with the proposed development. Several of our Board members have met with representatives from Beth El for a tour of the grounds and have learned more about the project. We have also met with neighbors of the proposed development and heard some of their concerns.

What concerns us is the fate of Codornices Creek, which flows through the property. Although much overgrown and constricted by a culvert years ago, the creek remains one of Berkeley's treasures. We hope that some day, sooner better than later, the creek will be "daylighted." Beth El's plans call for building an asphalt parking surface over the culverted section - an action which would effectively prohibit ever daylighting the creek, since removing parking is politically extremely unlikely. Although we understand that parking is a concern for neighbors, we don't believe that providing on-site parking is worth the price of permanently sealing off the creek.

Our creeks are important primarily as oases for wildlife in a world of disappearing habitat. As recently as March, 2000, steelhead trout, a threatened species, were found in the creek. Codornices Creek offers potential habitat for steelhead as the species attempts to recoup a healthy population. The healthier the creek is, the more species will be able to use it for these same purposes.

Under Beth El's plan, all of the current structures will be removed and new synagogue and community buildings will be installed on the open site. With so much construction going on, it seems an opportune time to remove the culvert. During our site tour, it was explained to us that the steep banks of the creek make it difficult to maintain as a stream for people to enjoy, but as we have already noted, we are not primarily interested in it for people's use, except in as much as we all benefit from a healthy and diverse environment. It might even be better if Beth El keeps people away from the creek altogether; a fence would promote better site safety.

We believe that adequate on-site parking can be attained without covering over the creek. It is furthermore not clear that the congregation needs as much parking spaces as proposed. The site where Beth El is currently located has virtually no parking, and according to the Beth El representatives we spoke to, the neighborhood does not particularly suffer parking problems due to Beth El activities. At any rate, architects we have heard from believe that not all parking options have been exhausted. We urge the congregation to look a little further for alternatives so that Codornices Creek can be protected and restored.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Leona Benten
for the Ecology Center Board of Directors