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Restoration group reports tens of thousands of invasive crayfish removed; vandalism of traps threatens progress
Summary
Mountains Restoration Trust told the MAC it has removed about 80,000 invasive crayfish from Oak Park creeks since 2011 and employs six technicians; staff warned that vandalized traps are jeopardizing the creek-restoration effort and asked for community partnerships and law-enforcement follow-up.
The Oak Park Municipal Advisory Council on Sept. 26 heard a presentation from Mountains Restoration Trust Project Manager Joey Curti, who described ongoing creek-restoration work in Medea Creek.
Curti said the Trust has removed roughly 80,000 invasive crayfish from Oak Park since 2011 and about 300,000 from nearby Agoura Hills, and that six technicians work daily in the creeks. He reported that vandalism of the traps set to capture the crayfish is undermining restoration efforts and asked for help building community partnerships to protect the work.
Captain Jeff Miller of the Ventura County Sheriffs Office told the MAC he would contact Curti to investigate the reported criminal activity. MAC members suggested outreach to local schools and other community partners; Chair Alon Glickstein said student representative Yuval Cohen and OPUSD board member Allen Rosen could assist in connecting the Trust with schools.
The presentation highlighted volunteer and staff labor in ongoing restoration and requested stronger community cooperation to prevent vandalism that threatens the ecological work.
