Millard Canyon Creek went down to a trickle for almost 24 hours Tuesday and Wednesday, endangering the habitat of frogs and a rare California newt during a late mating season.
The creek was cut off by Lincoln Avenue Water, one of the water companies that services Altadena, reportedly making repairs to pipes damaged by the Station Fire above Millard Falls and diverting the water for pressure tests. According to Lori Paul, a wildlife biologist who lives in the Chaney Trail neighborhood and monitors the campground area, only a cease-and-desist order from the National Forest Service carried by District Ranger Mike McIntyre forced the water company to restore the flow. The flow started again about 11:45 Wednesday morning.
The stoppage was particularly damaging to the population of endemic California newts (Taricha torosa torosa) who live in the creek and are having an uncharacteristically late amplexus, or mating and egg-laying season. Young newts have gills and need the water for survival. Paul told Altadenablog this evening that the loss was "incalculable."
(Photo: Millard Creek newts in amplexus in April. Photo by Mario and Brenda Miralles)
The Millard Creek newt population is particularly critical as many newts in the forest were destroyed in the Station Fire. After surviving the fire, floods, debris flows -- and the increased number of tourists at Millard Campground, including youngsters who have been witnessed capturing, relocating, or simply killing newts for fun -- the sudden loss of water is another insult to the population.
Paul said, "They're flopping on the surface and every predator on the planet -- crows, owls, racoons -- is eating everybody."
Repeated calls by Paul, McIntyre, and the Pasadena Star-News to Lincoln Water manager Bob Hayward during and after the crisis were reported not returned. Paul recommended that Lincoln Avenue customers contact the water company to express their concerns about the stoppage.
