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FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT:
STEPHEN JOHNSON, GENERAL MANAGER
755-1300
VOLUNTEERS PLANT TREES AT LOCAL LANDFILL
June 4, 2004
Beautiful landscape is a valuable resource in the fertile
Salinas Valley, even if it is a mountain of trash. And a 160-acre landfill
with 3.4 million cubic yards of garbage is precious public open space.
But a dump is just a dump—until you unleash the creative energies
of Rakhee Patel, Mike Kilivris, Ester Smith, Rebecca Lupold, Ceabriela
Madrigal, Anna Cerda, and Nick Sutter, “landscape architects in
training”.
On Saturday, May 15, 2004, the Salinas Valley Solid Waste Authority (SVSWA)
held a tree-planting event at Crazy Horse Canyon Road Landfill. Community
service student volunteers from Everett Alvarez High School, Salinas High
School and Ameri-Corps lent a hand, backs and muscles to plant 40 Deodar
Cedar trees. The event was coordinated by Nancy Treffry of the Authority,
in conjunction with Cindy Rogers, Volunteer Services Coordinator for the
City of Salinas.
“Thank you for the great help and support,” said Stephen Johnson,
General Manager for the Authority. “The goal of this project was
to provide some visual amenity for users of Crazy Horse Canyon Road as
well as provide wind shelter, erosion control and landscape enhancement
to the property,” Johnson continued.
Norcal Engineering & Construction Services donated the compost for
the project from their local compost operation. The compost will enhance
the growth of the newly planted trees as they attempt to take root in
soil with the consistency of concrete.
Authority staff applauds the dedication of the volunteers. Their sweat
and enthusiasm made this event a success. The students themselves also
came away with a greater respect and knowledge of solid waste technology
as they now realize that a landfill is not just a big hole in the ground.
The Authority, formed in 1997, is a joint powers agency made up of
the cities of Gonzales, Greenfield, King City, Salinas, Soledad as well
as the eastern half of unincorporated Monterey County. They promote the
environmental health of the Salinas Valley through planning, public education
and management of an innovative solid waste system. The Authority can
be reached at 755-1300 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday – Friday or
on the web at www.svswa.org.
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