BRIDGE WORK DECRIED BY SOME ENVIRONMENTALISTS QUESTION TIMING.

Byline: Susan Abram Staff Writer

VALENCIA - The city's Transportation and Engineering Services began preparations for clearing out vegetation under and around the Bouquet Canyon Road bridge Friday, but some environmentalists are questioning the timing.

The city plans to widen the bridge over the Santa Clara River from six to eight lanes, with an added protected bike lane. The project is part of general road improvements funded by federal grants.

Biologists from Aquatics Consulting Services hired by the city spent Friday morning securing the under portion of the bridge from nesting birds and bats by installing wire mesh and foam. The work is being done with a permit issued to the city by the state Department of Fish and Game, according to Harry Corder, the city's senior engineer and project manager.

Local environmentalists believe the work could have waited, noting that mating season for many of the birds has just begun. The least Bell's vireo, a rare species the Audubon Society spotted last year, is expected to come back next week.

They say the National River Enhancement and Management Plan prohibits construction after March 15, especially in areas where nesting is known to occur.

``It's the beginning of nesting season and most habitat modification work in California is not scheduled around nesting season,'' said Dan Cooper, director of bird conservation for the Audubon Society in California.

``Generally, entities try not to work on projects from March through July.''

Cooper said the Santa Clara River has become a major nesting ground for birds that come up to Southern California from Mexico and South America for the winter.

``People should understand that that habitat is not weeds, but a valuable riparian habitat,'' Cooper said of the Santa Clara River. ``There are several species of birds that depend on seeing this habitat. Right now birds are trying to establish territories there, which means male birds are singing from these perches trying to attract female birds. They are faithful to their territories and will come back.''

But based on surveys conducted by the hired biologists and the state Department of Fish and Game, no nests were found.

Vegetation removal after March 15 is only allowed after another survey is taken, said Trudy Ingram, environmental scientist for the state department of Fish and Game.

``My understanding is they did get behind schedule, and their consultants found a couple of old nests used in previous years, but they were not active,'' Ingram said. ``What I did was talk to the city and there is no evidence of nesting activity. I'm waiting to get a final report. The city of Santa Clarita has been cooperative with us.''

Corder, the city's senior engineer, said if the start of the vegetation removal were pushed back even another week, birds would begin nesting and that would mean postponing overall construction. It could also mean losing federal funding, he said.

Construction is set to begin in late spring or early summer pending more funds from the state Department of Transportation.

``We have a biologist out there and currently there is no nesting,'' Corder said. ``What we don't want to do is to disturb a nest.

As part of the permit issued by Fish and Game, the city must replace the habitat farther down the river by replanting cottonwood trees.

``There is some permanent habitat loss, but (for) any permanent habitat loss we are going to provide mitigated efforts,'' Corder said. ``We followed all the conditions of our permits. We really need to prevent birds from nesting.''

Susan Abram, [phone]

susan.abram(at)dailynews.com