Oct 1, 2007 9:10 pm US/Pacific
Caltrans Pet Cemetery May Threaten Environment
by Anna Werner
SARATOGA (CBS 5) ―
CBS5 investigates has uncovered an illegal pet cemetery where Caltrans crews have been dumping the bodies of dead animals for at least a decade.
It's a spot high up in the Santa Cruz Mountains on Highway 9, above Saratoga.
Our investigation found Caltrans workers dumping dead animals, including wildlife and some pets, into a wooded ravine instead of disposing them at render facilities or at the SPCA.
Now local officials say they're concerned about the impact of that dump on the environment and on Saratoga Creek. Saratoga Vice Mayor Ann Waltonsmith told CBS 5 that she was very concerned when we showed her the dumping site that lays not far from her town.
"It's been a mystery…why the water is so polluted," said Waltonsmith.
After we brought our findings to Caltrans last week, the agency admitted that 3 employees have been dumping animals at the site for at least a decade. And now, Saratoga's vice mayor wonders whether the problems here are linked to a history of complaints about the water quality in Saratoga creek.
Cecil Felix of the regional water quality control board took water samples from the creek for testing.
"We're very concerned about the people. We're not only concerned about wildlife, the fish habitat, we're also concerned about the people the receptors who may be recreating in the area, playing with their kids, fishing, perhaps filtering the water," said Waltonsmith.
You don't have to tell that to Mimi Giannini. She runs Saratoga Springs, the resort and conference center just downstream. Hundreds of people visit the Springs every year and play in the waters.
"That's terrible," Giannini said. "We absolutely need to do something about this."
The results of those water tests were expected back in a few days. And Caltrans says it's planning a big meeting this week, possibly to plan a clean-up operation.
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