The green snake-like thing in the gutter is a waddle.
Wattles are not lumpy bumps on women’s outer thighs. Wattles, in this case is not a description of how ducks get from place to place.
Rather, that’s the name given for the green wads of straw trash that seem to litter gutters of streets in the Huntington, along Sunset and Chautauqua Boulevards, in the village and along other Palisades streets.
Councilmember Traci Park’s legislative Deputy Sarah Flaherty told resident Cindy Simon, “When installed correctly, the wattles prevent sediment runoff from the many vacant lots in Pacific Palisades from entering city stormwater infrastructure and/or the Santa Monica Bay.
“They function, as I understand it, by trapping the sediment within the straw which can then be replaced when the sediment accumulates to capacity,” Flaherty said. “This allows stormwater infrastructure to function as intended for longer periods of time, reducing the time and resources necessary to maintain said infrastructure.”
Dirt may have been an issue in the beginning, but now many lots and parkways are so overgrown with weeds that other issues, such as brush clearance and weeding has become a priority.
Resident Cindy Simon wrote to the Council office, “It’s been one year since the fire. The wattles have morphed into complete street trash. They are everywhere. They are dirty, very very heavy, toxic, very unsightly, unwanted and serve no purpose as homeowners or rain have moved them away from street drains.
“They are impossible for the normal individual to move – they are heavy and unmovable. They are street trash that cannot be cleaned up by volunteers. We are stuck with these unwanted, unasked for street trash and are fed up.”
Simon was told to let Flaherty to let her know if they were moved in the next week.
(Editor’s note: With the Genesis Invitational coming to the Riviera Country Club February 19-22, it would be nice for the streets to be cleared because of the extra traffic traveling through the area.)
Wattles are everywhere in Pacific Palisades. This one broke and threw up dirt/straw.