In warm and sunny southern California, the departure of green leaves does not take place as dramatically and colorfully as it does in the more temperate zones of the United States. Yet on October 12, 2008, the residents of Los Angeles County found themselves without an important infusion of “green.” On that day, Dorothy Green lost her battle against melanoma.
Dorothy Green had spent a good part of her life working to preserve the environment of southern California. She had focused her efforts on the ecosystem in and around the beaches, the wetlands and the watersheds. . She had helped to found four different environmental groups.
Ms Green’s crusade to save California water began with the founding of the nonprofit group known as “Heal the Bay.” That group used research, education and advocacy to push for cleaner and healthier coastal waters. “Heal the Bay” also recognized the importance of the area watersheds, the land from which water drained into the ocean.
Dorothy Green could have decided to make support for “Heal the Bay” her primary mission, but Dorothy wanted to do as much as possible to limit the existing threat to the water resources in southern California. Ms Green made note of a 1999 move by the local government. During that year, local authorities voted for creation of Neighborhood Councils
The Councils had been designed to encourage public participation in the local government. Dorothy Green welcomed the opportunity to have a say in what the government was doing (or not doing) for preservation of the local water resources.. Ms Green stood at the forefront of the movement to establish the Los Angeles/San Gabriel Rivers Watershed Council.
Each Neighborhood Council received $50,000, money that could cover the costs of adminstration, outreach programs and special projects. .Ms Green had managed to visualize a large nunber of projects, but some of them could not proceed in the absence of specific legislative action. The Neighborhood Councils had petitioned the L.A. City Council for permission to suggest such action, but Dorothy Green died before the City Council had responded to that petition.
Still, Dorothy Green did manage to influence a substantial number of public officials. In 1991, she helped to form the organization known as POWER (Public Officials for Water and Environmental Reform). That group held its first annual California Public Water Policy Conference in the second half of 1991. Dorothy Green will most certainly be missed at the 18th annual Conference, which has been scheduled for November of 2008.
While the attedees at that Coference reminiss about their friend Dorothy Green, the members of the California Water Impact Network (C-WIN) will need to find a new secretary. Ms. Green not only performed the needed secretarial duties for that organization, she also contributed her keen insight into the extent that research, education and legal action could insure the sensible use of California’s limited amount of water.
Dorothey Green contributed greatly to the enviromental efforts in southern California. She did not allow her lack of formal training in water quality science and in the legislative process to hamper her willingness to negotiate with public officials. Ms. Green usually had the upper hand, during any such negotiations.
Ms. Green not only spoke about the importance of the water supply in California, she also wrote edictorials that hightlighted her views. Her published opinions won praise for their ability to be clear, concise and direct. Her voice and her powerful pen can never be replaced, but others can build on the foundation that she established.
