The proposed Gypsum Canyon Veterans cemetery, while good with its intentions, will have a negative impact on our environment and traffic in the area, and should not proceed with construction. Please read through all aspects of the potential impact of this cemetery below before commenting and making an opinion. Follow our Instagram @stopanaheimhillscemetery and checkout http://gypsum91.com/ for additional Information and more reasons to sign and https://gypsum91.com/#contacts to easily tell our elected representatives that you don't want this cemetery.   

Landscaping and Water Usage

We are in a water crisis here in Southern California. This year’s rain season came and went with hardly anything to show for it. The US Drought Monitor labels Orange County to be in D2 Severe Drought, meaning that "Grazing land is inadequate.
Producers increase water efficiency methods and drought-resistant crops. Fire season is longer, with high burn intensity, dry fuels, and large fire spatial extent; more fire crews are on staff. Wine country tourism increases; lake- and river-based tourism declines; boat ramps close. Trees are stressed; plants increase reproductive mechanisms; wildlife diseases increase. Water temperature increases; programs to divert water to protect fish begin River flows decrease; reservoir levels are low and banks are exposed" We all know how little it rains here in Southern California, leaving non-native plants in need of watering for much of the year especially during the extremely dry summers as summer storms are uncommon. Note that the cemetery plans for 280 acres. The water for maintaining landscaping, assuming it will be majority non-native grasses and other plants, could range from an estimated 4,573,800 - 6,720,000 gallons of water per WEEK,  assuming the cemetery will be watered three (3) times a week. The number could be even higher especially knowing how hot and dry it is here. No matter if it’s higher or lower than the estimated, the bare minimum is still unreasonable. This is not sustainable.This is wasting water, water that is needed for our crops, for us to eat. Grass serves no real purpose, it should be the last thing we water.  The average person flushes their toilet about 5 times a day, using 1.28-1.5 gallons of water per flush, meaning 6.4-7.5 gallons a day. One watering of the cemetery landscaping is estimated to be 1,524,600-2,240,000 gallons, this is equal to flushing your toilet 1,191,093.75 - 1,493,333.33 times a day. The Municipal Water district of Orange County claims that the average Orange County resident uses about 35,000 gallons of water annually. And a 2011 state study says the average California single-family home uses around 132,000 gallons annually. The weekly water usage numbers for landscaping absolutely dwarfs the usage by us individuals. Water is essential not only to our society but to the environment. California produces massive amounts of food, “California produces nearly all of the almonds, artichokes, avocados, broccoli, carrots, celery, kiwi, figs, garlic, grapes, raisins, raspberries, strawberries, honeydew melons, nectarines, olives, pistachios, plums, tangerines, mandarins, and walnuts grown in the U.S. About 80% of all almonds in the world are grown in California” from California, ‘America’s garden,’ is drying out  by Dana Nuccitlli. We can no longer use such large amount of water on landscaping while our crops are threatened and our reservoirs are drying up "In June 2021, California’s reservoir water levels were about 40% below the historical average, and the snowpack was completely gone more than a month earlier than normal" from ‘America’s garden,’ is drying out by Dana Nuccitlli. It is also important to note that all this grass requires maintenance such as gas powered mowers and trimmers, just adding to the CO2 pollution. 

 

Native Plant Life

Anaheim Hills and the Santa Ana Mountains feature many beautiful native plant species, but they have been threatened by development, invasive species, and wildfires. The native species that exist on the site of the proposed cemetery, which is just below Sierra Peak at roughly (33.8642464, -117.7011325) while not very plentiful due to aforementioned fires and previous development, would be further threatened by this cemetery. This site has been slowly recovering, lightly dotted with trees and scrubs. Even if incorporated into the cemetery, they would most likely not stay healthy and alive for long due to their low water requirements, and the need for grading. These plants support our local wildlife. The Coast Live Oak, for example, is like a small ecosystem for many insects such as butterflies, and other plants and animals. Native plant preservation is essential, as it provides for the local wildlife, keeps our air clean by absorbing and storing carbon dioxide, then helping curb climate change. 

Wildlife 

Anaheim Hills and the Santa Ana Mountains contain a diverse, but declining, number of wildlife animal species such as mountain lions, bobcats, deer, coyotes, hawks, and more. We need to give these precious beings as much of their native ecosystems as possible, instead of more encroachment and destruction upon their homes. Construction will scare many away and directly destroy their homes. We can only assume fencing and walls will be put up around the perimeter, keeping all of these species out permanently. It’s cruel and inhumane. Who are we to kick out innocent animals for a fancy new cemetery?

Pollution

The construction itself will pollute the atmosphere with the use of large machinery and pouring/making concrete. Concrete is the world's most consumed product besides water, with the environment being polluted with 4 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide every year. Concrete generates 0.93 pounds of carbon dioxide per pound of concrete made, according to the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association. As for burials themselves, Mark Harris, author of Grave Matters: A Journey through the Modern Funeral Industry to a Natural way of Burial talks about the major problems with modern burials says that "Every year we divert enough concrete to the production of those burial vaults to lay a two-lane highway halfway across the country. Every year we divert enough metal for those metal caskets to completely rebuild the Golden Gate Bridge. The average 10-acre cemetery contains enough coffin wood to construct more than 40 homes, and contains enough toxic formalin, which is the main compound of embalming fluids to fill a backyard swimming pool". Formalin is a formaldehyde based preservative that embalmers use which is incredibly toxic. So toxic that OSHA has deemed it dangerous carcinogen and heavily regulates its use. Dangerous effects of exposure include but are not limited to an immune system response and cancer hazard, as embalmers experience higher rates of cancer cases. The EPA also treats formaldehyde as hazardous waste.120 gallons of untreated funeral waste are also sent into the sewage system which consists of bodily fluids and carcinogenic chemicals. The typical body requires 3 pounds of formalin solution. An estimated 4.3 million gallons of this toxic waste is used each year on U.S burials, some of which will end up in the ground potentially poisoning drinking waters. The proposed cemetery is less than a quarter mile from the Santa Ana River, the river which is a major feeder into Orange County's ground water, it runs about 28 mies through Orange County and supports a diverse ecosystem of native plants and fish along with the vulnerable Santa Ana sucker. Knowing about the ground water pollution threat, it is crucial to consider that Orange County gets about 70% of its water from the ground.

"What effect does formaldehyde have on the environment?
In the atmosphere, formaldehyde usually breaks down quickly to create formic acid and carbon monoxide, which can also be harmful substances. When animals are exposed to formaldehyde it can make them sick, affect their ability to breed, and reduce their life spans. It can also change their behavior and appearance. Formaldehyde is highly toxic to aquatic life - the fish, shellfish and other creatures in our rivers, lakes and oceans.

How might people be exposed to formaldehyde?
People can be exposed to formaldehyde in the following ways: Breathing in fumes from smog, cigarettes and other tobacco products, gas cookers and open fireplaces.
Eating food and drinking water containing formaldehyde.
Living or working in poorly ventilated areas that contain formaldehyde.
Applying cosmetics that contain formaldehyde.
Working in a job where formaldehyde is produced or used, such as in the timber industry or a funeral home."

-Formaldehyde, Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, 2009

Traffic

The intersection of Santa Ana Canyon Road and Gypsum Canyon Road already faces backups and traffic due to the 91 freeway and limited road space at the ends of both roads. This would only worsen with traffic disturbances from construction itself and the assumption of potential road expansion, which would again threaten native species on the sides of the roads. More people coming to this area means more cars, which means more pollution.

Conclusion 

A traditional veterans cemetery cannot be built. Times are changing; cemeteries as we know them are not environmentally friendly, especially in Southern California. The facts and threats are overwhelming, from resource overconsumption, environmental destruction, to pollution and potential ground water pollution. There are alternatives. It could not be any more clear that this is not in the best interest of Anaheim Hills and the entirety of Orange County. Irvine is a slightly better location due to it already being developed, having access, and fitting historical background. Although even if moved to Irvine, and being kept a traditional cemetery, it would still pose similar threats. We can no longer senselessly build and develop, those times are over. It is time to protect and preserve Earth for us and our future generations. Our priorities are not set right. Ornamental grass means nothing and does nothing. Our priorities need to be ensuring that our descendants will enjoy the pleasure of clean water access similar to ours now with sustainable, clean air , and strong wild lands with native species. You all have a choice, developers, supporters, council members and supervisors, to relieve the thirst and pain of your future generations by ending this project, instead of the thirst of the grass today.

Check out and share the hashtag #stopanaheimhillscemetery

Thank you for reading. Please consider all that has been presented to you including the links and videos in the source section. I am greatly urging you to show that you oppose this project, do so by signing and sharing this petition along with emailing our local government officials a copy of these reasons above and the link to this petition itself. Their information is below:

Orange County Board of Supervisors

Andrew Do CHAIRMAN - FIRST DISTRICT Andrew.Do@ocgov.com

Katrina Foley SECOND DISTRICT Katrina.Foley@ocgov.com

Donald P. Wagner SUPERVISOR THIRD DISTRICT (The Proposed cemetery is within Supervisor Donald's District)  Donald.Wagner@ocgov.com

Doug Chaffee VICE CHAIRMAN - FOURTH DISTRICT Fourth.District@ocgov.com

Lisa A. Bartlett SUPERVISOR FIFTH DISTRICT Lisa.Bartlett@ocgov.com

Anaheim City Council

Anaheim Mayor Harry Sidhu hsidhu@anaheim.net

Mayor Pro Tem Stephen Faessel District 5 sfaessel@anaheim.net

Council Member Jose Diaz District 1 jodiaz@anaheim.net

Council Member Jordan Brandman District 2 jbrandman@anaheim.net

Council Member Jose F. Moreno District 3 jmoreno@anaheim.net

Council Member Avelino Valencia District 4 avalencia@anaheim.net

Council Member Trevor O'Neil District 6 (The Proposed cemetery is within Council Member Trevor's District) toneil@anaheim.net

__
U.S. Representative for California's 45th congressional district - Katie Porter
info@katieporter.com

Sources:

Water usage:

M, Marc. Watering Tips for Your Lawn and Garden Lowe's Mar 11th 2021 https://www.lowes.com/n/how-to/watering-tips

Butts, Ed. “Irrigation Fundamentals – Water Well Journal.” Water Well Journal, Apr 18 2019, https://waterwelljournal.com/irrigation-fundamentals-3/

Rippey, Brad, and Richard Heim. “U.S. Drought Monitor Map Released: Thurs. July 22, 2021.” | U.S. Drought Monitor, 22 July 2021, droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?CA

Dana Nuccitelli California, 'America's GARDEN,' is drying out " Yale Climate connections - Yale Climate Connections https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2021/06/california-americas-garden-is-drying-out/

Kyle, Keegan, and Meghann M. Cuniff. “Some Orange County Officials' Personal Water USE Rising, despite Impending Restrictions.” Orange County Register, Orange County Register, 1 May 2015, www.ocregister.com/2015/05/01/some-orange-county-officials-personal-water-use-rising-despite-impending-restrictions/amp/

Peterson, Karla. “Drought Flushes out Old Toilet Rules.” Tribune, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 June 2015, www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/drought/sdut-california-drought-new-toilet-rules-2015jun26-story.html?_amp=true

“Do You Really Save Money by Not Always Flushing?” The Christian Science Monitor, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Apr. 2010, www.csmonitor.com/Business/The-Simple-Dollar/2010/0420/Do-You-Really-Save-Money-By-Not-Always-Flushing

Native Plant Life:

“Coast Live Oak, Quercus Agrifolia.” California Native Plant Society, calscape.org/loc-California/Quercus-agrifolia-(Coast-Live-Oak)?srchcr=sc60ffb8bbcdada

Wildlife:

“Santa Ana Mountains.” The Nature Conservancy, www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/places-we-protect/santa-ana-mountains/#:~:text=Foxes%2C%20bobcats%2C%20mountain%20lions%2C,terrain%20around%20the%20Santa%20Anas

Pollution:

Ramsden, Keegan. “Cement and Concrete: The Environmental Impact - Psci.” Princeton University, The Trustees of Princeton University, 3 Nov. 2020, psci.princeton.edu/tips/2020/11/3/cement-and-concrete-the-environmental-impact#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20National%20Ready,the%20industry%20continues%20to%20grow

“Formaldehyde.” Edited by Australian Government, National Pollutant Inventory, 2009, www.npi.gov.au/resource/formaldehyde

Peterson, Dean, director. We Need to Change How We Bury the Dead. YouTube, Vox, 24 Aug. 2017, https://youtu.be/o2dvXWX3Sdw

Biggers, Lucy, director. Green Burial: How Natural Burials Help the Planet | One Small Step | NowThis. YouTube, NowThis Earth, 20 July 2019, www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5THrqZbQ-w

“How Water Works in Orange County.” OCWD, www.ocwd.com/learning-center/how-water-works-in-oc

Brazil, Ben. “Orange County Water District Works to Clean Polluted Groundwater from Decades of Manufacturing.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2021, 5:42 PM PT, www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-04-04/orange-county-water-district-polluted-groundwater-cleanup#:~:text=More%20than%2070%25%20of%20the,Orange%20County%20is%20from%20groundwater