Tujunga stream draws masses who generate waste traffic
… The ample gurgling water, the rare outpouring of a super-rainy winter, has turned a rural corner of Los Angeles into a popular — and unauthorized — recreational spot this summer. People lugging canopies, lawn chairs and barbecues are converging on a stretch of the wash accessible mainly through a private road. Along the way, they are blocking the narrow street, illegally parking and leaving behind piles of trash and waste. Residents in the adjacent Riverwood Ranch, a gated, 37-home enclave, are fed up and are calling for a city crackdown on scofflaw visitors. Police have begun ticketing. And although a recent cleanup removed some debris, officials can’t keep up with the crowds. Signs posted on July 10 warned that the area is not for recreational use and violators will be cited for illegal parking. Most of the city’s “no stopping any time” street signs and “no trespassing” placards have been knocked down or tagged with spray paint. No dumping signs are ignored.