The fight to save Oswit Canyon

It originally began with a Facebook page and then an organized rally back in May, where hundreds of residents turned out to protest the development of Oswit Canyon and it’s popular hiking trail. Then in late November, a citizen’s initiative was filed with the city of Palm Springs by organizers of “Save Oswit Canyon.” It was officially published on Friday, meaning the grassroots campaign can now begin to collect signatures for a ballot measure.

“If it passes, it will rezone 256 acres of this alluvial fan up, into Oswit Canyon,” said coordinator Andy Gibbs.

Organizers must meet a six-month deadline to collect 5,000 signatures to initiate a ballot measure that will rezone the area, changing it from residential to an environmentally sensitive area.

Executive director of the Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy, Jim Karpiac, is not part of the movement but has been to the site.

“This is a prime site for a number of reasons,” said the environmentalist.

Karpiak said dozens of endangered or threatened species, like Peninsula Big Horn sheep, call it home. He also said there is historical signifigance as well.

“The canyon was historically used by Native Americans; there are petroglyphs there,” he told CBS Local 2’s and KESQ News Channel 3’s Katie Widner.

At the site on Monday, Gibbs said it is not just about the animals or history- human health is an issue too. He referenced a 1990s-era environmental impact report that he said shows the area was once used as an experimental agricultural station therefore contaminating the soil.

“Arsenic and other poisons are likely in these soils and to completely disrupt it, they suggested that it could contaminate Desert Water (Agency), which is right underneath us, which is human drinking water,” Gibbs added.

If enough signatures are collected, the city council can then either adopt it into law or hold a special election.

More information on the movement can be found at saveoswitcanyon.com.