The Los Angeles Episcopal Diocese asked me to study how this camp could stabilize the grounds of the steep little valley it occupied.

As generally happens, the problem was a result of ignoring the flows of materials over the site, especially water. Rainwater, which should be a carefully conserved resource in such a dry area, was being ignored, and was carrying away soil and nutrients.

My report called for the creation of a new path system that channeled runoff to swales where it would infiltrate and recharge the earth instead of eroding it. By restricting foot and maintenance vehicle traffic to these paths, the lost forest understory and ground cover could regenerate, further stabilizing the natural systems of the site.