LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power or LADWP, in partnership with the Electric Power Research Institute or EPRI and others, hosted a grand public opening of a new pollinator garden at the Hollywood Reservoir June 1. During the event, the garden was dedicated to the memory of the late Cindy Montañez, beloved environmental activist and conservationist.
Los Angeles Councilmember Nithya Raman, representing Council District 4, where the Hollywood Reservoir is located, recognized the unique place that the pollinator garden now occupies.
“The Hollywood Reservoir is a hugely popular venue for Angelenos as well as visitors from around the world,” she said. “It is symbolic that this new pollinator garden, located in the heart of Los Angeles, be dubbed ‘Cindy’s Garden,’ in dedication to the memory of Cindy Montañez, a true champion of the environment.”
The pollinator garden is adjacent to the walking path, on the West side of the reservoir, between the North and Weidlake gates.
Pollinators are species of insects, birds and bats that move the pollen produced on a plant to another plant of the same type. The pollen carried by these dedicated workers fertilizes the next flower to produce seeds and fruit. The seeds and fruit produced by the plants are eaten by many other animals as well as humans. Apples, oranges, pears, avocados, chocolate and many other foods we eat rely on pollinators. It is estimated that one of every three bites of food is pollinated by insects, birds or bats.
Cindy Montañez served Southern California proudly and with distinction as an activist, conservationist, mayor of San Fernando, member of the San Fernando City Council, assemblywoman from California’s 39th District, assistant general manager of LADWP and the CEO of TreePeople. She passed away Oct. 21, 2023 at the age of 49 after a long battle with cancer. Members of Cindy’s family were in attendance, including her parents and a brother, as well as numerous friends and colleagues, who spoke passionately about her life and legacy, including Charming Evelyn of the Sierra Club, and Daniel Berger of TreePeople.
While Hollywood Reservoir is known for its long and important role in the city’s water system, power utilities such as LADWP’s Power System manage extensive amounts of land around power plants, hydrological reservoirs, solar farms, power line rights-of-way, and other natural landscapes. Through thoughtful management of millions of acres, there is potential for power utilities to enhance habitat for pollinators across North America and beyond.