A Watershed Moment in Los Angeles: Photographing an Environmental Emergency

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All images photographed and edited by Beth Hotchkiss unless otherwise stated.

Beth Hotchkiss, a Public Information Officer with the California Conservation Corps (CCC) and a Girls Who Click Ambassador, recently joined a massive response to protect the burned areas of Los Angeles County from taking another hit. This time, from winter storms. 

“Even though the wildfires were contained, the emergency was not over. All of the hazardous debris from burnt cars and structures threatened the local water supply,” Beth said. “My job was to highlight how young adults were taking swift action to protect LA communities and wildlife.”

Two pink lawn chairs remain untouched by the Palisades Fire, serving as a stark reminder of the days before the neighborhood burned.
As the Eaton Fire drove through Altadena, a lot full of cars ignited. Burnt rubber, plastics, batteries, and oils released harmful substances into the ash.
A shorebird wades through a channel at Will Rogers State Beach, downstream of the Palisades Fire burn scar in Los Angeles. Ash and contaminants left in the debris have the potential to wash downstream and harm wildlife.

More than 400 CCC Corpsmembers, ages 18 to 25, were mobilized by the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) to the Palisades and Eaton Fire burn scars. Under the direction of engineers and environmental scientists, 32 crews placed more than 116 miles of compost socks and countless gravel bags to filter out contaminants from rainwater runoff. 

“For this assignment, I helped news stations connect with CCC crews. I also created content for state agencies to use in their communications,” Beth said. “The most rewarding part was interviewing Corpsmembers who, despite being away from home and working overtime, were all grateful to serve California and protect the environment at a moment’s notice.”

Leveraging the skills she learned through the Girls Who Click Ambassador Program, Beth used her camera to document the emergency response. Although this assignment was time-sensitive and short-notice, she readily applied lessons from past workshops and mentorship sessions. 

“A big takeaway I learned from GWC is to think not only about my main subject but also to be mindful of the surrounding environment,” Beth said. “While in the field, I tried to frame my images in a way that emphasized both elements of the story.”

CCC Chico Corpsmembers help each other put on personal protective equipment. Before entering the Los Angeles burn scars, all crews completed Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) training to gain the skills necessary for dispatch.
CCC Inland Empire Corpsmembers prepare a bundle of compost socks for distribution within the Eaton Fire burn scar. In the span of three weeks, 32 crews placed more than 116 miles of tubing in impacted neighborhoods.
CCC Placer Corpsmember Darious Pollard unloads compost socks from a truck. His crew drove seven hours down to Los Angeles to join this mission. In an interview, he stated, “It doesn’t matter how far away you are; if you see people want help, you need to go help them. And we’re helping out the community the best way we can right now.”
CCC Fresno Corpsmembers carry a large compost sock past burned homes in the Altadena neighborhood. Engineers from the California Department of Water Resources directed crews to place the barriers on the edge of properties, around cars, and perpendicular to downstream slopes.
A CCC Corpsmember uses a hand tool called a McLeod to compress a compost sock. Compaction creates a stronger filtration barrier, preventing contaminants from entering the watershed and spreading into the ocean.
A CCC Chico Corpsmember begins to secure a compost sock with gravel bags; this is the last step in the process of installing the compost socks. Each bag of gravel weighs approximately 30 pounds, and they’re spaced every four feet. This assignment is physically and mentally demanding, testing Corpsmembers’ resilience as they work multiple 12-hour shifts.

With more than 13,800 structures in need of runoff mitigation, the scale and urgency of this mission was unprecedented, requiring all hands on deck. Through the Cal OES Watershed & Debris Flow Taskforce, the CCC joined forces with the Department of Water Resources, Caltrans, the Department of Conservation, and CAL FIRE. More than 30 public information officers and audio-visual specialists were directly involved in the response. This work ensured the public could receive timely and accurate information about the ongoing effort. 

“I’m so grateful for the opportunity to work alongside other agencies! Before working for the CCC, I had no clue that the government even hired photographers,” said Beth. “I thought my only options were to partner with nonprofits or go freelance. In actuality, there are many positions within state service that are perfect for folks who are passionate about environmental communication!” 

Beth Hotchkiss stands outside her office cubicle with a camera in hand. Upon returning to CCC’s headquarters in Sacramento, she spent several days editing images and drafting print-ready articles to distribute to media outlets across California. Photo courtesy of CCC Information Officer 2, Chris Van Horne.

Beth works for the CCC, a State of California department offering paid training to young adults with the goal of empowering the next generation of conservationists while helping California prepare for, respond to, and recover from environmental challenges exacerbated by climate change. With this watershed protection mission now complete, Beth looks forward to the next assignment. 

“Whether it’s photographing CCC crews in the forests, on the trails, knee-deep in creeks, or on another emergency response, I’m ready,” said Beth. “This experience has honed my coordination and time-management skills, so I’m better positioned to photograph not just long-term conservation efforts but also short-notice environmental emergencies!”

For more information about the CalOES Watershed Protection & Debris Flow Taskforce, visit news.caloes.ca.gov. To learn more about CCC’s mission and opportunities to join, visit ccc.ca.gov. To explore careers with the State of California, visit calcareers.ca.gov. 

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