MRCA Acquires New 111-Acre Parkland in Big Tujunga Wash

State Wildlife Conservation Board and the County of Los Angeles helped preserve 111 acres of ecologically prime open space at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains in the community of Tujunga in the City of Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES (April 15, 2018) – The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority announced that it had acquired 111 acres of prime open space in Big Tujunga Canyon adjacent to the Angeles National Forest.  The new parkland above the San Fernando Valley is bordered on all sides by public open space in a key habitat area essential for wildlife movement in the mountain range.  With coast live oak woodland, coastal sage scrub, and chaparral vegetation, a USGS blueline stream tributary on the site also supports exceptionally robust alluvial fan scrub vegetation.  The Marge Feinberg Rim of the Valley Trail alignment on the new parkland will eventually provide recreational access to the Angeles National Forest.

“Virtually no other property in the Rim of the Valley Corridor can provide the recreation access, viewshed, watershed, and ecological benefits of this now permanently protected public open space,” said Joseph T. Edmiston, Executive Director of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, which contributed $3.5 million in local assistance funding appropriated in the State budget to acquire the parkland.  The total purchase price for the remarkable new parkland was $4,440,000.

The State Wildlife Conservation Board granted $800,000 to the acquisition to maintain a viable migration corridor for mountain lion and deer, enhance wildlife linkages, and provide future wildlife oriented public use opportunities.  A large-scale subdivision of approximately 100 homes was proposed in 2013.  That development would have fragmented the key habitat transition area between the Big Tujunga Wash and the narrow, steep-walled Big Tujunga gorge.  Its edge effects would also have diminished the biological values of scores of acres of surrounding public land.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger also contributed $140,000 in Proposition A funds to the cooperative project which is located in a County-designated Significant Ecological Area that encompasses one of the most biologically diverse regions of the County.  “This important acquisition of open space in Big Tujunga Wash is a step forward in our effort to increase access to recreational opportunities in the Angeles National Forest,” said Supervisor Barger.

 “This is a huge victory for our community,” said Los Angeles City Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez in whose district the new parkland is located. “This acquisition will expand our park space, protect our natural habitat, and create significant recreational resources for the people of Los Angeles. Most importantly, the newly acquired 111 acres will preserve much-needed open space for many generations to come.”

Immediate plans for the property include measures to eliminate illegal vehicle access, cleanup of dumping, and scoping for habitat restoration efforts.

The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority is a local public park agency dedicated to the preservation and management of open space, urban parkland, watershed lands, trails, and wildlife habitat.  The MRCA manages more than 73,000 acres of public parkland and provides natural resources and scientific expertise, critical regional planning services, operations, fire prevention and ranger services, as well as education and leadership programs for thousands of youth each year.  It is one of the lead agencies revitalizing the Los Angeles River and its tributaries.

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Alex von Furstenberg Donates Key Santa Monica Mountains Open Space in Malibu to Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority

The 38-acre parkland adjacent to Charmlee Wilderness Park contains a significant segment of the Coastal Slope Trail

MALIBU, CALIFORNIA (July 6, 2017)—The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) announced today that it has received a sizeable donation of undeveloped land from philanthropist Alex von Furstenberg.  Located in the Decker Canyon area in Malibu adjacent to Charmlee Wilderness Park, the stunning open space, comprised of three separate parcels, lies on a broad shelf of gentle terrain that offers sweeping views of the Santa Monica Bay.

“I want to thank the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority for maintaining and growing one of the most beautiful places in the world so that families can enjoy the sanctity of our local mountains for generations to come,” said Alex von Furstenberg. “I look forward to gifting significantly more land over time.”

“Acquisition of this property will close a large gap in the development of the regionally significant Coastal Slope Trail, which will ultimately provide hikers a path from Topanga State Park to Leo Carrillo State Park where they can enjoy blue water views,” said Joseph T. Edmiston, Executive Officer of the MRCA.  “The generosity of Mr. von Furstenberg will protect this land for the public in perpetuity.”

The property contains two significant drainage courses and a wide variety of vegetation communities including oak woodland, grassland, coastal sage scrub, and chaparral. Beautiful rock outcrops add to the diversity of the rugged terrain.  The MRCA will seek additional grants to develop trail access and viewing areas to make the new parkland accessible to the public.

The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) is a local government public entity dedicated to the preservation and management of open space and parkland, watershed lands, trails, and wildlife habitat. The MRCA works in cooperation with other government partners to acquire parkland, participate in vital planning processes, provide natural resources and scientific expertise, and complete major park improvement projects. The MRCA manages and provides ranger services and fire protection for almost 73,000 acres of parkland that it owns and that are owned by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy or other agencies and provides comprehensive education and interpretation and leadership programs for youth. It is one of the lead agencies providing for the revitalization of the Los Angeles River.

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New 71-Acre Parkland Named for Senator Fran Pavley

New 71-acre Fran Pavley Meadow acquisition will double the amount of permanently protected core habitat along the 101 freeway leading to the proposed wildlife passage over the eight-lane freeway.

AGOURA HILLS, CALIFORNIA (November 18, 2016)–The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy announced today that they had obtained both sufficient funding and an agreement to purchase the 71-acre Chesebro Meadow property in the Liberty Canyon Wildlife Corridor that will provide key connectivity to the proposed wildlife crossing over the 101 freeway in Agoura Hills.

“We are naming this new open space Fran Pavley Meadow for our beloved State Senator,” said Joseph T. Edmiston, Executive Director of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy.  “Fran has been on the front lines of every land use battle to protect the wildlife corridor between the Simi Hills and the Santa Monica Mountains for her 14 years in the Legislature, her years as City Councilmember and Mayor of Agoura Hills, and before that as a citizen activist who recognized the importance of preserving open space for future generations.”

Senator Pavley was instrumental in working through conflicting interests to secure multiple funding sources to purchase the critical wildlife connection.  Last Wednesday, the California Wildlife Conservation Board approved a $3.35 million grant of Proposition 50 funds to complete the acquisition.  Other funding was from Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl ($1.1 million), and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy Proposition 1 appropriation ($2.55 million).  The 71 acres support a mix of chaparral, coastal sage scrub, grassland, oak woodland-savannah vegetation, and include a section of Chesebro Creek in the upper Malibu Canyon watershed.

A robust, dedicated group of activists and environmentalists have worked for years to stave off development of this stunning open space adjacent to 400-acre Liberty Canyon Open Space purchased by the MRCA in the early 1990’s.  A housing development, a private high school, and, as recently as last year, fifteen approved equestrian estates were formerly proposed for the site.  Now, with the public protection of this habitat adjacent to the freeway, construction of the proposed dedicated wildlife passage over the 101 freeway becomes more inevitable.

Recognizing the regional importance to build the wildlife crossing, last year, Senator Pavley convened a summit to focus government and scientific resources on developing a state of the art structure to provide safe passage across the freeway and Agoura Road.  This resulted in The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) initiating a groundbreaking planning process which will eventually lead to the construction of the overcrossing. In addition to Caltrans, the MRCA and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, partners include State Assemblymember Richard Bloom, U.S. Congressman Ted Lieu, Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, the National Wildlife Federation, Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains (Project Architect), and the City of Agoura Hills.  Caltrans is currently preparing the environmental impact documentation for the freeway overcrossing.

“The wildlife overcrossing will be Senator Pavley’s legacy,” said Edmiston.

The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) is a local government public entity dedicated to the preservation and management of open space and parkland, watershed lands, trails, and wildlife habitat. The MRCA works in cooperation with other government partners to acquire parkland, participate in vital planning processes, provide natural resources and scientific expertise, and complete major park improvement projects. The MRCA manages and provides ranger services and fire protection for almost 75,000 acres of parkland that it owns and that are owned by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy or other agencies and provides comprehensive education and interpretation and leadership programs for youth. It is one of the lead agencies providing for the revitalization of the Los Angeles River.