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| Rim of the Valley Corridor Study | |
|---|---|
| Name | Rim of the Valley Corridor Study |
| Location | San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, Santa Monica Mountains |
| Managing agency | National Park Service |
| Established | 2007 |
Rim of the Valley Corridor Study
The Rim of the Valley Corridor Study was a planning process led by the National Park Service to evaluate conservation, recreational, and transportation connections among Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, Valley Forge National Historical Park, Griffith Park, and adjacent public lands. It examined landscape links among Los Angeles County, Ventura County, San Bernardino County, Riverside County, and City of Los Angeles jurisdictions to protect habitat, cultural sites, and visitor access across urban and wildland interfaces.
Initiated under the auspices of the National Park Service, the study responded to directives from the U.S. Congress, consultations with the U.S. Department of the Interior, and input from regional bodies including the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, the California State Parks, and the California Natural Resources Agency. Its purpose echoed priorities of the National Environmental Policy Act, the California Environmental Quality Act, and initiatives promoted by the National Trails System Act to integrate conservation objectives of the Sierra Club, The Trust for Public Land, The Nature Conservancy, and local organizations such as the Santa Monica Mountains Fund and the Mount Wilson Observatory Association.
The study area encompassed a broad arc along the rim of the Los Angeles Basin, linking landmarks such as Griffith Observatory, Mount Wilson, Topanga State Park, Castaic Lake State Recreation Area, Angeles National Forest, Sierra Pelona Mountains, Verdugo Mountains, San Gabriel Mountains, Santa Susana Mountains, Cabrillo Beach, and the Santa Monica Pier. It considered corridors crossing federal lands managed by the United States Forest Service, state lands overseen by California State Parks, municipal holdings of the City of Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Department, and parcels owned by nonprofits including The Wildlands Conservancy and private entities like Anschutz Corporation.
The timeline involved proposals, scoping, environmental assessments, and public comment periods coordinated with agencies such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Environmental Protection Agency, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and regional planners from the Southern California Association of Governments. Key milestones included hearings before the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources, briefings with the Office of Management and Budget, and negotiations with county planning staffs from Los Angeles County, Ventura County, and San Bernardino County. Stakeholders ranged from advocacy groups like Heal the Bay and San Gabriel Mountains Forever to academic partners at University of California, Los Angeles, California State University, Northridge, and University of Southern California.
Assessments identified habitats for species listed under the Endangered Species Act, including occurrences of California condor, mountain lion, coastal sage scrub assemblages, and Southern California steelhead in watersheds such as the Los Angeles River, Santa Clara River, and San Gabriel River. Cultural resources cited Native American ties with the Tongva, Chumash, and Tataviam communities, archaeological sites connected to the Mission San Gabriel Arcángel era, and historic infrastructure associated with the Pacific Electric Railway, the Los Angeles Aqueduct, and early aviation landmarks like Burbank Airport. Conservation science dialog involved institutions like the National Audubon Society, California Native Plant Society, U.S. Geological Survey, and the Smithsonian Institution.
Proposals included creation or formalization of segments of the Rim of the Valley Trail—a network envisioned to link existing trails such as the Pacific Crest Trail, Los Angeles River Greenway, Mount Wilson Trail, Joe Robinson Trail, and Sierra Madre Trail. Transportation planning referenced regional systems like Metrolink (California), Los Angeles Metro Rail, Amtrak Pacific Surfliner, and the State Route 14 corridor, and involved multimodal concepts with partners including the Southern California Association of Governments and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Recreational planning balanced trail stewardship advocated by the Backcountry Horsemen of America, mountain biking groups, equestrian organizations, and hiking clubs such as the Sierra Club Angeles Chapter.
Governance structures emphasized cooperative management among the National Park Service, United States Forest Service, California Department of Parks and Recreation, the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, county park departments, and municipal agencies including the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks. Engagement processes addressed concerns from elected officials including members of the United States House of Representatives from California, the California State Legislature, the Los Angeles City Council, and local tribal governments representing Tongva descendants. Nonprofit participants included Mount San Antonio College Foundation, Trust for Public Land, and community groups such as the Friends of Griffith Park and conservation nonprofits like Heal the Bay.
The study recommended corridor protections, land acquisition priorities for groups like the The Nature Conservancy and Trust for Public Land, trail alignments, habitat restoration projects coordinated with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and transportation linkages negotiated with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Southern California Association of Governments. Implementation actions involved grant programs administered through agencies such as the National Park Service and California Wildlife Conservation Board, collaborative management agreements, and incorporation into regional planning documents like the Southern California Multiple Species Conservation Plan. The study influenced subsequent designations, partnerships with entities like National Park Foundation, and conservation outcomes pursued by local and federal stakeholders.
Category:Protected areas of Los Angeles County, California