ASSEMBLY THIRD READING

ATR Bill Id:AJR 18

Author:(Luz Rivas)

As Introduced Ver:May 1, 2019

Majority vote

SUMMARY:

This bill would urge Congress to enact House Resolution (HR) 1708, the Rim of the Valley Corridor Preservation Act.

Major Provisions

Urges the passage of HR 1708 which would:

1. Adjust the boundaries of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area to add 191,000 acres of the Valley Corridor.
2. Include parts of the Los Angeles River, Arroyo Seco in Pasadena, and specific areas described as the Valley Corridor through San Gabriel Valley, Griffith Park, Eaton Canyon and parts of Simi Valley and Santa Susana Mountains.
3. Make the National Park Service responsible for managing lands, trail building, recreation and protection of natural resources, including mountain lions.
4. Allow for federal acquisition of land only through the exchange, donation, or purchase from a willing seller.

COMMENTS:

This bill follows decades of work establishing the rim areas of the Santa Monica Mountains and upper Los Angeles River watershed as protected natural areas. Numerous efforts, including the establishment of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (Conservancy) in 1980 to protect and preserve open space, wilderness and recreation, have led to the current planning effort. The Conservancy coordinates with state partners including the Department of Parks and Recreation, the National Park Service, and others to provide coordinated access to open space and recreation throughout watershed. According to the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA, an existing local joint powers authority that includes the Conservancy), "The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (Conservancy) has statutory jurisdiction including the Santa Monica Mountains Zone and the Rim of the Valley Trail Corridor (ROV). The ROV Trail Corridor was first established by the State Legislature beginning in 1983 with a bill that provided that the Rim of the Valley Trail Corridor would be a system of recreational trails connecting parks and open space lands around the San Fernando and La Crescenta Valleys. A map was prepared by the Conservancy in compliance with Section 33105.5 of Division 23 of the state Public Resources Code, and filed with the Secretary of State in June 1984."

AB 1516 (Katz), Chapter 1062, Statutes of 1989, provided guidance to the Conservancy to plan for a Rim of the Valley Trail Corridor Master Plan. MRCA states, "The Legislature also called for a trail route between Griffith Park and El Pueblo de Los Angeles State Historic Park. Between 1984 and 2009, the State Legislature periodically authorized the Conservancy to further expand the ROV Trail Corridor. The Santa Clarita Woodlands were included in 1989, and the Rim of the Valley Trail Corridor Master Plan was adopted in June 1990, which called for preservation of wildlife habitat linkages, and recreational trail connections in a larger geographic area between the Santa Monica Mountains and the ranges to the north: the Simi Hills, Santa Susana Mountains, Verdugo Mountains, San Rafael Hills, and portions of the San Gabriel Mountains. In 2002 the ROV Corridor was enlarged after study by the Conservancy to include the Upper Santa Clara River Watershed and all of Upper Los Angeles River Watershed in the San Gabriel Mountains and Angeles National Forest. Subsequent legislation allowed for Elsmere Canyon between Santa Clarita and Sylmar to be included in the Conservancy's ROV Trail Corridor boundary."

According to the Author:

Assembly Joint Resolution 18 urges the federal government to support efforts to protect the Rim of the Valley. House Resolution 1708 by Congressman Adam Schiff would add 191,000 acres of the Rim Valley Corridor to the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. The area, comprised of spectacular wilderness, is home to a diverse array of flora and fauna that includes mountain lions, bobcats and golden eagles. Protecting this area from the urban expansion will ensure that the people of the Los Angeles Basin will continue to enjoy the trails and the stunning scenery of the area for generations to come. The Rim of the Valley Corridor surrounding the Los Angeles Basin is a special place worthy of the stronger protections this legislation would provide.

Arguments in Support:

Supporters argue that adding 191,000 acres of the Rim Valley Corridor to the existing national recreation area would incorporate and synthesize many years of land conservation efforts in the Los Angeles area by local, state, and federal agencies, and community groups. If adopted, the expanded area will result in a blueprint for the National Park Service to assist and enhance preservation of wildlife linkages, recreation opportunities, and public programs beyond the current Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area boundaries.

Arguments in Opposition:

None on file

FISCAL COMMENTS:

This bill is not keyed fiscal.

VOTES:

ASM WATER, PARKS, AND WILDLIFE: 11-1-1

YES: Eduardo Garcia, Choi, Chu, Friedman, Cristina Garcia, Gloria, Kalra, Levine, Blanca Rubio, Salas, Wood

NO: Bigelow

ABS, ABST OR NV: Gallagher

UPDATED:

VERSION: May 1, 2019

CONSULTANT: Catherine Freeman / W., P., & W. / (916) 319-2096 FN: 0001106

Date of Hearing: June 18, 2019

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON WATER, PARKS, AND WILDLIFE

Eduardo Garcia, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AJR 18 (

Author:Luz Rivas) – As Introduced Ver:May 1, 2019

SUBJECT: Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

SUMMARY: This bill would urge Congress to enact House Resolution (HR) 1708, the Rim of the Valley Corridor Preservation Act. Specifically, this bill:

Describes HR 1708 which would:

1. Adjust the boundaries of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area to add 191,000 acres of the Valley Corridor.
2. Include parts of the Los Angeles River, Arroyo Seco in Pasadena, and specific areas described as the Valley Corridor through San Gabriel Valley, Griffith Park, Eaton Canyon and parts of Simi Valley and Santa Susana Mountains.
3. Make the National Park Service responsible for managing lands, trail building, recreation and protection of natural resources, including mountain lions.
4. Allow for federal acquisition of land only through the exchange, donation, or purchase from a willing seller.

EXISTING LAW: Establishes the federal Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area as a unit of the National Park System as of November 10, 1978. The area includes parts of the Santa Monica Mountains and the Rim of the Valley Corridor.

FISCAL EFFECT: This bill is not keyed fiscal.

COMMENTS:

Author’s Statement:

Assembly Joint Resolution 18 urges the federal government to support efforts to protect the Rim of the Valley. House Resolution 1708 by Congressman Adam Schiff would add 191,000 acres of the Rim Valley Corridor to the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. The area, comprised of spectacular wilderness, is home to a diverse array of flora and fauna that includes mountain lions, bobcats and golden eagles. Protecting this area from the urban expansion will ensure that the people of the Los Angeles Basin will continue to enjoy the trails and the stunning scenery of the area for generations to come. The Rim of the Valley Corridor surrounding the Los Angeles Basin is a special place worthy of the stronger protections this legislation would provide.

Background: This bill follows decades of work establishing the rim areas of the Santa Monica Mountains and upper Los Angeles River watershed as protected natural areas. Numerous efforts, including the establishment of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (Conservancy) in 1980 to protect and preserve open space, wilderness and recreation, have led to the current planning effort. The Conservancy coordinates with state partners including Department of Parks and Recreation, the National Park Service, and others to provide coordinated access to open space and recreation throughout the watershed. According to the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA, an existing local joint powers authority that includes the Conservancy), “The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (Conservancy) has statutory jurisdiction including the Santa Monica Mountains Zone and the Rim of the Valley Trail Corridor (ROV). The ROV Trail Corridor was first established by the State Legislature beginning in 1983 with a bill that provided that the Rim of the Valley Trail Corridor would be a system of recreational trails connecting parks and open space lands around the San Fernando and La Crescenta Valleys. A map was prepared by the Conservancy in compliance with Section 33105.5 of Division 23 of the state Public Resources Code, and filed with the Secretary of State in June 1984.”

AB 1516 (Katz), Chapter 1062, Statutes of 1989, provided guidance to the Conservancy to plan for a Rim of the Valley Trail Corridor Master Plan. MRCA states, “The Legislature also called for a trail route between Griffith Park and El Pueblo de Los Angeles State Historic Park. Between 1984 and 2009, the State Legislature periodically authorized the Conservancy to further expand the ROV Trail Corridor. The Santa Clarita Woodlands were included in 1989, and the Rim of the Valley Trail Corridor Master Plan was adopted in June 1990, which called for preservation of wildlife habitat linkages, and recreational trail connections in a larger geographic area between the Santa Monica Mountains and the ranges to the north: the Simi Hills, Santa Susana Mountains, Verdugo Mountains, San Rafael Hills, and portions of the San Gabriel Mountains. In 2002 the ROV Corridor was enlarged after study by the Conservancy to include the Upper Santa Clara River Watershed and all of Upper Los Angeles River Watershed in the San Gabriel Mountains and Angeles National Forest. Subsequent legislation allowed for Elsmere Canyon between Santa Clarita and Sylmar to be included in the Conservancy’s ROV Trail Corridor boundary.”

Supporting Arguments. Supporters argue that adding 191,000 acres of the Rim Valley Corridor to the existing national recreation area would incorporate and synthesize many years of land conservation efforts in the Los Angeles area by local, state, and federal agencies, and community groups. If adopted, the expanded area will result in a blueprint for the National Park Service to assist and enhance preservation of wildlife linkages, recreation opportunities, and public programs beyond the current Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area boundaries.

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

California State Parks Foundation

Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority

Opposition

None on file

Analysis Prepared by: Catherine Freeman / W., P., & W. / (916) 319-2096