Current Electronic Angeles-Alerts
Sierra Club Angeles Chapter Email Bulletin Board

This list is managed by Jennifer Robinson, Conservation Program Coordinator for the Sierra Club Angeles Chapter, and was created to help us stay informed and communicate with each other about environmental issues in Los Angeles and Orange Counties, specifically activities in which the Sierra Club is involved. This list is announce-only. You can join the Angeles-Alerts email list here. Subscribers do not need to be Sierra Club members. 

Visit the archive of Angeles Chapter Alerts

Soka Will become Public Parkland

On April 14th, 2005 the final papers were signed to make Soka public parkland forever. The California Coastal Conservancy and State Public Works Board gave the final two approvals needed to seal the deal on the $35 million dollar acquisition by the public of these beautiful 588 acres located in the heart of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.   

This remarkable accomplishment could not have happened without the broad community support that mobilized when Soka suddenly became a willing seller.   Voter-approved resource bond funds provided the majority of the money, supported by private donations from the cities of Agoura Hills and Calabasas.  Thanks should also be extended to all the partners in this acquisition effort –Wildlife Conservation Board, State Parks, National Park Service,  Coastal Conservancy, L.A. County, Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission, Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, and to the  “Committee to Save Soka", led by Mountains Restoration Trust.

Several Sierra Club entities donated generous funds through the Committee, including the Backpacking Group, WLA Group, San Fernando Valley Group, and the Santa Monica Mountains Task Force. In addition, many individual Sierra Club members gave money.
The ultimate thanks should go to the Sierra Club, who (along with two other entities) brought suit against L.A. County and the faulty EIR re the Soka property. The case, with attorney Frank Angel, went all the way to the State Court of Appeals, and the SC and friends won the case. This effectively meant that Soka University could not expand its campus and was probably the most important factor in Soka becoming a willing seller.

Congratulations and thank you to everyone who helped make this possible!

Trabuco Canyon Victory

WE WON!! The Court of Appeal today issued its opinion reversing the approvals of the 600-acre SaddleCreek/Crest development in Trabuco Canyon! This is an incredible victory for preservation of natural resources in the Foothill/Trabuco Specific Plan area. We owe a great deal of thanks to the coalition that fought this destructive housing development - SIERRA CLUB, Endangered Habitats League, California Oak Foundation, California Native Plant Society, Rural Canyons Conservation Fund, Sea & Sage Audubon, and Ray Chandos - to the diligent attorneys, Rick Derevan and Ray Johnson - and to the dozens of individuals who fought this project with impassioned testimony in defense of the environment. Among other wonderful things, 500 oak trees will NOT be destroyed and the Foothill/Trabuco Specific Plan will NOT be amended to lessen its protections of the amazing natural resources and open space here!
Congratulations to all and thank you all for your support of our efforts in the canyons!
Gloria D. Sefton Co-Founder, Saddleback Canyons Conservancy Vice-Chair, Saddleback Canyons Task Force, Sierra Club
PO Box 714 Trabuco Canyon, CA 92678

Here is an example of the amazing work that we are doing. Congratulations to all involved and all who cherish this space.
Kindly, Rachel (949) 589-9230

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