Senator Stern Applauds Preservation of Hidden Creeks Open Space

CALABASAS – Senator Henry Stern (D-Calabasas) applauded today’s decision by the Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) to preserve the Hidden Creeks area as open space:

“Southern California’s breathtaking open spaces are admired around the world— and they ensure that our precious wildlife can traverse a land they recognize as their own. By protecting Hidden Creeks, the Board has chosen to treat our flora and fauna with the respect it deserves and prevented further urban development in high-risk fire areas. I look forward to continuing to work with the WCB to preserve our open spaces and our environment.”

Senator Stern directly advocated for the approval of a $4.9 million expenditure by the WCB to acquire the land for preservation purposes. A copy of Senator Stern’s November 4 letter urging the appropriation of the funds can be found here. The WCB today approved the purchase of the land, which contains oak woodland and grassland habitat, wildlife corridors and habitat linkages, sitting about two miles north of the 118 Freeway and connected to over 11,000 contiguous acres of parkland owned by the Mountains and Recreation Conservation Authority.

Hidden Creeks, as the WCB notes, is an essential component of the Santa Susana Pass inter-mountain range habitat linkage connecting the Simi Hills to the Santa Susana Mountains. A number of mammals live in and around the area, including the mountain lion, mule deer, southern spotted owl and bobcat.