Senator Stern Secures Approval of Funds to Restore and Enhance Liberty Canyon Underpass Damaged in Woolsey Fire

SACRAMENTO – Senator Henry Stern issued the following statement applauding the Wildlife Conservation Board’s approval of a $390,000 grant to restore and enhance the Liberty Canyon wildlife underpass damaged in the Woolsey Fire, coming on the heels of a successful advocacy campaign to secure a $300 million extension of the state’s Habitat Conservation Fund:

“Liberty Canyon represents a first-of-its-kind vision to save mountain lions who face the grim threat of an extinction vortex,” said Senator Stern. “As we tackle the biodiversity crisis, cities and states across the nation should follow this innovative example to save their vulnerable and cherished wildlife.”

The grant will be provided to the Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains for a cooperative project with Caltrans, the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and the Mountains and Recreation Conservation Authority. According to the Board, the Woolsey Fire completely destroyed the reclaimed water irrigation system installed for the Liberty Canyon Wildlife Crossing Project, approximately 80-90 percent of the native plants that were installed and around 20 percent of the cobble and boulders installed.

These funds come from the voter-approved Parks, Environment and Water Bond created by Proposition 68, which allows for the construction, repair, modification or removal of transportation or water resources infrastructure to improve wildlife or fish passage. The Wildlife Conservation Board still holds about $190 million in unallocated Proposition 68 funds and $31 million in Habitat Conservation Fund money for further use. 

Senator Stern has also led and supported a number of related efforts to protect local mountain lions and endangered species. As a coauthor on AB 1788, he advocates for the ban of second-generation rodenticides that killed P-47 and are a leading threat to mountain lions. Senator Stern is also a lead author on SB 1, which would protect California from federal rollbacks of endangered species and trophy hunting protections. He has also written legislation to defend animals, including SB 1441 to prohibit declawing on domestic cats and SB 1487 to ban the possession of the most iconic and endangered African ‘big game’ animals in California.

Further details on the grant are available here.