Habitat Rehabilitation

A new project has begun concerning habitat rehabilitation in the Lower Millard Canyon area below Canyon Crest. All of the home owners along the canyon side of Canyon Crest Road with properties that span the lower canyon have formed an ad hoc conservancy to rehabilitate and preserve the habitat and native plant communities.

This is a very sensitive and important wildlife corridor and, for the past several years, the area of Millard Canyon below the road crossing has been invaded by an increasingly varied group of non-native weeds that are choking out everything else and seriously threaten the ecosystem.

A $25,000 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) through their "Partners for Fish and Wildlife" program has been received to begin addressing this problem. This grant represents a long term contract and commitment. The grantees are working in cooperation with the San Gabriel Mountains Regional Conservancy and have also attracted the attention of the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS).

They are hoping to get a lot of community volunteer involvement in the project. The annual work period is limited (by nesting season) to August through February. They will be seeking volunteers for that period for both weekdays and weekends.

The problems are serious and the work will be hard (but rewarding). Because of habitat sensitivities, only a limited number of volunteers can be in the project area at any one time (so sign up early!). For anyone who may be interested, contact Michael Hickman at 626-398-6471 or vht@charter.net