Video of Congressman Sherman in Action
By Congressman Brad Sherman
Recently, I appeared before the House Budget Committee to highlight my support of the $3.75 million in the Department of the Interior Fiscal Year 2011 Budget to acquire 286 acres to protect core habitat in the Zuma and Trancas Canyons in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. I urged my colleagues to include these funds in the final Budget.
I have been dedicated to expanding the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area since I was elected to Congress in 1996. These additional funds, would add to the more than $20 million I have secured for projects to preserve and expand the park. The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area is the world’s largest urban national park, and it’s right here, in the San Fernando Valley’s backyard.
Each year over 33 million visitors enjoy the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area's world-renowned beaches and explore the park's mountains, including its 60-mile Backbone Trail, which stretches across the Santa Monica Mountains and traverses through the Zuma and Trancas Canyons. To date, the National Park Service has acquired 22,000 acres of parkland.
The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area has one of the largest backlogs of acquisition needs in the national park system. Approximately 20,595 acres remains to be acquired to complete the recommendations of the Park Service’s Land Protection Plan. The value of these lands is estimated to be over $57 million.
The National Park Service ranks the preservation of the Zuma and Trancas Canyons watersheds and coastal estuaries as the top priority for land acquisition in the Santa Monica Mountains.
The National Park Service has already preserved approximately 6,500 acres or over 50 percent of the watersheds in the Zuma and Trancas Canyons, insuring their long-term preservation for public enjoyment. However, high-end real estate development threatens to displace critical habitat and degrade park scenery and coastal water quality.
Hiking trails within the canyons provide scenic views of the Pacific Ocean, numerous waterfalls, and natural solitude. My request for additional land acquisition not only identifies critical open space for habitat protection, but it also seeks to secure critical recreational trail connections for the public.
Congressman Brad Sherman represents the San Fernando Valley.
