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MOUNTAINS RECREATION & CONSERVATION AUTHORITY
Los Angeles River Center & Gardens
570 West Avenue Twenty-six, Suite 100
Los Angeles, California 90065
Phone (323) 221-9944

MEMORANDUM

TO: The Governing Board

FROM: Joseph T. Edmiston, FAICP, Hon. ASLA, Executive Officer

DATE: January 9, 2019

SUBJECT: Agenda Item X: Consideration of resolution confirming the acceptance of
donation of approximately 250 acres (APNs 3244-014-051, 052; 3247-017-025,
029, 055, 058, 060, 078, 090, 092, 093, 094 and 3247-018-034), pursuant to
Resolution No. 96-52, in the Marple Canyon tributary of the Santa Clara River,
Unincorporated Castaic area, Los Angeles County.

Staff Recommendation: That the Governing Board adopt the attached resolution
confirming the acceptance of donation of approximately 250 acres (APNs 3244-014-
051, 052; 3247-017-025, 029, 055, 058, 060, 078, 090, 092, 093, 094 and 3247-
018-034), pursuant to Resolution No. 96-52, in the Marple Canyon tributary of the
Santa Clara River.

Background: Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) Resolution
No. 96-52 authorized the Executive Director to accept donations of land subject to
confirmation by the Governing Board. In order to meet a calendar year deadline for
donation purposes, MRCA agreed to accept approximately 238 acres of the above
mentioned 250 acres, namely APNs: 3244-014-051, 052; 3247-017-025, 055, 058,
060, 078, 090, 092, 093, 094 and 3247-018-034. The remaining approximate 11
acres (APN 3247-017-029) will be conveyed to the MRCA by a separate instrument
at a later date. The owners had previously pursued development of the property with
sprawling motocross facilities and a business park.

The vast majority of the combined 250 acres are located between the north- and
south-bound lanes of the Golden State Freeway (Interstate 5) and are strategically
located to provide habitat linkage between open space lands on either side of
Interstate 5—the most significant impediment to wildlife movement in the Sierra
Madre-Castaic Connection. The subject parcels contain under-represented habitats
within the Sierra Madre-Castaic Connection with mid-elevation grasslands along with
coastal sage and riparian mulefat/willow scrub. One USGS blueline stream, Marple
Creek, drains the property and provides over one acre of jurisdictional waters.

A local public agency exercising joint powers of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, the Conejo Recreation & Park District,
and the Rancho Simi Recreation & Park District pursuant to Section 6500 et seq. of the Government Code.