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• (12) Assist in the recovery of endangered, threatened, or migratory species by improving watershed health, instream
flows, fish passage, coastal or inland wetland restoration, or other means, such as natural community conservation plan
and habitat conservation plan implementation:
The City and County of Los Angeles have designated the area encompassing the Project as the Santa Clara
River SEA due to the great diversity of habitat types present within this designated area and plentiful wildlife.
The Santa Clara River provides breeding sites, traveling routes and other essential resources for wildlife.
Within the upper Santa Clara River watershed, this property maintains the habitat necessary for threatened
and endeangered species (see VI above). In particular, the unarmored three-spine stickleback and arroyo toad
are considered species clinging to existence in Soledad Canyon. This Project will assist in the recovery of
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these endangered, threatened and migratory species by protecting and ultimately restoring the riparian and
aquatic habitats that support them.

VIII California Water Action Plan
Provide a detailed description of how the Project promotes and implements one or more of the objectives of the California Water
Action Plan. Specifically, (1) Does the Project result in more reliable water supplies? (2) Does the Project result in restoration or
protection if important species and habitat? (3) Does the Project result in more resilient and sustainably managed water
infrastructure?

The Project implements all three objectives of the California Water Action Plan, as outlined below:

1) More Reliable Water Supplies: The Santa Clara River is the single most important source of water in northern
Los Angeles County and in western Ventura County. The Project directly protects Santa Clara River and its
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flows which ultimately provide groundwater recharge for agricultural operations in the nearby Oxnard Plain.
The Project lies within the Acton Valley Groundwater Basin which is drained by the Santa Clara River and
recharged primarily by the percolation of rainfall and rainfall runoff. The protection of this property, which
straddles the Santa Clara River, can enhance beneficial uses of water within the floodplain, improve quality of
groundwater, and restore diminished groundwater supplies. The property currently has three operable wells
that will undoubtedly be put to use in a development scenario; simply retiring their use will have immediate
groundwater supply benefits.

2) Protection of Important Species and Habitat: Protection of the Project is particularly important as it occupies the
critical area between the biologically-rich riparian areas along the Santa Clara River and the protected uplands
of the Angeles National Forest. These linkages between water sources and areas of higher elevation are
among the most critical to protect for species facing habitat loss and degradation from climate change.
Furthermore, this Project will protect Southern Willow Riparian woodland which forms mature overstory
areas along the Santa Clara River. A comprehensive list of species found in the habitat provided by the
property likely includes the unarmored three-spine stickleback, arroyo chub, and arroyo toad. Additionally,
waters from the Project lands will go towards managed releases for southern California steelhead habitat in
the Santa Clara River.

3) More Resilient and Sustainably Managed Water Infrastructure: The topography, natural features, and intact
riparian communities of the Robin's Nest property facilitate infiltration, groundwater recharge, and the
measured release of storm water. Watershed services provided by the Project include water purification,
storage, and erosion control. These watershed services are vital to the state and the region as they mitigate
the impacts of drought and water quality degradation associated with climate change.

IX Climate Change

8 CAPP p. 6.
9 Santa Clara River Enhancement and Management Plan (2005)

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