Land Purchases Urged in Santa Monicas : Mountain Park Funds Sought

A Southern California congressman urged a House subcommittee Wednesday to approve money to enlarge the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and to fight off Administration efforts to cancel last years’ funding for land.

Rep. Anthony Beilenson (D-Los Angeles) said the recreation area in the mountains above the Santa Monica and Malibu beaches could become the nation’s most frequently visited property in the National Park System.

“Already, with the park only one-third complete, it attracts half a million visitors a year,” Beilenson told the appropriations interior subcommittee, which is considering projects to recommend for fiscal 1988.

The Reagan Administration has opposed appropriating money for land to enlarge the 150,000-acre recreation area, which extends from Hollywood Hills to the coast in Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

“The longer we delay purchasing land there, the more the park will cost,” Beilenson said, calling the Administration’s policy shortsighted and asking for more money for fiscal 1988.

$6 Million for Land

The panel approved $6 million for land purchases in the recreation area last year.

Land in the Santa Monica Mountains is subject to fire, flood and mud slide and, if developed, would cost more in disaster relief than the cost of buying and preserving it in its natural state, Beilenson said.

For two years, the Reagan Administration has requested that financing Congress earmarked for land acquisitions for the recreational area be rescinded. The action freezes the funds for 45 working days, but, if Congress does not vote to support a rescission request, then the money is released for the designated use.

An aide to Sen. Pete Wilson (R-Calif.) said there is “zero chance” that Congress, now controlled by the Democrats, will approve Reagan’s rescission request. Wilson and several California congressmen have backed money for the recreation area for years, arguing the land will never be less expensive, and should be bought to avoid development in its midst that would spoil the pristine quality.

‘Effective Use of Funds’

“Any funding provided for the Santa Monicas will be a truly cost-effective use of our scarce federal funds,” Beilenson said. He represents the 23rd Congressional District, which runs north and south of the Santa Monica Mountains, taking in Beverly Hills, Malibu, Westwood, and the Woodland Hills-Encino area of the San Fernando Valley.

Beilenson suggested the addition of several tracts to the recreation area:

- 820 acres--15 miles--of the Backbone Trail, $2 million.

- 272 acres of the Las Virgenes Valley, owned by the Quaker Corp., $3.5 million.

- 314 acres of the Medea Valley, a link in a north-south mountain trail, $10.5 million.

- 29 acres of the Rancho Sierra Vista-Leo Carrillo connection of the beach and inland park lands, $125,000.

- 40 acres of Santa Maria Canyon, $200,000.

- A 786-acre parcel in Zuma Canyon, $6 million; and a 747-acre parcel in Trancas Canyon, $3.3 million. Both areas contain rare and valuable wildlife.

- 2,048 acres in scattered parcels in Zuma and Trancas canyons, to complete public ownership of parkland in the two canyons, $10.2 million.