New Law Is a Boon for the Backbone Trail

With recent legislation settling a longtime tax feud, the Backbone Trail through the Santa Monica Mountains is closer than ever to completion.

Gov. Gray Davis has signed a bill, written by Assemblywoman Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica), that allows the state to accept a 170-acre tract once owned by film director Frank Capra in lieu of estate taxes.

That leaves about four miles to complete the 70-mile trail, which runs from Will Rogers State Park to Point Mugu in Ventura County. Most of the remaining land belongs to numerous property owners with 5- or 10-acre tracts.

Paul Edelman, a division chief with the Santa Monica Mountains, said current funding should provide for the purchase of the properties, and bring an end to the 20-year effort to complete the trail.

“There’s great funding available,” Edelman said. “It’s just a matter of working the deals and plowing through the paperwork and finding people selling at reasonable prices.”