Lawmakers Pose Link of Parkland

Two California congressional members introduced legislation Tuesday to explore the possibility of more than doubling the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area by adding the ranges above the San Fernando, La Crescenta, Santa Clarita, Simi and Conejo valleys, as well as the Arroyo Seco.

Inclusion of the so-called Rim of the Valley Corridor would link protected wildlife habitat in the Santa Monica Mountains to the Angeles National Forest. Much of the corridor is already federally protected forest and city parkland. Adding it to the national recreation area would make it easier to acquire private land in the corridor.

The legislation, introduced by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank), would direct the federal Interior and Agriculture departments to spend up to three years working with state, county and local officials to determine ways to link the two areas.

Lawmakers from California proposed a similar bill last year, but the House of Representatives never voted on it.

The National Park Service oversees the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. Expanding the recreation area would require congressional action.