Arroyos and Foothills Conservancy Secures Funds to Protect Wildlife Habitat in Glendale Ahead of Earth Day

Just ahead of Earth Day, the Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy in Pasadena is celebrating a significant win in conservation efforts after securing a grant of $1.023 million from the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) to acquire 10 acres of critical wildlife habitat in Glendale’s Sycamore Canyon. The grant, according to a statement from the organization, underscores the importance of preserving wildlife corridors for the region’s diverse species.

The Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy (AFC), a dedicated non-profit organization, evolved from the Altadena Foothills Conservancy (AFC) which was founded in 2000 as an all-volunteer corps committed to conservation in Altadena. The name change in 2008 was made to better reflect the group’s new vision to conserve lands in the communities along the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains.

The group has been working for over a decade to protect these 10 acres in the Sycamore Canyon from the threat of development. Since 2013, their efforts have included comprehensive surveys, camera research, ecological studies, GIS mapping, and extensive community outreach to garner support for the Sycamore Canyon project. The project received significant backing from local residents, conservation advocates, the Chevy Chase Estates Association, and the City of Glendale.

“With this grant, we can now protect this wildlife corridor that serves as a lifeline for a range of species, including mule deer, coyotes, black bears, and bobcats,” John Howell, Chief Executive of AFC, said. “True conservation requires decisive action: by preserving this habitat in perpetuity, wildlife will continue to use this route for passage all the way through the San Rafael Hills, which is also made possible by access to the Arroyo Seco in Pasadena through our Cottonwood Canyon preserve. This will be monumental for the health and well-being of our wildlife communities for generations to come.”

The group said the protection of wildlife corridors like Sycamore Canyon is paramount for maintaining healthy ecosystems, facilitating animal movement, genetic diversity, and access to essential resources.

“The protection of Sycamore Canyon will not only preserve the precious oak woodland, chaparral, and riparian habitats along the canyon’s seasonal stream, but also provide safe travel routes for wildlife moving through the vast open spaces both to the west and east of the canyon,” the statement said.

The group also raised concerns that Chevy Chase Drive – a major street bisecting the San Rafael Hills with almost continuous development on both sides – poses a hazardous impediment to wildlife.

The grant from the CNRA is part of the agency’s Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation grant program and shows a commitment to mitigating the environmental impacts of transportation facilities. The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy also contributed a $100,000 grant for the acquisition, the statement said.

The AFC’s success in permanently protecting Sycamore Canyon aligns with California’s ambitious goal to conserve 30 percent of its land and coastal waters by 2030.

To learn more about the Arroyos and Foothills Conservancy, visit ArroyosFoothills.org.