The San Gabriel foothills are Altadena's "backyard;"
areas of great historic and cultural significance heavily
used by residents and visitors from around the world; by runners,
hikers, equestrians, mountain bikers, artists, bird-watchers,
school children, and others. The Altadena foothills contain
the remnants of the Mount Lowe Railway and its grand resorts;
Millard and Rubio Canyons with their lovely waterfalls; abandoned
gold mines; and ancient Gabrielino (Tongva) tribal sites.
Trails crisscross the foothills including the fragmented Altadena
Crest Trail and the old toll road to the ruins of Ye Olde
Alpine Tavern and the Mount Wilson Observatory. The grave
of Owen Brown, son of abolitionist John Brown, is located
on an Altadena foothill parcel.
Encroachment
Large cut-and-fill, high density residential tract developments
are rapidly encroaching on the San Gabriel foothills, threatening
its unique wildlife and botanical resources, damaging streams
and watersheds, destroying significant historical sites, and
eliminating irreplaceable open space in close proximity to
urban Los Angeles. On the western edge of the Altadena foothills,
hundreds of magnificent mature oak woodland, including a rare
Englemann Oak grove, coastal sage, and riparian (stream side)
habitats were bulldozed less than 10 years ago to build the
controversial La Viña gated tract development. The
Altadena Foothills Conservancy was founded on the philosophy
that it is better to buy land and conservation easements from
property owners than to fight their plans for development
after the permit applications have been filed.
Today, the clock is ticking towards the imminent destruction
of the remaining Altadena wildlands. The dramatic constant
growth in population within the Los Angeles basin increases
the pressure to over-develop these last open spaces, in spite
of existing land use plans, oak ordinances, and local opposition.
Steep hillsides which were formerly immune to mass housing
tract development are vulnerable to high technology construction
techniques that enable entire hills and canyons to be removed
and replaced by uniform, high density, stair-stepped lots,
and row upon row of large “McMansions.”
Quality
of Life & Value
Natural beauty, scenic vistas, and easy access to wildlands
enhance the economy and quality of life in Altadena and surrounding
communities. Studies have shown that neighborhoods near parks
and trails are more desirable and more valuable than those
without these amenities. Open space is good for property values,
whereas tract developments can overburden limited municipal
services such as fire protection, law enforcement, street
maintenance, and schools, and lower overall property values,
especially of adjacent, older housing. A balance between development
and preservation of natural resources is necessary for the
health of a community.
Ecological
Diversity
We live in a Mediterranean climate, with warm dry summers
and wet winters. Our climate, influenced by the ocean on one
side and the San Gabriel Mountains on the other, has led to
a rich, diverse mosaic of habitats. Plant communities include
oak woodland, coastal sage scrub, chaparral, riparian (stream
side), along with intergradations of higher elevation mountain
vegetation. There are numerous microclimates and transition
zones between these natural plant and animal communities.
Several threatened species reside or have lived here in the
recent past, including the San Diego coast horned lizard (or
"horny toad"), southern spotted owl, long-eared
owl, Cooper's hawk, sharp-shinned hawk, Englemann oak, Nevin's
barberry (grey holly), and others. Species no longer common
near urban areas still exist in the remaining wild foothills,
canyons, and streams including black bear, cougar, bobcat,
gray fox, chipmunk, several bat species, king snakes, and
tree frogs. A tremendous variety of birds live in the foothills
or migrate along the Pacific Flyway, including the greater
roadrunner, cactus wren, California thrasher, American dipper
(water ouzel), California quail, killdeer plover, several
woodpecker species, phainopepla, Steller's jay, warblers,
towhees, junco, mountain chickadee, violet-green swallow,
nighthawk, plain titmouse, bushtit, and black phoebe. Lovely
wildflowers like the California poppy, sticky monkey flower,
penstemons, arroyo lupine, Indian pink, mariposa lily, sacred
datura, and Chinese houses are sprinkled throughout the foothills
and canyons each spring and summer.
