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traveling routes, and other resources for wildlife. In addition to the species described in earlier sections,
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focal species identified within this larger linkage include mammals such as the Mountain lion (puma concolor),
American badger (Taxidea taxa), mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), Pacific kangaroo rat (Dipodomys agilis); birds
such as the California thrasher (Toxostoma redivivum), California spotted owl (Strix occidentialis occidentalis),
Burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia), Acorn woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus); amphibians including the
Monterey salamander (Ensatina eschscholtzii eschscholtzii), California mountain kingsnake (Lampropeltis zonata),
Two-striped gartersnake (Thamnophis hammondii), and Western pond turtle (Clemmys marmorata). Preservation
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of this property, in conjunction with nearby conservation efforts such as the Santa Monica Mountains
Conservancy’s Stickleback Ranch Project, will preserve essential open space and viable connections for
wildlife movement between the two core habitat areas of the San Gabriel Mountains and the Sierra Pelona.

X Relationship to Other Plans and Policies
Provide a detailed description of how the Project promotes and implements other relevant regional and state plans and policies.
Will completion of the Project assist a government agency in fulfilling a water resources protection, water ecosystem restoration, or
multi-benefit river parkway plan?

For acquisition Projects: Does the Project implement a major component of an existing relevant plan related to a major
recreational public use facility or watershed ecosystem restoration plan? Would completion of the Project assist in fulfilling a
Federal water resources protection or watershed ecosystem restoration plan?

The Robin's Nest acquisition Project would implement the following recreational, ecosystem restoration, and
watershed protection plans:

• Common Ground Plan. The Project is consistent with the SMMC and the Rivers and Mountains
Conservancy's (RMC) joint Watershed and Open Space Plan for the San Gabriel and Los Angeles
Rivers and will directly implement each of the Guiding Principles outlined in the Plan:
o Land: By protecting 51.4 acres of open space, riparian forest, and wetlands between the two
units of the Angeles National Forest, this Project will create, expand, and improve public open space
and the ecosystem and public access linkages that the natural resources on this property can
provide. By protecting the PCT trail easement on the eastern portion of this property and
expanding the trail buffers around that easement, this Project will improve access to open space
and recreation and connect open space with a network of trails on the PCT segment between the
Angeles National Forest and BLM land. This Project will protect high-quality habitat within an
ecologically significant area by preserving coastal sage scrub on the hillside, high quality riparian
woodlands along the Santa Clara River, and unique wetland resources within a SEA. After
protecting this property, MRCA plans to improve habitat quality, quantity, and connectivity by
undertaking restoration activities on the property. In particular, restoration may be
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undertaken on the more than six acres of wetland habitat on-site.
o Water: By protecting this property from development, this Project will improve the quality of
surface water and groundwater by reducing dry weather runoff discharge into the Santa Clara
River. It will optimize water resources to reduce dependence on imported water by enhancing
groundwater recharge through protection of instream flows. A portion of the property is
located within a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Zone and its protection will allow this
property to accept and hold floodwaters, and improve flood safety for storm events.
o Planning: This Project is the result of coordinated watershed planning efforts across jurisdictions and
boundaries and will implement a coordinated regional approach to land protection between
the Antelope and Santa Clarita Valleys (see CAPP partners described below).

11 San Gabriel-Castaic Connection Conceptual Area Protection Plan (Draft), California Department of Fish and Wildlife (2004),
available at http://www.smmc.ca.gov/Agendas_Minutes/2005/7-25/Item12/Item12_Attch.pdf.
12 Id.
13 Watershed and Open Space Plan for the San Gabriel and Los Angeles Rivers, SMMC and RMC, p. 48.

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