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The County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) proposes to adopt a multi-use trails
master plan for two unincorporated areas within the Santa Clarita Valley Planning Area and the San
Fernando Valley Planning Area. The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), as established by
statute (Public Resources Code §§ 21000 et seq.), requires that the environmental implications of an action by
a local agency be estimated and evaluated before project approval. This Initial Study was prepared by the
County of Los Angeles pursuant to CEQA, as amended (Division 13, California Public Resources Code)
and the State CEQA Guidelines (Division 6, California Administrative Code). DPR proposes to complete
the Santa Susana Mountains Trails Master Plan – Phase II (SSMTMP-PII), ultimately to amend the Parks and
Recreation Element of the Los Angeles County General Plan 2035 (County General Plan) to include the
SSMTMP-PII, which would guide future trail development and recommend improvements to existing trails.
The proposed project would ultimately result in the construction and use of trails in public and private lands,
some of which may involve the expenditure of public funds, and thus constitutes a project pursuant to CEQA.
These trails would be located in the unincorporated territory of Los Angeles County; therefore, the County is
the Lead Agency pursuant to CEQA.

1.1 PROJECT TITLE

Santa Susana Mountains Trails Master Plan – Phase II

1.2 LEAD AGENCY

County of Los Angeles

1.3 PRIMARY CONTACT PERSON

Julie Yom, Park Planner
County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation
Planning and Development Agency
510 S. Vermont Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90020
(213) 351-5127
jyom@parks.lacounty.gov

1.4 PROJECT LOCATION

The SSMTMP-PII (proposed project) is located in the unincorporated territory of the northwestern portion of
the County of Los Angeles, immediately east of the boundary with the County of Ventura (Figure 1.4-1,
Regional Vicinity Map). The proposed project comprises an expansion of a 13-square-mile Phase II study area
1
that was established in the Santa Susana Mountains Final Trails Master Plan (SSMFTMP). The earlier study
was made up of two areas: Phase I, generally located on the south-facing slopes of the Santa Susana
Mountains; and Phase II, generally located on the north-facing slopes of the Santa Susana Mountains (Figure
1.4-2, Local Vicinity Map). The adopted trails master plan provided a detailed trails network for Phase I and
identified potential surrounding trail connections for Phase II, but deferred trail planning for Phase II to a later
date.

1 County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation. May 2015. Santa Susan Mountains Final Trails Master Plan. Available at:
https://trails.lacounty.gov/Files/Documents/115/FINAL%20Santa%20Susana%20Mountains%20Final%20Trails%20Master%20Plan%20May%2
02015.pdf

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