The Rim of the Valley Coalition is a community-based effort to expand the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area for the purposes of preserving open space, improving habitat connectivity and engaging urban communities in some of the last remaining wild spaces in the greater Los Angeles area.
The concept of a connected network of green and natural spaces surrounding and serving the San Fernando Valley and greater Los Angeles area has existed for several decades. In 2012, the National Park Service (NPS) released the preliminary findings and recommendations of its Rim of the Valley Corridor Special Resource Study: http://www.nps.gov/pwro/rimofthevalley/ . It released its final report in 2016. Since then, Representative Adam Schiff has championed the Rim of the Valley Corridor Preservation Act (H.R. 4086). The text of the legislation is available at: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/4086.
Currently, a diverse network of conservation, homeowner, outdoor education and other community-based groups have formed the Rim of the Valley Coalition to make the vision of an expanded Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area a reality.
Mission
The mission of the Rim of the Valley Coalition is to promote the Rim of the Valley expansion of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. It unifies and amplifies citizen voices who support parks, open spaces, historic preservation, wildlife, outdoor education and recreation and an improved quality of life through the protection of our region’s delicate ecosystem and unique natural and cultural resources.
Rim of the Valley Coalition – Steering Committee
National Park Conservation Association (NPCA) – Dennis Arguelles, LA Program Manager
Santa Clarita Valley Community Hiking Club and Santa Clara River Watershed – Dianne Erskine-Hellrigel – Executive Director, President (respectively)
Las Virgenes Homeowners Federation, Inc., of the Santa Monica Mountains (LVHF) – Kim Lamorie, President
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Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) – Ramya Sivasubramanian, Staff Attorney
The City Project – Robert Garcia, Founding Director and Counsel
San Fernando Valley Audubon Society – Patricia Bates, Treasurer
Los Angeles Audubon Society – Brad Rumble, Board of Directors
Public Lands Alliance Network – Carla Bollinger