Why our grass roots organization was formed

The inspiration came from witnessing the negative adverse impact on the Mountclef Ridge and its wildlife corridor as two homes were built (LD689) between 2002 and 2004.  This wildlife corridor is named the Mountclef Ridge Freeway Habitat Linkage in a 1990 Santa Monica Mountains Conservacy study

 

In 2000, the Thousand Oaks Planning Commission approved the development of two houses on the Mount Clef ridgeline above Briar Bluff Circle, north of California Lutheran University.  These houses are now complete as of January  2004 and the same developer applied to build four more houses on the north side of the ridge overlooking Santa Rosa Valley.  This proposed development would have completed urban sprawl by connecting the development in the City of Thousand Oaks to development in the Santa Rosa Valley FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER. 

 

It would obliterate the Ring of Open Space and cut off the Mountclef Ridge wildlife corridor. It reduces this critical wildlife corridor, which is part of a large habitat linkage between three major mountain ranges, from 2000 feet wide to a minimum of 100 feet wide. This minimum area is right where the Conejo Park and Recreation Trail continues across Mount Clef and over to the eastern border of Wildwood Park. 

If any of these homes get approved, they would choke off the wildlife corridor and greatly affect the habitat of Wildwood Park, the Western Plateau, the newly developed Hill Canyon wetlands habitat and the west end of the Santa Monica Mountains due to the inability of animals and plants to migrate through our area to the National Forests and back again.  Animals and the associated plants they help migrate are negatively impacted by any human activity.  The mere construction impact will chase the animals away and destroy the plant life for several years.  The human habitation, in an already restricted pathway, will cause the animals to avoid the area and behave adversely.