Land Deal Opens 10,000 Acres of Choice Parkland for Public Use

More than two decades ago, Ed Mercurio hiked extensively throughout the undeveloped backcountry of Ventura County as an emissary for preservationist groups. His mission: target privately owned natural wonders worth acquiring for public use and kept in their pristine state.

Over the years, sites high on Mercurio’s list were acquired from the private sector by the Santa Monica Conservancy, a state agency. But several vital wildlife corridors and geological gems eluded the preservationists like key pieces in a jigsaw puzzle.

In December, however, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors took a big step toward finally finishing the puzzle. The supervisors approved the $1-billion Ahmanson Ranch housing project. The complicated deal includes the transfer of 10,000 acres (see map) of choice parkland from private hands to public domain.

The acquisition adds 18% more land to the 56,000 acres already obtained by the conservancy in the last 12 years and has “great recreational value,” trail builder Ron Webster said.

The prime wilderness real estate--some of which has been off-limits to the public for decades--are Lower Corral Canyon, Palo Comado Canyon, Upper Las Virgenes Canyon, Rocky Peak Park, Liberty Canyon and China Flat, a rolling mountain meadow considered the crown jewel in the acquisition.

Preserving these sites, Mercurio said, “is a quantum leap for Ventura County. It elevates the county up there with Marin County--where there’s a lot of development but where people love their outdoors.”

The linkage between the mountain ranges does more than open miles of new trails and fire roads for hikers, equestrians and mountain bikers. It means wildlife such as mountain lion and bobcat always will have a corridor from the Santa Monica Mountains across the Simi Hills and over the Santa Susana Mountains to the wilds of the Los Padres National Forest, ensuring genetic diversity.

Several lawsuits threaten the housing project, but according to Rorie Skei, project manager for the conservancy, the transfer of most of the 10,000 acres still will take place unless something “totally unanticipated occurs.” If the transfer proceeds, places such as China Flat and Palo Comado Canyon might be open for recreation use within the next few weeks, Skei said. Las Virgenes Canyon, however, will be affected by the outcome of the lawsuits; it also is possible that Liberty Canyon could revert to private ownership.

The 10,000 acres (7,000 of which were owned by Bob Hope) are rich in geological variety--from sandy inland beaches to V-shaped canyons--and in archeological significance.

When Mercurio, 48, first discovered Palo Comado as a young man growing up in Van Nuys, he found “a tremendous amount of archeological stuff. There were so many arrowheads it looked like an Indian war had taken place.”

The following is a brief description of the parcels of land that make up the 10,000 acres (for China Flat, see accompanying story).

* Lower Corral Canyon--339 acres. An interface between the beach and the Santa Monica Mountains, Corral is the last undeveloped coastal canyon in Malibu with a year-round stream, Corral Creek. The canyon has rare white alder, pools, waterfalls and ocean views. The trails are undeveloped but have the potential to link up with Malibu Creek State Park.

The V-shaped canyon--similar to Zuma and Trancas--is off Pacific Coast Highway, between Las Virgenes Road and Kanan Road. An RTD bus stop is practically at the trail head.

An underpass provides access to the beach, which is considered “a fabulous spot for sunsets and whale watching,” said Rorie Skei of the conservancy.

The area is already open to the public.

* Palo Comado Canyon--1,500 acres. Along with China Flat, the six-mile-long canyon makes up Jordan Ranch. It has thick stands of valley oak, a seasonal stream, rolling vistas, craggy rock outcrops and abundant wildlife.

One of the so-called “triplets,” Palo Comado runs parallel to Cheeseboro and Las Virgenes canyons.

A ranch road slices through Palo Comado to China Flat. There is a possibility of additional trails being built. Overnight camping might be allowed.

The canyon is now closed to the public.

* Rocky Peak Park--4,369 acres. Also called Runkle Ranch, Rocky Peak Park was under water eons ago and “is geologically fantastic,” said Mercurio, who teaches natural science at Hartnell College in Salinas.

Large sandstone formations give a Southwest look to the park, which is in the Santa Susana Mountains.

Parts of Las Llajas Canyon in the northwest corner of the park contain ancient beaches. At one end of the canyon is Coquina Mine Hill, which is a treasure trove of marine fossils. Hiking to Coquina is difficult, and Mercurio believes access should be limited “like the Petrified Forest” in Arizona to prevent abuses by the public.

The new 2 1/2-mile Chumash Trail was built along the ridges of the park and now connects with the 3 1/2-mile Rocky Peak trail.

A tunnel under the Simi Valley Freeway linking the Simi Hills with Rocky Peak Park is the last remaining safe wildlife crossing in the Santa Susanas, making the park “a significant addition of public land between the Santa Susana Mountains and the Santa Clarita Woodlands,” said Dan Preece, area superintendent of state parks.

The park also includes Blind Canyon, which might become an L.A. County landfill if the Ahmanson deal doesn’t go through.

The park is already open to the public.

* Upper Las Virgenes Canyon--2,600 acres. Adjacent to Cheeseboro on the east, the canyon is noted for spectacular white sandstone rocks and pastoral grasslands.

Mercurio says the canyon will be “good for high-density recreation,” including mountain biking on fire roads, overnight camping and fishing, if a reservoir is impounded. The canyon also could accommodate a museum and a concession building.

Now closed to the public.

* Liberty Canyon--400 acres. A savanna habitat with a park-like setting and outstanding valley oaks.

It has the potential to be a staging area for hikers, bikers and equestrians into the Simi Hills and an entrance to Cheeseboro Canyon. The conservancy is likely to acquire an additional 74 acres.

Now closed to the public.