Puente Hills Preserve News, August 2024 | |
Meet David Andrade of the MRCA
Meet David Andrade of the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA), the government agency that the Habitat Authority contracts with for park services.
David has been working as a private contractor for the MRCA since 2003 and officially joined the organization as an employee in 2022. He is tasked with ensuring the safety and cleanliness of the Preserve. Leveraging his extensive maintenance experience, including his strong background in maintaining irrigation systems and operating various power tools, David performs a variety of services throughout the Preserve.
His favorite part of working for a park agency is his pride in maintaining clean and safe parks.
David’s trail tip: “Make sure to look down when walking through the parks so you don't run into a snake or twist an ankle.”
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Message from our Executive Director Andrea Gullo: Measure PH
In July and after four years of discussions, the Habitat Authority unanimously voted to place Measure PH on the November 2024 general election ballot. Measure PH is a special tax of 1¢ per building square foot (about $18 dollars a year for a home of 1,800 square feet), with annual adjustments limited to 3%, until ended by voters. This will help provide the Habitat Authority with a much needed reliable and stable funding source for the agency. Key projects include: annual fuel clearance along the urban wildland interface and along emergency access routes; maintaining natural habitats; preventing and removing homeless encampments, vandalism and illegal dumping; and maintaining park ranger patrols for fire safety, keeping our hills and trails safe and providing emergency response. Click here for more information.
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Harbor Boulevard Wildlife Underpass
Our very own Harbor Boulevard wildlife underpass was featured in a new children’s book just released this summer, “Wildlife Crossings of Hope: Connecting Creatures Across the Globe”. Aimed at inspiring stewardship in middle school-aged children, this book explores the globe’s fragmented environments, the oftentimes difficult journeys wildlife undertake to traverse them, and the committed people who are stitching those habitats back together. During the writing of the book, the author, Teddi Lynn Chichester, met with our ecologist, Michelle Mariscal, to tour the Preserve and the Harbor Boulevard wildlife underpass and get a firsthand look at the important work the Habitat Authority does on a daily basis to ensure connectivity within the Puente-Chino Hills Wildlife Corridor. There is a special section in the book dedicated to this experience, highlighting Ecologist Mariscal and the success of the underpass!
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The Habitat Authority is Celebrating Its 30th Anniversary
Do you love the stunning Puente Hills view from your front porch or daily commute? Are you an avid trail enthusiast who loves Sycamore Canyon, Turnbull Canyon, Hellman Park, Powder Canyon, Arroyo Pescadero, or Hacienda Hills? If you value these hills for their beauty and their role in preserving native habitat and wildlife, join us in celebrating 30 years of preservation on September 21, 2024. Click here to RSVP.
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Owl Awareness
In observance of International Owl Awareness Day this month (August 4th) we wanted to feature these amazing birds of prey that are so worthy of admiration and conservation. Several species of owls have been spotted in the Puente Hills Preserve, ranging from the grand Barn Owl to the petite Burrowing Owl. Each species has specific habitat requirements, including suitable nesting and roosting sites like trees or cliff crevices, as well as nearby hunting grounds such as grasslands or shrublands that support their prey of rodents and other small animals. A key factor for attracting owls is minimal night-time lighting. As nocturnal hunters, owls are more likely to stay in areas with less artificial light, making the Preserve an ideal environment. While residents love to see and hear owls in their neighborhoods, they might not be aware of the risks we pose to them. Specifically, the use of rodenticides can have unintended consequences: poisoned rodents can become easy targets for owls and other wild predators, who then risk secondary poisoning. As we celebrate the beloved owl this month, let's also appreciate and protect open spaces like the Puente-Chino Hills Wildlife Corridor, which offer owls the habitats they need to thrive.
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| In the spirit of celebrating owls this month, have you seen these owl species on the Preserve? | | | |
Answer to last month's newsletter poll question: "How long have you been enjoying the trails on the Puente Hills Preserve?" 34.3% reported 10+ years, 21.4% reported 5-10 years, 14.3% reported 3-5 years, 14.3% reported 1-3 years, and 15.7% reported less than 1 year.
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The Habitat Authority is a local government agency, and is qualified to accept tax-deductible charitable donations including monetary and real property. Donations such as these contribute to the purpose of the agency and provide tax benefits for the giver. | | | | |
