SSMPA working with the Foundation for the Preservation of the Santa Susana Mountains …

Most local to federal government agencies, including California State, are struggling with budget cuts, deficits, and all the issues that make keeping our local park, Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park (SSPSHP) and sister park, Los Encinos State Historic Park, open for public enjoyment.   We continue to partner with State Park Rangers/ Associates: Sean Woods, Karma Graham, Scott Raley, Lee Hawkins and Jennifer Dandurand to make SSPSHP Volunteers a model for all State Parks and keep our State Historic Parks open.

Volunteer Hours Contributed in  2011:  3600 – 3700!   
Final hours to be determined in January.
Special Service:
200+ Hours:  Dale Chaloukian, George Madrid, John Luker, Lorie Lawrence and Peter Ullrich
40 – 199 Hours:   Will report in our next newsletter all the names of dedicated volunteers who spent hours of their time
in the Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park  as Park Observers, on Graffiti Squad duty and as Interpretative Hike Leaders.

SSPSHP Volunteer Celebration in January, 2011 kicked off an awards dinner to celebrate the first year Volunteer 2010 achievements.
Receiving special commendations:
John Luker:  CA State Medallion of Superior Achievement
Teena Takata and Peter Ullrich:  CA Poppy Award
Volunteers collectively contributed 3,637 Hours in 2010

In 2011, the Foundation for the Preservation of the Santa Susana Mountains (FPSSM) rebooted, a  501(c)3 nonprofit, dedicated to operating the Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park.   Please see special insert  with coverage of the Foundation’s activities.  Working with elected officials:  In public meetings, elected official offices, in Sacramento or by correspondence with CalParks Foundation, local, state and federal government officials, Michael Antonovich, Bob Blumenfield, Barbara Boxer, Jerry Brown, Julia Brownley, Mitchell Englander, Diane Feinstein, Elton Gallegly, Fran Pavley, Brad Sherman, Greig Smith, Henry Waxman, Dennis Zine, SSMPA/FPSSM board members are active in keeping our State Parks open and protecting-preserving the Santa Susana Mountains-Simi Hills.

The Rim of the Valley Wildlife Corridor (ROV) study in Congress continues to be in our radar sights.  SSMPA board members contributed in 2010 to the public meeting sessions.   John Luker and Teena Takata in 2011 sponsored a hike of the SSPSHP with Margie Steigerwald, Planner, National Park Service.   The ROV will expand the NPS service area of the Santa Monica Mountains to strategic land areas in the Simi Hills-Santa Susana Mountains-San Gabriel Mountains-Angeles National Forest.   The ROV will serve the community by providing not only a wildlife corridor but also a “people” corridor for passive recreational activities including hiking, equestrian  and mountain bike trails.

Strategic alliances/partnerships formed and/or engaged with for the common goal to serve our community: California State Parks Foundation . CA State Dept. of Parks and Recreation . CalParks Foundation . Center for Biological Diversity . Chatsworth Historical Society . Chatsworth Community Coordinating Council . Chatsworth Neigh-borhood Council . Chumash Indian Museum,  DTSC,  Docents: Malibu and Topanga,. Folk4Parks . L.A. City Dept. of Recreation and Parks . L.A. City Councilmembers . Moorpark College Archaeological Dept. . Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) .  SFV Audubon Association . Los Angeles Sierra Club . National Park System . Southwestern Herpetologists Society . Tree People, and Ventura County Archaeological Society.

Santa Susana Field Lab (SSFL) DTSC-Public Participation Group (PPG) Four of the SSMPA Board Members serve on the DTSC-PPG advocating for a responsible clean up at the SSFL.   SSMPA Board Members facilitated twohikes at the SSFL for the public and several attended the Groundwater U and other cleanup-testing projects and many public meetings.

In the news:  From feature articles to editorials in Chatsworth Patch, Daily News and Los Angeles Times, Radio and Documentaries on the internet, SSMPA Board Members, spokesperson, John Luker, and others, are blasting our commitment to keep SSPSHP open and protect our local community.