In a significant advancement for wildlife and urban conservation, the Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy (AFC) has successfully acquired 10.4 acres of natural habitat in the heart of Glendale. This new area, named Sycamore Canyon, serves as the most active wildlife crossing of East Chevy Chase Drive and links expansive open spaces within the San Rafael Hills.
AFC, a regional land trust dedicated to preserving natural habitats for wildlife across the San Gabriel Valley and the Crescenta Valley, finalized the acquisition of the property on June 30 for $1.1 million. The purchase, facilitated by Andrew Robarge, a Compass real estate agent, marks AFC’s 16th acquisition. This expansion brings the total area directly conserved by AFC to approximately 100 acres in one of the most densely populated urban regions in the United States. Additionally, AFC has collaborated with government agencies to secure the conservation of another 126 acres of habitat in the region. By integrating the new Sycamore Canyon Preserve with AFC’s existing Cottonwood Canyon Preserve in Pasadena, wildlife will now have secure passage across 4,200 acres of open space in the San Rafael Hills, extending from the Arroyo Seco to the 2 Freeway.
“This sale demonstrates the effectiveness of collaboration and innovative conservation strategies in increasingly urbanized areas,” said Robarge. “It represents a win for AFC, for the wildlife utilizing these corridors, and for my client, who achieved a successful sale at fair market value.”
The Los Angeles metropolitan area hosts essential habitats for diverse species, but these habitats are often isolated by freeways, roads, and urban development. AFC’s mission is to reconnect these fragmented “biological islands,” such as the San Rafael Hills, Verdugo Mountains, and Griffith Park, with the biologically diverse San Gabriel Mountains through a network of wildlife corridors. Urban conservation presents a unique challenge: ensuring wildlife passage through densely populated areas that span multiple jurisdictions.
“This approach is the most effective way to maintain healthy wildlife populations,” explained John Howell, CEO of AFC. “By strategically removing barriers, engineering crossings, calming traffic, acquiring land, and restoring habitats with native plants, we create pathways for wildlife to move safely through urban areas to hunt, forage, mate, and establish territories.”
AFC is also working to secure additional wildlife routes along a four-mile stretch of Chevy Chase Drive. This effort will support wildlife movement in the area and align with the State of California’s ambitious conservation goals. Additionally, AFC is engaging the Glendale and broader regional community through initiatives such as forming the “Friends of Sycamore Canyon,” a group of local residents and volunteers dedicated to wildlife protection who will assist in maintaining and promoting the new preserve.
Starting September 8, AFC will host volunteer restoration events on the second Sunday of every month, focusing on removing invasive plants and enhancing the preserve’s habitat. Participation in both the Friends Group and the restoration days is open to the public. Interested volunteers can reach out to AFC for more details.
For more information about AFC and its conservation efforts, visit ArroyosFoothills.org.
