HISTORY

In 1991, local residents, led in part by the late Clare Marter Kenyon, rallied to save this magical canyon from being auctioned off due to fire clearance fines. Their efforts resulted in the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy purchasing the property. Today, the canyon is home to an ephemeral stream and a rich grove of mature black walnut trees, willows, elderberries, and other native plants. While essential fire brush clearance has occurred, the site is in need of additional care to reach its full potential as a community and ecological resource.

Over the next few years our work will consist of:

🌱 Planting TEST PLOTs in the canyon, including a black walnut understory woodland plot, riparian plot, fire buffer plot, and switchback plot.

🛠 Building trails to make the canyon more accessible for walking and as a Metro shortcut.

🔍 Conducting water and soil tests to explore opportunities for Measure W funding to improve stormwater quality.

🤝 Learning, sharing ideas, and planning for the future of this incredible space.

BACKGROUND

2023-2024 winter’s storms revived the stream, revealing its natural course. However, aside from basic fire brush clearance, little restoration work has been done since the canyon was saved from development in 1991 by local residents, including the late Clare Kenyon. The land is owned by the Santa Monica Mountain Conservancy and managed by the Mountains Recreation Conservation Authority.

Led by a course at the USC School of Architecture, the Test Plot addressed the diverse challenges and opportunities of the canyon through a mission and ethos developed collaboratively by the students and their partners. The class worked with the Community Nature Connection and a broad coalition of organizations and residents. The course concluded with reflections on the process, and shared with LA County’s “Pando Days” program, contributing to its sustainability-focused colloquium of schools.

PLANT LIST

WOODLAND

Baccharis salicifolia / Mulefat
Clinopodium douglasii / Yerba Buena
Frangula californica / Coffeeberry
Juglans californica / California Black Walnut
Keckiella cordifolia / Heartleaf Penstemon
Lonicera subspicata / Chaparral Honeysuckle
Rhus integrifolia / Lemonade Berry
Ribes aurantiacus / Golden Currant
Ribes speciosum / Fuchsia-Flowered Gooseberry
Ribes viburnifolium / Evergreen Currant
Rosa californica / California Wildrose
Rubus ursinus / California Blackberry
Symphoricarpos mollis / Creeping Snowberry

RIPARIAN

Artemisia vulgaris / Mugwort
Asclepias fascicularis / Narrowleaf milkweed
Atriplex lentiformis / Big Saltbush
Baccharis salicifolia / Mulefat
Diplacus aurantiacus / Sticky Monkeyflower
Eriogonum fasciculatum / California Buckwheat
Erythranthe cardinalis / Scarlet Monkeyflower
Eschscholzia californica / California Poppy
Juglans californica / California Black Walnut
Juncus textilis / Basket Rush
Muhlenbergia rigens / Deergrass
Nassella lepida / Foothill Needlegrass
Rosa californica / California Wildrose
Salix exigua / Narrowleaf Willow
Salvia Spathacea / Hummingbird Sage
Stachys albans / White Hedgenettle

FIRE BUFFER

Achillea millefolium / Yarrow
Baccharis pilularis ssp. pilularis 'Pigeon Point' / Pigeon Point Coyote Brush
Baccharis salicifolia / Mulefat
Ceanothus megacarpus / Big-pod Ceanothus
Cercis occidentalis / Western Redbud
Heteromeles arbutifolia / Toyon
Salvia apiana / White Sage