Puente Hills Preserve News: November 2025

When voters approved Measure PH last year, it was for the benefit of the Puente Hills and local communities - to help prevent wildfires, to clean up illegal dumping and safeguard wildlife habitat. As we prepare to receive the funds in the coming months, we are also prepared to show you, the voters, how Measure PH works to preserve our hillsides.

Our goal after funds are received in the coming months is to highlight the ways we’re delivering for voters, protecting our hills, and keeping communities safe by providing regular updates on activities such as:

Clearing brush from structures and emergency access roads for first responders
Protecting local natural lands by preventing and removing homeless encampments, vandalism and illegal dumping
Maintaining and adding park ranger patrols for fire safety, keeping our hills and trails safe and providing emergency response
Maintaining natural habitats, including the Hacienda Hills, Turnbull Canyon, Sycamore Canyon, Hellman Park, Arroyo Pescadero and Powder Canyon

We want your questions, feedback and ideas! Will you stay in touch? To learn more, please visit https://www.habitatauthority.org/measureph

Please be sure to follow us on social media for Measure PH and many other updates as they become available.

Forward this newsletter to friends and family so they can receive Measure PH and other updates too!

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Our Trails

Fall color comes alive: the leaves of poison oak, toyon and Western sycamores shift to brilliant reds and golds along the canyons.

Pro tip: Keep an eye out for poison oak’s color change — it’s beautiful but best admired from a distance!

Where to See It: the best Fall colors can be found on Sycamore Canyon Trail, Turnbull Canyon Trail, and Powder Canyon Trail.

Please also join our Meetup Group, where you can share photos and interact with fellow Puente Hills Preserve hikers.

Poison oak changing colors during Fall

Toyon is fairly common throughout the Preserve

Western sycamores are prevalent along the Sycamore Canyon Trail

Opportunities to Get Involved!

Help bolster the work we do each day by joining one of the following committees, now with open seats available!

Fiscal Oversight Advisory Committee, Measure PH

The Habitat Authority Board of Directors has established a Fiscal Oversight Advisory Committee to provide guidance and annually report to the Board and the public on the use of Measure PH funds. This Committee will help ensure that the Special Tax proceeds are spent for their intended purposes. To support transparency, the Committee will review the annual budget and periodic budget updates prepared by the Habitat Authority and offer feedback.

Each volunteer position on the Committee carries a three-year term. See our fact sheet to learn more.

Citizens Technical Advisory Committee (CTAC)

Our long-standing Advisory Committee, created by the Habitat Authority Board, makes recommendations on selected items including community concerns, trails, and access; and works to preserve and protect in perpetuity the remaining habitat areas and secure tenuous wildlife crossing points. The Committee is made up of nine members from the surrounding communities.

Each volunteer Committee position has a term of four years. See our fact sheet for details.

Interested in applying for either of these committees? Please visit our website for more information.

10,000 Steps Hikes

Enjoy the beauty nature has to offer here in Southern California and get your 10,000 steps in!

Join our Meetup Group, Puente Hills Preserve Hikers - you can see upcoming events/hikes, interact with other group members, and explore photos from recent hikes at our other trailheads in the area.

Grateful for Bugs and Birds

Join us for a special seasonal hike taking place Saturday, November 15th at 8am! We'll explore the fascinating lives of the insects and birds that help keep our local ecosystem thriving!

Location: Arroyo Pescadero Trailhead

*Park in our lot off of Colima Rd. at 7531 Colima Rd, Whittier, CA 90605

Parking is limited, carpooling advised

Trail Talk

Powder Canyon Trail

Southern California black walnut trees in Powder Canyon

Which of our six trailheads do you prefer the most in the Fall?

Hellman

In our last newsletter (July), we asked you about snakes - see the responses below!

"When it comes to snakes, how do you relate?"

23% reported that all of the answers resonated with them
20% responded “I love snakes, they are great for the environment and help keep rodent populations in check!”
15% responded “Snakes and I are more like fond long-distance friends”;
14% selected “I have a new appreciation for rattlesnakes. I understand they are more afraid of me.”
14% also selected “none of the above” as their response
And then finally, 12% responded “I think rattlesnakes are super cute, but I would never pick them up.”

Current Fire Prevention Activities

In August, the Habitat Authority executed a grant with the Rivers and Mountains Conservancy for wildfire resilience. A part of this grant includes funding for fall/winter vegetation clearance, strengthening defensible space areas from adjacent structures and homes, as well as safeguarding emergency access routes for first responders. These grant efforts are above and beyond anything our budgets could provide.

Grant dead tree removal - before / during / after

Vegetation clearance next to homes - before/after

Wildfire Prevention & Preparation: Home Hardening

With fire season year-round, it’s important to be vigilant and take preventative efforts, especially when it comes to protecting our family homes.

Embers travel 1 mile or more during a fire. Home hardening can help address your home’s vulnerabilities to better withstand a wildfire.

What is Home Hardening?

Home hardening is the term used to describe vegetation management and building materials used to resist the intrusion of flames or embers projected by a fire. It can be applied to new construction or for retrofitting an existing home.

Home hardening considers the relationship between your home and its exposure to nearby combustible features such as vegetation, vehicles, accessory buildings like a shed, or even miscellaneous structures like a fence.

Ways you can harden your home:

Zone 0: remove combustible materials within 5 feet of your home
1/8 inch wire mesh vents
Closed rain gutters
Chimney screens
Upgraded roof
Boxed eaves
Replace drapes with shutters or blinds
Dual-paned windows

Below is a great example of local Hacienda Heights residents’ recent home hardening and Zone 0 efforts.

BEFORE: wood siding and vegetation within 5 feet of the home (Zone 0)

AFTER: removed vegetation within 5 feet of the home and installed gravel; wood siding replaced with stucco siding; original windows replaced with dual-paned

With grant funds received from the Rivers and Mountains Conservancy for wildfire resilience, we have started a home hardening project on a Habitat Authority-owned facility and look forward to providing future updates.

To learn more about how you can reduce your fire risk, visit our website or the CAL FIRE website.

Our Rangers Will Be Participating In The Annual Uptown Whittier Christmas Parade!

Our hard-working rangers will be participating in the 71st Annual Uptown Whittier Christmas Parade, a beloved community tradition bringing together local businesses, schools and organizations to celebrate the holiday season - we hope to see you there on December 13th.

Social Scene

We celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival with a nature walk in Powder Canyon

Wildfire prevention: Every year, the Habitat Authority clears defensible space around the Preserve in accordance with local jurisdictional requirements.

In October, we highlighted the bird migration season in Southern California, noting that migrating birds primarily make their long-distance flights at night, making the journey to search for milder climates in the winter.

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.