Puente Hills Preserve News, July 2024

Meet Public Officer Jorge Rodriguez

Meet Public Officer Jorge Rodriguez of the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA), the government agency that the Habitat Authority contracts with for park services.

The MRCA has employed Jorge since 2020. He is responsible for helping to keep the Preserve safe and clean by performing a variety of maintenance services, including trail brushing, graffiti removal, trash and dumping removal, and more. Jorge responds to brush fires and medical calls, provides parking enforcement throughout the Preserve, and assists the Rangers.

Prior to joining the MRCA, Jorge was a wildland firefighter with the U.S. Forest Service for six years. He responded to a variety of emergency calls within the Forest Service, working with many outside agencies. He later joined the LA County Agriculture Weights and Measures Department, where he performed multiple tasks, including fire prevention measures within LA County, for five years. His training and experience made him a great candidate to get hired with the MRCA.

What Jorge loves most about his role is the opportunity to work alongside the Rangers and engage with the public while hiking the trails. He takes great pleasure in knowing that his service and his duty to protect the open space are appreciated by many.

Jorge's past experience and knowledge have made him an invaluable asset to both the MRCA and the Habitat Authority. We are delighted to have him as part of our team.

Public Officer Rodriguez's trail tip: As the season changes, watch your step while hiking, stay on the trail, and keep yourself and your pets well hydrated.

July 4th Safety Patrol

This past Independence Day, Habitat Authority volunteers, local community members, and our rangers and park staff from the MRCA dedicated their time to stand by the Puente Hills Preserve to ensure that our hills remained safe from fires. They were our eyes and ears, and prevented illegal access throughout the night. We are grateful to have such committed partnerships, especially during this vulnerable time to the hills. So, a big shout out and thank you to those who protected our hills this 4th of July.

Budget Deficit

The Habitat Authority has made budget cuts and tightened its belt considerably in recent years. Positions have been left unfunded and many services and programs have been cut. Remaining program and service levels do not meet current needs, even as lengthening fire seasons and neighborhood safety concerns increase the need for services. Without additional, reliable funding, the Habitat Authority will be forced to make additional cuts, which could include eliminating Ranger services and limiting access for individuals and families.

The Habitat Authority is contemplating forming a legal entity called a Community Facilities District (CFD). The current CFD boundaries being considered would include the entirety of the cities of Whittier and La Habra Heights as well as part of the communities of Hacienda Heights, Rowland Heights and Workman Mill. See the map below for the proposed boundary.

A CFD would allow the Habitat Authority to explore local funding options, including a potential special tax of about $18-$20 annually on real property in the designated geographic area.

The measure's top priorities include the Preserve's security and cleanliness, preventing wildfires, maintaining park ranger patrols for fire safety and emergency response, clearing brush from homes and emergency access roads, and protecting natural lands from threats like homeless encampments, vandalism, and illegal dumping. These services would protect the hills for future generations. To learn more visit our website by clicking here.

Grant-funded Goat Grazing

This summer, about 600 lovely goats were delivered to Powder Canyon in La Habra Heights to graze dried weeds across approximately 11 acres. This was the second year of goat grazing in this portion of the Puente Hills Preserve, and these activities were part of a larger project with various tasks preformed Preserve-wide in an effort to reduce wildfire risk and protect nearby homes and natural habitats. Other activities included clearing Preserve trails to improve access for emergency response, removing dead and hazardous trees and vegetation, and enhancing a habitat area to cut down on weeds. A one-time grant from the Rivers and Mountains Conservancy, Wildfire Prevention Grant Program made this work possible. To view social post click here.

How long have you been enjoying the trails on the Puente Hills Preserve?

Answer to last month's newsletter poll question: We asked if you have seen fawns on the Preserve, and if so, where? 23.4% said Powder Canyon, 21.3% said Hacienda Hills, 17% said Sycamore Canyon, 14.9% said Hellman Park, 12.8% said Turnbull Canyon, and 10.6% said Arroyo Pescadero.

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.