Expansion of Significant Ecological Areas discussion at July 8, 2026 meeting
Tue, May 26th, 2026
The expansion of the SEAs and updates to the SEA Ordinance need to go thru public hearings before it can be adopted. Public hearings may start as soon as Fall 2026. The public hearing email notification will be sent to the project's email list. Click HERE to sign up for email updates. Scroll down to "Sign Up for Updates!"
Click HERE to view the interactive map showing the proposed expanded SEA map. Just enter your address or APN. You can also submit comments directly on that page. According to LA County Planning, the Agua Dulce area is in Subarea 20g. Their reason for expansion are stated as:
Subarea 20g. Agua Dulce – Acton
This large expansion area would primarily improve ecological connectivity between the Sierra Pelona and the San Gabriel Mountains, both proposed as new SEAs. Substantial areas of natural habitat remain, including alluvial washes, juniper woodland, rock outcrops, and wildflower fields. Although these resources are more widely distributed than those in some other proposed expansion areas, the subarea occupies an important coastal – desert transition zone also represented in portions of the Barrel Springs subarea (3i) and the broader Santa Clara River SEA. Accordingly, the primary function of this expansion is to enhance wildlife movement and ecological connectivity between mountain ranges, rather than to capture unique or localized resources.
Primary Ecological Justifications:
- Criterion B/C: Scattered occurrences of rare plants (no concentrated richness hotspots); several coastal-slope bird species of local concern (e.g., greater roadrunner, loggerhead shrike).
- Criterion D: Rock outcrops scattered throughout the subarea provide nesting habitat for raptors.
- Criterion E: Western extent of Mojave Desert flora and fauna transitioning toward the coastal slope (Acton Wash and associated drainages and slopes).
- Criterion G: Large contiguous open-space area connecting the Liebre – Sierra Pelona and San Gabriel Mountains, including remaining open space on both sides of Highway 14
For details on the project, click HERE