Just south of Interstate 14 near Valencia is the Magic Mountain Wilderness, an area that shares the same name as a popular, nearby amusement park.
This once privately-owned dense forest area with few roads is now part of the Angeles National Forest thanks to a recent donation of 240 acres from Southern California Edison.
The donation is part of the utility’s mitigation as a result of construction for the Tehachapi Renewable Transmission Project that runs through part of the forest. When SCE infrastructure impacts the forest, the utility works with the Angeles National Forest to ensure required mitigation obligations are met, including donated lands.
“We look at impacted endangered species and plant life. We look for the same type of land that has been impacted to donate back to the Angeles National Forest,” said Ann Gildersleeve, SCE advisor in Land Acquisition Services, who oversaw this recent donation.
She noted, “We want to impact the forest ecosystem as little as possible.”
The 240 acres donation is part of SCE's mitigation as a result of construction for the Tehachapi Renewable Transmission Project that runs through part of the forest.
The upgraded transmission lines for the Tehachapi Renewable Transmission Project, a project started more than 10 years ago, is now delivering power generated by wind turbines in the high desert to homes and businesses in the Greater Los Angeles basin.
In partnership with the Angeles National Forest, SCE helped identify impacted endangered species, including thee arroyo toad, and impacted vegetation such as coastal sage scrub, mixed chaparral and Tucker's oak scrub.
SCE’s donation of 240 acres near the Magic Mountain Wilderness is partly the result of impacting some of these identified species. The Angeles National Forest will now manage the land, ensuring the area is protected and preserved.
We look at impacted endangered species and plant life. We look for the same type of land that has been impacted to donate back to the Angeles National Forest. We want to impact the forest ecosystem as little as possible.”
Ann Gildersleeve, SCE Advisor
In a Tweet, the Angeles National Forest said: “Great News!! We've acquired 240 acres of formerly private prop within SG Mountains National Monument & Magic Mountain Wilderness. SCE donated it to help conserve wildlife habitat! It'll be managed as part of the surrounding MMW & kept in a natural, primitive state!”
“This land will be protected indefinitely because the Angeles National Forest now owns it. No one can build on it,” said Gildersleeve. “This property fills in a gap in the forest holdings.”
Laura Solorio is an SCE advisor who works closely with the Angeles National Forest
“It is an honor to work for a company that cares about the environment like we do,” she said. “I enjoy hiking and I am glad to be able to see the forests that are still out there, to see that we are giving back.”
