Sherman announces funding for programs in the Santa Monica Mountains

U.S. Rep. Brad Sherman (DSherman Oaks) has announced a Department of Interior award of $356,000 in federal funds to the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.

Sherman had sought funding from the department for environmental education and stewardship programs.

The Interior Department awarded funds for these projects in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area:

•Outdoor education programs for 10,000 urban youth: Provides services, supplies, materials and transportation for 10,000 students from Los Angeles Unified School District schools in underserved communities in greater Los Angeles so they can learn about the role of the National Park Service in conserving natural and cultural heritages.

•Stewardship experience for urban youth through watershed restoration activity: Connects classroom theory and curriculum to field applications that promote long-term learning and stewardship of natural resources.

•BioBlitz: The Santa Monica Mountains BioBlitz is a 24hour inventory of species in the Santa Monica Mountains. Teams of scientists and naturalists, along with volunteers, will comb the mountains' 150,000 acres, observing and recording as many species as possible.

On Fri., May 30, Sherman will join the National Park Service, National Geographic and other park partners in welcoming scientists, naturalists, volunteers and thousands of school children participating in BioBlitz. The program begins at 11:30 a.m. and is followed by a BioDiversity Festival at Paramount Ranch in Agoura.

Sherman said the U.S. House also passed legislation that authorizes the Rim of the Valley Corridor Study to be conducted by the National Park Service. The bill passed the Senate in April and now heads to the president for signing.

The study will determine the potential impact of expanding the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area to include the mountains and valleys known as the Rim of the Valley Corridor, an area that includes the mountains encircling the San Fernando and Santa Clarita Valleys, as well as areas within the Santa Susana Mountains, just north of Granada Hills.

The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area is the world's largest urban national park, spanning 46 miles across Los Angeles from Point Mugu in the west to Griffith Park in the east.