On May 28th The Friends of Coyote Hills will host a free presentation by Veronica D. Roach entitled West Coyote Hills Sage Scrub Habitat. Ms. Roach’s 2013 master’s thesis evaluated “the potential impact of the future housing development on remaining coastal sage habitat”. Sage Scrub describes the chaparral dominated habitat that characterizes most of the remaining land in the West Coyote Hills. The landscape is filled with naturally drought tolerant plants that support a vibrant population of animals. Coastal Sage Scrub has been under assault by developers for over a century. Saving what remains of it should be a priority of all Southern Californians.
Supporters of saving the remaining 500+ acres of the former oil drilling sites that make up West Coyote Hills won a decisive victory in 2012, temporarily ending plans for a housing and retail development approved by the Fullerton City Council. Since that time, continuing negotiations with Chevron’s Pacific Coast Homes have recently yielded a Path to Acquisition agreement brokered by the Trust for Public Lands, a nationally known land conservation non-profit with an impressive record of success.
Residents of Fullerton and neighboring cities would benefit greatly from the preservation of this land as a wilderness park. The Rag encourages readers to attend this program to learn why the area is worth saving.
Veronica D. Roach recently earned her Master’s Degree in Geography from Cal State Fullerton. She currently works for the City of Santa Ana’s Santiago Park Nature Preserve, and teaches Geography classes at Irvine Valley College and Orange Coast College.
Wednesday, May 28, doors open at 6:30 pm, program begins at 7:00 pm. Fullerton Public Library, Osbourne Auditorium, 353 W. Commonwealth. Free Admission.
Facebook event link: https://www.facebook.com/events/1447655005481878/
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