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Dear Hillside Supporter:

Did you know that the "dog days of summer" actually relate to the stars? Yep. It was in July and August that the star Sirius was seen in the sky. Sirius is the brightest start in the constellation Canis Major (Big Dog). Learn more from this National Geographic article. And, in other summer news, summer recess begins for the State Legislature today. They will reconvene in one month--returning August 16th. The State Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee voted unanimously on July 1st to approve Hills For Everyone's bill SB 266 (the Chino Hills State Park expansion bill). It was referred to the Assembly Appropriations Committee on July 14th where it went to suspense. After the Legislature reconvenes and the bill is heard again, we will know if it moves to the Assembly floor for a vote. Stay tuned. We are pleased with the progress so far.

Take care,

Claire Schlotterbeck
Hills For Everyone
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A photograph with a sidewalk and street in the foreground with green and brown brush on hillsides behind a block fence in the background against a blue sky.

Hsi Lai Temple Fight

You'll remember that the Hsi Lai Temple in Hacienda Heights is proposed for expansion on the western side of Hacienda Rd. Hills For Everyone hired a biologist to comment on the Initial Study for the project, which proposes the development of 17 buildings concentrated on the northern portion of the site with a combined total of 143,671 square feet of programmed space, and the renovation of one existing 5,318 square-foot residential building into a volunteers’ dormitory. There will also be a five story underground parking structure built into these hills. Where will all that dirt go? Even the aerial map ignores the proximity and impacts to the wildlife chokepoint in the Puente Hills. Right now were are working to develop a strategy on this project.

Learn More about the Temple Expansion >

A mountain lion with a tracking device around its neck looks at the camera while standing on leafy debris.

Bridging the Gap

Once an open space area is cut by roads or housing, the damage done. Fixing a fragmented landscape is challenging. Without connections between landscapes, wildlife mate with their relatives and inbreeding leads to terrible genetic consequences. In 2001, for the first time in state history, we led the effort to save Coal Canyon Wildlife Corridor and connected the Santa Ana Mountains to Chino Hills State Park. Currently, a new statewide effort is underway to build a land bridge across the 101 freeway, which sees 300,000 vehicles a day on its lanes!  Fundraising efforts are underway and $38M of the needed $65M is secured. This Liberty Canyon land bridge would be the world's largest of its kind. Hills For Everyone is also involved in the effort to connect the Santa Ana Mountains across the 15 freeway in Temecula to save our cougars.
 
Two hikers walk up a steep hill surrounded by vegetation against a grey sky.

Avoid Social Trails

Social trails (aka rogue or illegal trails) are an informal, non-designated trail between two locations. Social trails cut through protected habitat, ruin plants, leave human scents confusing predators, and make it harder to find injured recreational users. Always check the official park map to be sure you are on an authorized trail. Chino Hills State Park and the Puente Hills Preserve together have more than a hundred miles of designated (legal) trails. You know you are on an official trail when it is marked with a sign, found on the official park map, is a minimum of three feet wide or is a dirt road. Trail grades (slopes) are usually less than 7%--the first clue of a social trail for the hikers shown left. Keep our natural areas free of extra trails which degrade the natural environment and disrupt wildlife.
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Hills For Everyone is a regional non-profit organization working in Southern California
to protect and restore the 31 mile long Puente-Chino Hills Wildlife Corridor for everyone, forever. 

Copyright © 2021 Hills For Everyone, All rights reserved.



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