The Placerita Canyon Nature Center in Newhall is set to receive approval for funding of a habitat restoration project from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors during Tuesday’s meeting.

The total project cost is estimated to be $500,000, which includes construction, consulting services, and a youth employment program, according to John Wicker, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation.

Placerita Canyon Natural Area and Nature Center is a 360-acre facility owned by the State of California and managed by LA County.

It features a variety of opportunities including hiking, picnicking, education, wildlife, exhibits, local history and community programs.

In the summer of 2016, the Sand Canyon fire destroyed areas of vegetation along the 1.8-mile-long Canyon Trail. Heavy rains in 2017 caused mudslides that eroded significant portions of the trail forcing officials to close it to the public in spring of 2017, according to officials.

Approval of the funds would allow the department to move forward with the Placerita Canyon Riparian Habitat Restoration Project, a project that will restore the area around a river.

The project would consist of removing non-native and invasive plants, debris and brush along the Canyon Trail, as well as repair eroded trail sections, replace wayfinding signage, damaged benches and bicycle traffic calming devices, according to officials.

“These improvements will allow the trail to be reopened for public access,” according to Wicker.

In 2014, the department was awarded a grant from the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation Habitat Conservation Fund to elevate the trail out of the creek bed with prefabricated bridges, restore and preserve the creek bed and riparian habitat, and provide interpretive signage.

Months later, the LA County Board of Supervisors approved an additional $300,000 to install prefabricated bridges.

“However, the bridges were not considered feasible given that fire and flood-related damages prevented access for bridge installation,” said Wicker. “As a result, the department obtained approval from the State Department of Parks and Recreation to use a revised scope of work, which eliminated the installation of the bridges from the project on Sept. 7, 2018.”

Portions of the proposed project would reduce the need for repairs and maintenance, while also providing the best use of the sites, according to officials.

“Green elements such as composite materials, native plants, local materials, and related Best Management Practices will be utilized in various aspects of the proposed project,” said Wicker.

At-risk youth within the project’s youth employment program would cut weeds and general clean-up duties.

The contractor assigned to the project would be responsible for complying with recommendations provided by the environmental consultant and installation of items acquired, with an anticipated completion date of March 31, 2020, according to officials.

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