S a n   G a b r i e l   M o u n t a i n s
t o
C a s t a i c   R a n g e
C o n n e c t i o n

This linkage connects the Castaic Ranges of the Sierra Madre formation to the San Gabriel Mountains, both of which are part of the Angeles National Forest. The linkage occurs in a rare ecological transition zone, along a coastal to desert gradient.  Chaparral and coastal sage scrub blankets the hillsides in the western part of the linkage, with dense coast live oak woodlands in canyons, valley oaks on savannahs, and high quality riparian woodlands and alluvial fan sage scrub at lower elevations.  The easternmost part of the linkage has a strong desert influence dominated by Joshua tree and juniper woodlands, manzanita, and yucca.   Species selected as habitat connectivity indicators for this linkage include wide-ranging species such as spotted owl, mule deer, badger and puma, as well as less-mobile species like, blotched salamander, western pond turtle, or two-striped garter snake.  A number of listed species also occur in this vicinity.  Soledad Canyon is the primary refugia for the Santa Ana sucker and contains critical habitat for the unarmored threespine stickleback fish.  All remaining naturally occurring populations of the unarmored three-spined stickleback are in the Santa Clara River watershed, in Soledad, upper San Francisquito Canyon, Escondido Canyon, and a tributary of Aqua Dulce Canyon. The area is also critical for listed migratory songbirds, such as the southwestern willow flycatcher, and summer tanager.

View Report >>