San Jose Hills’ Walnut Woodlands and Coastal Gnatcatcher Habitat Receive Special County Attention

SAN JOSE HILLS, Los Angeles County — The undeveloped hills between the San Gabriel and Pomona valleys provide habitats that county planners say require additional consideration in development reviews.

LA County’s East San Gabriel Valley Area Plan describes portions of Walnut Islands as lying within the East San Gabriel Valley Significant Ecological Area (SEA). The plan identifies remaining native California black walnut woodlands, sensitive waterways and potential habitat for the federally threatened coastal California gnatcatcher.

What this means for landowners

SEA designations do not necessarily prohibit all development. They can require habitat assessment or special review depending on the parcel and proposed work. A broad community-level description is not a biological finding about an individual lot, and owners should not presume that a particular species occurs on their property.

Before grading, clearing native vegetation or changing drainage, check the latest SEA map and applicable permits through LA County Planning. Unauthorized work can damage habitat or affect nearby properties.

Official source: LA County Planning — East San Gabriel Valley Area Plan, Chapter 8: San Jose Hills Communities.

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