Agency working with Waste Management to preserve nature corridor
By Sylvie Belmond belmond@theacorn.com

Waste Management Inc. and The Nature Conservancy are discussing possible options to preserve some of the land in Alamos Canyon for the benefit of wildlife.

The negotiations are separate from the landfill expansion proposal that was announced by Waste Management last week, according to Katherine Cole, director of external affairs and sustainability initiatives for Waste Management.

Waste Management owns 2,800 acres of land between Simi Valley and Moorpark, including Alamos Canyon, located west of the landfill in the northwest corner of Simi Valley. The land was formerly owned by Unocal Corp.

"The area is an excellent representation of the different habitats in the Santa Monica Mountains," said E.J. Remson, senior program manager for The Nature Conservancy.

The Nature Conservancy, formed in 1951, works around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters. The organization owns 18 properties in the county, including a third of the Santa Clara River and 277 acres in Ormond Beach at the western end of Ventura.

"Both Waste Management and the conservancy recognize the ecological significance of Alamos Canyon and are committed to working together to preserve it," said Cole. But significant logistical issues must be worked out before any deal can be inked, she said.

"If we can come to an agreement with The Nature Conservancy, we will make a formal joint announcement," Cole said.

"We're very encouraged that Waste Management has indicated that they're interested in protecting habitat and wildlife movement in Alamos Canyon," said Misty Herrin, spokesperson for The Nature Conservancy.

Several hundred acres must be protected to maintain the viability of the habitat, she said, adding that the Alamos Canyon 118 Freeway underpass is critical for wildlife movement and to protect diversity.

California's wilderness is special, said Herrin, and a great deal of money has been invested to preserve open spaces in the Santa Monica Mountains and the Los Padres National Forest.

"So to protect those investments in the long term, scientists say we have to keep them connected," Herrin said.

In addition, Alamos Canyon provides a much-needed escape path for animals in case of a wildfire. This route is needed to reestablish both plants and animal populations if the area is burned, Herrin explained.

Although the landfill expansion and conservation discussions are not directly connected, the outcome will be linked in the end, Cole said.

"Our discussions with Nature Conservancy are separate, but we can't ink the deal until the landfill expansion is approved," she said.

"The separate discussions recently begun with The Nature Conservancy are not linked to the expansion proposal, but are a result of our mutual recognition of the ecological significance of Alamos Canyon," said Mike Williams, municipal marketing manager for Waste Management Inc.

"Waste Management is smart to (talk) with The Nature Conservancy in an attempt to preserve Alamos Canyon's wildlife corridor. That's good P.R.," said Simi Valley Councilmember Barbra Williamson, who recently created a committee to oversee the landfill expansion plans.

"The land owned by Waste Management is in the middle of the now scientifically justified wildlife corridor," said Moorpark