Our Mission
To prevent the extinction of native species while increasing their locations and populations within Southern California watersheds.
To accomplish this, we create Refugia.
*Refugia (plural) - A geographical region in which a population of organisms can survive through a period of unfavorable conditions.
In support of our local governmental agencies and nonprofit organizations leading efforts to ensure the survival of our threatened Western Pond Turtle, California Red-Legged Frog, and critically endangered Southern California Steelhead.
Governmental agencies such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the U.S. Geological Survey. Nonprofits and organizations such as CalTrout, the South Coast Steelhead Coalition, Trout Unlimited, San Diego Fly Fishers and Golden State Flycasters.
Supporting their efforts by creating, then facilitating partnerships with private sector landowners and organizations. In order to restore and enhance existing working and wild, protected locations for refugia that exist today on their properties. The need for the involvement of the private sector has never been as critical as it is today. The recent wildfires at Coldwater Canyon, also Topanga Creek, for example, emphasize the need for more GIS-based, ground-truthed places for relocating and protecting our native species. A great example of how these partnerships are already working today is The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program.
Supporting private landowners and organizations with information and implementation strategies that work to protect their properties against the forces of drought, erosion and wildfire, as well as to the benefit of the wildlife and domestic animals that live there. We are huge supporters of the Working Lands for Wildlife, Low-Tech Process Based Restoration of Riverscape Principles (PBR) promoted by the Utah State University Restoration Consortium. These principles advocate less permanent and hardened river and streamscape structures in favor of using natural materials to build more and smaller structural elements to produce more physically diverse habitats. Physically diverse habitats are more resilient to disturbances, such as flood and wildfire, than simplified, homogeneous habitats.
IRS 501(c)(3) tax exempt corporation #99-3811 384
