The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (SMMC) has announced Linda Parks, Ventura County Supervisor from the Second District, as Chairperson for the 2014 term.
Parks was elected earlier this month by a unanimous vote of SMMC Members.
Her previous experience includes serving as a Planning Commissioner, City Councilmember and Mayor of Thousand Oaks. According to the SMMC, Chairperson Parks has set as her goal the construction of a wildlife crossing across the 101 Freeway, which would benefit local wildlife species, including mountain lions.
The wildlife crossing, called the Liberty Canyon Wildlife Corridor, would cross the Ventura Freeway, providing a safe route for mountain lions to cross and diversify their gene pool.
The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy was established in 1980 by the California State Legislature with the goal of buying back, preserving, protecting, restoring and enhancing land in Southern California. Its mission is to make urban, rural and river parks, as well as open spaces, trails and wildlife habitats accessible to the public.