The National Park Service yesterday transmitted to Congress its preferred alternative for a massive expansion of the Santa Monica National Recreation Area. The so-called Rim of the Valley project could result in a 170,000-acre addition to Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. surrounding the San Fernando Valley, greatly increasing access to nature for millions of poeple in this densely-populated area. Here's a map of the proposed increase:

The National Park Service has even more information on the Rim of the Valley project.

Obviously, there's a great opportunity here for the greater Los Angeles area to connect millions of people with the natural world. We at Audubon California have been highly supportive of this, and we'll be tracking it moving forward.