| Arroyo Conejo Open Space | |
|---|---|
| La Branca (the Barranca) | |
 View of La Branca from the Arroyo Conejo Trail | |
  Location in California Show map of California Location in United States Show map of the United States | |
| Location | Ventura County, California |
| Nearest city | Newbury Park |
| Coordinates | 34°12′39.5″N118°55′37.4″W / 34.210972°N 118.927056°W /34.210972; -118.927056 |
| Area | 302 acres (122 ha) |
| Established | July 1977 |
| Governing body | Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency (COSCA) |
Arroyo Conejo Open Space is a 302-acre (122 ha)open space reserve in the westernSimi Hills in northernNewbury Park,Ventura County, California.[1] Most of it is part of the 250-acre (100 ha)Arroyo Conejo Nature Preserve (sometimes shortened to theArroyo Nature Preserve).[2]
The preserve is often locally referred to asLa Branca orthe Barranca (Spanish for "the canyon"),[3][4] and is nicknamed theGrand Canyon of the Conejo Valley.[5][4] Its stated purpose is "the preservation of the scenic areas, natural habitats, wildlife, archaeological and paleontological sites of theConejo Valley and surroundings, specifically including theArroyo Conejo".[2] It contains 250 acres of land and has been administrated and owned by the Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency (COSCA) since its incorporation in July 1977.[6][2] La Branca is a narrow ravine or gorge that runs three miles from northern Newbury Park near theRancho Conejo Playfields, toHill Canyon near the Hill Canyon Wastewater Treatment Plant in the Conejo Canyons Open Space.[5][4]
La Branca has agorge section with cliffs rising up to 300 feet (91 m).[4] The preserve is home to large variety of plant- and animal species, including for instancesouthwestern pond turtles,mountain lions,bobcats,black bears,deer,coyotes, and avifauna such asquails,golden eagles,hawks,owls, and numerous others.[7] It contains the perennial South Fork of theArroyo Conejo,riparian zone vegetation, steep-sided canyons,California oak woodlands, as well aswetlands.[3]
The Hill Canyon Wastewater Treatment Plant has the largestconstructed wetlands inVentura County, within approximately 15 acres (6.1 ha) of the Arroyo Conejo Nature Preserve. Natures Image has helped create this area by removal ofinvasive plant species, as well as the planting of 1,600 native trees, 7,000 emergent marsh plants, 6,000 low herbaceous wetland plants, and 1,200 riparian scrub plants. The area is home to the endemicSouthwestern Pond Turtle, as well as large numbers ofmallards,coots,herons, and numerous other species of freshwater fish and birds.[8]
The nature preserve was highlighted in the Conservation Element of the General Plan in 1972 and later identified in the City's Conejo Canyons Study of 1976 as an area with particularly sensitive and important resources.[3] The president of the Conejo Valley Audubon Society met with representatives fromThe Nature Conservancy in 1974. One visitor during these meetings mentioned how incredible it was to "find such a primordial setting within the city limits of aLos Angelesbedroom community."[9] On July 1, 1976, the Thousand Oaks-basedNews-Chronicle reported the formation of a Small Wilderness Area Preserves chapter to protect donated Canyon lands. Arroyo Conejo Nature Preserve was incorporated and organized in lieu of the Small Wilderness Group in July 1977.[2]