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Rivers & Mountains Conservancy Newsletter - July 2026 |
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 CNRA Disability Pride Month Page
https://resources.ca.gov/Initiatives/Equity-and-Environmental-Justice/Celebrating-Cultural-Diversity/Disability-Pride-Month
When we think of July, we almost always think of the Fourth of July. This year’s celebration is even more meaningful, as our nation marks 250 years of American independence.
July is also Disability Pride Month, making it a fitting time to reflect on what independence truly means. For millions of people with disabilities, independence is the ability to experience and enjoy the outdoors without unnecessary barriers. Access to parks, trails, open spaces, and public lands gives people the freedom to connect with nature, family, friends, and their communities.
Everyone deserves the opportunity to enjoy the magic of the outdoors. Whether it's enjoying a paved trail, visiting an accessible park, taking in a scenic overlook, or simply relaxing beneath the shade of a favorite tree, Access for All means that the outdoors offers something for everyone. Our projects are built to be accessible, and there are many ways to enjoy nature.
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Be Creative. At our El Encanto headquarters, it is common to see artists of all kinds, from musicians, photographers, or traditional artists setting up easels to paint the landscape.
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Look closer. Look for interesting rocks, unusual clouds, animals, and insects. Focusing on the small details in nature can give us a much-needed break from the outside world.
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Explore somewhere new. A different trail, park, or open space can bring back the excitement of discovery. You don’t have to travel far to find something you’ve never noticed before.
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Play for the sake of playing. Fly a kite. Toss a frisbee. Draw with sidewalk chalk. Build something. Not every activity needs to be productive to be worthwhile.
As we celebrate our nation's independence and recognize Disability Pride Month, let's continue working toward a future where everyone has the opportunity to experience the freedom, beauty, and joy of the outdoors.
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Rivers and Mountains Conservancy Updates
Monrovia Hazardous Fuels Reduction and Restoration
Last month, the RMC Board approved a grant of $800,000 to the City of Monrovia for the Hazardous Fuel Reduction and Restoration Program. This program will implement a comprehensive fuel reduction, native revegetation, and community wildfire education program across Monrovia’s Wildland Urban Interface (WUI). The City of Monrovia sits directly beneath the fire-prone San Gabriel Mountains, where dense trees, brush, and scrublands create a volatile Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) and multiple Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ). Within the city, 1,481 parcels are situated in the state designated Very High Fire Severity Zone, while an additional 1,373 parcels fall within the High and Moderate Fire Hazard Severity Zones. Recent neighboring wildfires, most notably the 2025 Eaton Fire, have highlighted the urgent need for systematic hazardous fuel reduction.
This project will treat approximately 200 acres of high-risk vegetation in priority locations, specifically targeting the heavily traveled Hillside Wilderness Preserve (HWP) recreation trails, mid-slope and ridge-top drainage corridors adjacent to residences, and neighborhoods with limited egress routes. The primary goal of this project is to significantly decrease the overall wildfire threat to homes, critical infrastructure, and other valuable resources by rigorously managing fuel loads and systematically eliminating specific vegetation types that drive dangerous fire behavior.
Catalina Island
Every other month, RMC and its Joint Power Authorities (JPAs), WCA and LCWA, come together for an all-staff meeting. These meetings are a chance for staff to visit completed projects which represent the agencies’ investment throughout the RMC’s territory. Last month, staff traveled to Catalina Island, where the RMC and WCA have invested more than $10 million over the years in wildfire resilience, capital improvement projects, and community programming.
During the visit, Shane Machado, a ranger who received training through the RMC’s Wildland Firefighter Training and Fuel Reduction Project, spoke about the program’s impact on the island.
Through the project, 10 Catalina Island Conservancy staff members received specialized wildland fire prevention and response training, helping protect island residents, visitors, natural resources, and critical assets. The grant also funded the purchase of personal protective equipment (PPE) and radios, improving firefighter safety and emergency response capabilities.
Staff also visited the Laura Stein Volunteer Center, one of two Catalina Island camp locations used by the WCA’s Community Connection to Wildlands Program. This $7 million initiative provides fully funded overnight camping experiences for hundreds of Southeast Los Angeles County youth each year. One of the most common themes in post-trip surveys is participants sharing that these outings were their first opportunity to see a sky full of stars, highlighting the important impact of connecting young people with the outdoors.
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Azusa River Wilderness Park
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 The Watershed Conservation Authority is preparing to transform Azusa Wilderness Park into a signature new gateway to the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument. The first steps are already visible: a new series of interpretive signs will introduce visitors to the natural and cultural history of San Gabriel Canyon, previewing the larger transformation to come. In the months ahead, WCA expects to break ground on a reimagined park with a grand stone entry monument, a river overlook with pedestrian bridges and boardwalks, a nature-inspired children's play area, a shade pavilion and restroom, expanded parking with electric-vehicle charging, and new walking paths at the northern trailhead of the 38-mile San Gabriel River Bike Trail. All of it will be woven into a restored native landscape of more than 130 trees, thousands of native shrubs, and water-capturing bioswales. When the park opens, anticipated in 2027, it will stand as a premier destination linking underserved communities to the mountains and the river.
Even as this vision moves toward construction, the park stays open and cared for. WCA and its partners keep the grounds healthy and safe through native landscaping, brush and fire-hazard management, and year-round upkeep, so the community can continue to enjoy San Gabriel Canyon today while the enhanced park takes shape for tomorrow.
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20th Anniversary Wetlands Discovery Day
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority (LCWA). To celebrate, the LCWA is hosting a 20th Anniversary Wetlands Discovery Day Saturday, July 18, 2026 from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm at Zedler Marsh, Los Cerritos Wetlands (6990 E. 2nd Street, Long Beach, CA 90803).
The ceremony will recognize and honor the volunteers and partners whose contributions have helped make wetland restoration a success. Following the ceremony, attendees are invited to explore the wetlands through a variety of fun, educational, and family-friendly activities.
Community partners will host interactive booths and hands-on activities, including Sea turtle scouting with the Aquarium of the Pacific, a nature-based restoration activity, an interactive wetlands walk featuring stations staffed by experts who will share information about the wetlands, local wildlife, and native plant, educational exhibits from community partners, such as the Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust, Algalita, and more. Food will be provided to attendees on a first-come, first-served basis.
Whether you have volunteered with the LCWA or are discovering them for the first time, we invite you to join in celebrating two decades of conservation and community partnership! All ages are welcome. For more information and to RSVP, visit the Eventbrite page here.
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