San Gabriel Mountains and Watershed Special Resource Study
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Education and Interpretation

 

  • How can the forest be rehabilitated - need plants and people to help.
  • More learning opportunities.
  • Everything is based on voluntary work. Train young people to teach about forest/wildlife.
  • Concerned about the large urban population. We need to focus on education. Rules, habitat, how to behave in a park.
  • Provide field studies for community colleges in the Angeles and Tujunga areas.
  • Prefer Alternative C. More education, informational areas/spots. Education is an important component for the watershed.
  • New educational efforts on the forest are desired.
  • Take education to communities, to the people. Start with the children in schools. Track them - it will stay with them.
  • Education is most important.
  • [NPS is needed to focus on education in Alt A]. NPS is better at conservation and education, transferring Angeles to NPS/ collaboration w/USFS.
  • Educational opportunities in science learning center.
  • NPS is important for education and conservation. Small effort on education will get big benefits on the forks of the SG River where there is ½ mile of parking.
  • Alternative C - need more awareness of water system. NPS could bring more to this through education and interpretation.
  • Concerns regarding watershed: need much more education on this.
  • San Gabriel River and Forest, more amenities and education, restrooms.
  • Education - focus on San Gabriel River watershed, water conservation and flood control.
  • Wildlife corridors connection to information centers and using them to educate.
  • Bilingual signage and information.
  • Encourage outreach to public - visitor center/services modeled after good examples to bring people in [or north?].
  • Like the land in Alternative A and Alternative C because of education centers, extended to the southeast.
  • Programs to learn about flora and fauna.
  • Teach about the San Gabriel's national significance.
  • Prefers Alt A - preserve largest area; NPS provide increased safety; also increased educational opportunities in flat lands; limit back country access by cars - i.e. shuttle service, etc. to reduce automobiles.
  • Likes concept of "seamless visitor experience" to enable learning about a large area.
  • Set up educational centers around the watershed to inspire people to go to the San Gabriel Mountains and experience it for real for themselves.
  • Alternatives A and C are good. NPS would provide more education and recreation opportunities. The USFS mission is not specific enough to help the urban population.
  • Environmental education centers can be developed through partnerships and program development.
  • NPS has an educational approach and is better suited to working with school children.
  • Need more resources for education and law enforcement. Education needs to be integrated into law enforcement activities, especially in heavily-used areas of the forest (San Gabriel Canyon).
  • Rangers and law enforcement along San Gabriel River including real fines as well as educational and stewardship programs.
  • Have kiosk(s) open to public 24/7 to increase education.
  • San Dimas Experimental Forest a resource for education/research for public in future.
  • Accountability of users - education of children. How to properly use an area, trash clean-up/ responsibility/responsible use.
  • There are beautiful natural resources. There is not enough interpretation and education of the resources. There is no central place that provides information about why the Angeles National Forest is important. Would like this type of facility.
  • Education: students don't have an understanding or get to go out to natural areas. There is a lack of field trip funds to go out to more distant areas; anything close by would be beneficial to students to have connection to nature.
  • Take students to the San Gabriel Mountains to better understand resources.
  • Likes Alternative C - emphasis on education. Teach students about where they live, our history. Likes information centers and components that can be used to educate.
  • More open space is great but we need more facilities and more education so that people will take better care of the forest.
  • We need more Educational programs and law enforcement to prevent trash and littering - this should be included in all three alternative concepts.
  • Transportation and improved access to the forest is important.
  • Educational programs that encourage protecting the resources should be part of all of the alternatives.
  • Education is important - include proper ways to recreate.
  • Bring stories to school - history education along with biology/science.
  • Compare existing situation to Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, which has better interpretation and education programs and is generally cleaner. Similar programs and federal resources would extend benefits to a greater number of local residents, especially youth.
  • The San Gabriel Mountains are overused and the region and urban residents need more resources and better education and interpretation programming.
  • Bring education and interpretation to the communities beyond the forest boundary.
  • Added interpretative information/education regarding wild life and natural resources.
  • Explore benefits/ balance of research learning vs. newly created programs.
  • As a tourist destination there is not enough consistent information for visitors. The NRA would provide comprehensive information - coordinated website portal to the region/public.
  • ANF not used effectively for education, "getting away".
  • Alternative C - interpretive centers could cover the history; different themes could be covered at various interpretive centers (e.g. gold, condors, Nike Missile Sites).
  • Highlight species from the region (Palmdale to Santa Clarita); species range from the desert and Santa Clara River; focus on natural history education; need a visible center/facility. - The area is a crossroads for nature, people, and history.
  • Value NPS experience in public education and outreach. Would like to have NPS involved in partnerships to help other organizations with outreach, education, developing interpretive materials, etc.
  • Suggest informational booths along the river, bilingual, focused on education about how to use the river responsibly. Leave no trace education. Provide more trash cans; help people learn the importance of picking up their trash.
  • Reach out to the broader community to develop educational programs.
  • Like the idea of the watershed information centers in Alt C; would like to expand this idea into the San Gabriel Mountains, into the Santa Clara watershed. In general, the area needs more information, more interpretation - you can drive for miles and not have any way to find out about what you're looking at.
  • Don't forget about the internet and social media as ways to provide information to people. East Mojave Preserve is a good example of internet-based information.
  • The NPS provides better educational/interpretive program.
  • Combination of A and C
    • Interagency cooperation w/ USFS and NPS for managing the river areas, wants restoration
    • River rangers
    • Trash clean up
    •  Education/info where trails/recreational opportunities are
    • Little Rock creek - portion is accessible
    • Low impact, healthy recreation at Little Rock Creek. Education of this (NPS and USFS)
  • Kiosks in forest to education people.
  • Mini resource centers to education about significant resources.
  • Highway 2 would be nice to have major visitor center - large interpretive center for ranger led hikes, horseback riding.
  • Interpretation on the northern side of the mountains.
  • Want high desert interpretation.
  • Mountains are amazing - people don't respect the mountains - need more safety education, websites for information.
  • Have information sites in the Antelope Valley area, Santa Clarita. History about the area. Natural resources.
  • NPS does an excellent job with educational aspects.

 

  • There is currently only one staffer in the whole Angeles National Forest to manage wilderness lands. The proposal should include ways for the public to be better educated about these areas and should have more opportunities for hiking and watching wildlife.
  • The educational programs should include outreach to schools and provide education about green jobs available with the Forest Service and National Park Service.
  • The greatest hope for the San Gabriel Mountains in the long run will be education for the recreating public, backed up by rangers who actually get out of their vehicles and hike the land routinely.
  • I taught middle school at Mt. Baldy School for ten years and with the help of my students, discovered the rich history, geology and bio-diversity of the area. I think one of the most surprising discoveries was the water shed and the aquifers that exist in the San Gabriels. These mountains hold a lot of water! I know that the NPS will make sure that information like this will be shared with the public.
  • A NRA should include enhanced educational and interpretive programs so that kids--and everyone--can learn more about native habitat, plants and animals.
  • The recent Station Fire presents a unique opportunity to educate the public about wildfire and track recovery.
  • Alternative B provides for interconnectedness of existing disparate areas of the watershed, allowing for closer access for and education of diverse urban populations. However, inclusion of large portions of the San Gabriel Mountains leaves management of those resources to the USFS; it does not change accessibility of the mountains for this population. Alternative A leaves the entire program up to the USFS. If the purpose of this alternative is to provide improved recreation, education and access to the Angeles National Forest, administration would need to greatly reprioritize its functions. Over time, the USFS has eliminated the naturalist and interpretive specialist functions which has left education to willing individuals “on the ground” and also volunteers. The broader recreation function is minimal. The management of a National Recreation Area should not be left in the hands of the USFS.
  • Education of the public through the media, in school programs and NPS programs will be needed to get watershed protection understood by the public. The Forest Service needs help in bringing people back to nature, especially the kids. There is now an effort being made to bring the youth of this country back out to nature, a "no child left inside" attitude which I wholeheartedly endorse. There has to be an effort by the Government agencies involved, the School Districts in and around the National Recreation Area and the Business community to get interest in the area or it will not prosper. As stated the NPS could provide educational opportunities and getting our youth involved is very important as they are the future and are going to inherit our lands as they are. To me the most important thing that needs to be done is in the field of education to our adults and children. I feel in my heart that a program needs to be started to bring as many children as can possibly be to our parks and forests, beaches and other natural places. This is money that will be well spent on our countries future and we need to get it done. Perhaps with this National Recreation Area and others it can be done. All three concepts talk about education, lets do it.
  • Enough with the focus on interpretive education, nature does it better.
  • More out reach programs so people can get to know the San Gabriel's for enjoyment and help protect them.
  • Under current law (the multiple-use doctrine), Forest Service managers are continually forced to balance preservation with demands for consumptive development. It is time to move away from such a confused and ultimately destructive policy and emphasize preservation and education instead. The San Gabriel Mountains need to be re-classified and protected for what they are, a National Recreation Area for all citizens to enjoy and appreciate what is left of Southern California's remarkable biodiversity.
  • The San Gabriel plan should implement a Transit to Trails program to take inner city children on fun, educational and healthy trips to mountains, beaches, rivers and other natural green space throughout the nation, for no or low cost. Transit to Trails should enrich their education about land, water, wildlife, and cultural history, and the importance of physical activity and healthy eating for life-long health.
  • Extending nature education and interpretive services--activities that the National Park Service does very well--into communities near the mountains would build public interest. A program of trained volunteers has worked well in the San Gorgonio Wilderness of the San Bernardino Forest, and could be replicated with NPS support on the Angeles National Forest. The NPS should work with the Forest Service to educate the public about wilderness areas and the recreational benefits they offer, such as hiking, camping, fishing hunting, photography and watching wildlife. These wilderness areas merit and need more law enforcement and rangers. The proposal should address how an NRA could improve management of and educational programs about wilderness and wild & scenic rivers. Increasing the resources and staff devoted to wilderness will better educate the public about the environmental and social value of these critically important areas as well as the remarkable recreational opportunities they represent, such as hiking, fishing, and watching wildlife. Improved education and access would also enlist public support for protection of wilderness and develop a constituency for adding to them. Because wilderness areas, and wild & scenic rivers, are specifically for recreation, designated by Congress to be preserved in their natural state for future generations, an NRA should offer opportunities to expand these valuable resources as part of its recreation mission.
  • An NRA proposal should include enhanced educational and interpretive programs on the forest so that kids and everyone can learn more about the native plants and animals as well as forest stewardship. Interpretive services and signs should be provided in multiple languages including at least English and Spanish to reflect the changing demographics of forest visitors. A national recreation area proposal should include a broad public education program to promote healthy recreational opportunities and create a brand identity for the San Gabriel Mountains National Recreation Area. Specifically, there should be outreach programs to schools and youth organizations in the San Gabriel Valley to provide them with stewardship and volunteer opportunities on the forest. Programs should include an outreach elements to help get kids outdoor and to help high school students learn about green jobs and vocational career opportunities available with the Forest Service, National Park Service, and other organizations. Such programs should also include green jobs training. The San Gabriel Mountains National Recreation Area proposal should address how an NRA could improve management of and educational programs about wilderness and wild & scenic rivers. The NRA proposal should address increasing the number of rangers that could be devoted to wilderness education and management. There is currently only one wilderness ranger for the entire Angeles National Forest. New resources could help better educate the public about these areas and recreational opportunities in them such as hiking, fishing, and watching wildlife.
  • Incorporation of the above areas would link urban neighborhoods to natural spaces and the historical richness of the area. Major early trails, including the Santa Fe Trail, the path of the Portola expedition, and the federally designated Juan Bautista de Anza trail, pass through the valley areas and cross these rivers. The NRA would present an opportunity to educate the public about the importance of water and its management in Southern California. An extension of the area into the Montebello Hills would include the historically valuable sites of the Sanchez Adobe and the original location of the San Gabriel Mission. Extending up San Jose Creek, an eastern tributary of the San Gabriel River will connect the historic Workman Temple Homestead with other of sites important in the early history and pre-Columbian settlement of Southern California. By extending the scope of the NRA to Cajon Pass, an opportunity is created for an interpretive geological road up Lone Pine Canyon extending from the historical Route 66 to Palmdale along the San Andreas Fault. It’s a prime opportunity for educating the public about this major feature in Southern California and its role in the creation of the San Gabriel Mountains. It would also provide an opportunity to educate visitors about the varied ecosystems from desert to mountain environments.
  • The vision of the National Recreation Area would be to expand and protect the interconnected system of parks, habitats, and open spaces, connecting urban neighborhoods, mountains, and rivers within a broader ecosystem. Coordinated education and interpretation focuses on connecting people to the special resources and stories of their mountains and watershed. Access to recreational opportunities closer to home is increase and enhanced. Including the Angeles National Forest and the Puente Hills recognizes the special character of the San Gabriel Mountains and the associated foothills and hills in our region as a collection of nationally significant resources, a habitat connector, and an urban recreation area. Public awareness and appreciation of the mountains will be elevated through the increased and improved recreation, education and access. An information sharing network led by NPS would be established to organize, consolidate, and distribute scientific information related to the region. An urban satellite office connected to the California Mediterranean Research Learning Center at Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area would provide research and educational opportunities to communities, universities, colleges and schools. Serving as a research facility as well as information dissemination point, this partnership would serve as a model for future efforts in other areas such as the north slope of the San Gabriel Mountains, the Santa Clara River and Antelope Valley.
  • I would like to see the National Park Service play a lead role in conserving the San Gabriel Watershed. The designation of a San Gabriel Watershed National Recreation Area (NRA) with the involvement of the National Park Service would provide additional resource protection, improved recreational opportunities, and enhanced educational and interpretive programs for children and adults by involving America's lead land management agency, the National Park Service. Please recommend to Congress to create a San Gabriel Watershed National Recreation Area and include new educational programs for children and adults.
  • Los Angeles and the surrounding counties need a nature-oriented and conservationist recreational national park. This park could:
    • Develop educational programs to teach conservation of natural resources in urban areas.
    • It could reinforce water conservation education.
    • It could offer training programs to the schools in California.
  • There is little in the way of access or interpretive resources.
  • Spare us the interpretive centers. These are expensive to maintain and a luxury we cannot afford at the moment. Pamphlets can do the trick as well as signs in the parking lots.
  • The proximity of this wilderness to such a large urban area also creates challenges. Some areas are heavily overused, and many visitors have little understanding of the value of this natural area due the limited number amount interpretation and educational opportunities for visitors. It also strains the resources of the Forest Service to manage such a large area.
  • The San Gabriel NRA proposal should address how it could bring additional resources to help with Station Fire recovery. It would be helpful to have a public education component associated with the NRA to track recovery and educate the public about wildfire.
  • What is needed is a Native American Forest Restoration Area surrounding the Haramokngna American Indian Cultural Center, and native plant gathering areas to demonstrate Native land management principles and help keep Native culture and traditions alive. Los Angeles has the largest Native American population in the world, yet there is no land available for them to teach and practice their culture. Native basketry is dying as there are few areas left to gather the native plants necessary for continuing those traditions. Native land management, that served the five tribes of the San Gabriels for thousands of years have been ignored, and cement covers the rich biomes of their life ways. We hope that can be restored in the development of the San Gabriel Mountains National Recreation Area.
  • We encourage the development of a new alternative that combines the following elements of the three current alternatives, with some modifications, to the extent practicable: A leading role for the National Park Service in coordinating management throughout the San Gabriel watershed and providing educational and interpretive services (as outlined in Alternative C).  
  • I recommend that a San Gabriel Mountains National Recreation Area ensure that the National Park Service partners with local community based organizations in the services area to help engage, education, and provide services to our communities in regards to this NRA, while maintaining the NPS as the lead agency directing all efforts. I recommend that a San Gabriel Mountains National Recreation Area enhance the outreach, educational and interpretive programs, specifically geared at youth, and our monolingual visitors. Such programs should also include green jobs training.