Our Partners

The key to the success of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy is its partnerships. The  Conservancy works together with many government and nonprofit agencies to achieve the mutual goal of an interlinking network of parks, trails, and open space for public use and wildlife habitat surrounding the great metropolitan areas of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.

Partner Agencies

California State Parks
California State Parks, Angeles District
The Superintendent of the California State Parks, Angeles District, is a voting member of the Conservancy. California State Parks  manages more than 270 park units, which contain the finest and most diverse collection of natural, cultural, and recreational resources to be found within California. Malibu State Park, Topanga State Park, Kenneth Hahn State Park and Rio de Los Angeles State Park are just a few of the many State Parks in or near the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy Zone.

National Park Service
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
The Superintendent of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area is a voting member of the Conservancy. In 1978, Congress established the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SMMNRA) as part of the National Park System. Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area is a cooperative effort that joins federal, state and local park agencies with private preserves and landowners to protect the natural and cultural resources of this transverse mountain range and seashore. In the Santa Monica Mountains, the SMMNRA extends from Point Mugu east to the Cahuenga Pass, including the Mulholland Scenic Parkway. The territory also includes the principal wildlife corridor between the Simi Hills and Santa Monica Mountains. Comprised of more than 153,075 acres, the SMMNRA is the world’s largest national park. NPS Parks include Solstice Canyon Park in Malibu, Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa, Paramount Ranch, Peter Strauss Ranch, Franklin Canyon Park, Circle X Ranch, and Zuma/Trancas Canyons.

The Rivers and Trails Conservation Assistance Program
The Rivers and Trails Conservation Assistance Program (RTCA) was established by the National Park Service to support community-based conservation action. The Conservancy partners with the RTCA on joint projects in the Santa Monica Mountains and along the Los Angeles River.

USDA Forest Service
Angeles National Forest
The Supervisor of the The Angeles National Forest is an ex officio member of the Conservancy. The Angeles National Forest was established by Executive Order in December 1892. It covers over 650,000 acres and is the northern backyard to the huge metropolitan area of Los Angeles. The Angeles National Forest manages the watersheds within its boundaries to provide valuable water to Southern California and to protect surrounding communities from catastrophic floods. The land within the Forest is as diverse in appearance and terrain as it is in the opportunities it provides for enjoyment. Elevations range from 1,200 to 10,064 feet. Much of the Forest is covered with dense chaparral that changes to pine and fir-covered slopes as you reach the majestic peaks of the higher elevations.

Joint Powers Authorities
A joint powers entity is a public agency created pursuant to the Joint Exercise of Powers Act that allows two or more government agencies to combine forces by jointly exercising their powers with respect to a specific purpose or set of objectives. The Conservancy has joined with various government entities to forge these partnerships with the intent of working cooperatively to preserve public parkland.

The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy is a member of eight active joint powers authorities. These joint powers authorities function as legally separate government entities with their own governing boards. Central to their success is the ability to complement the work of other organizations protecting land in the Southern California mountains to acquire and improve open space and parklands, affording educational opportunities, and providing stewardship for a wide variety of public park and open space resources. The Joint Powers Authorities are:

Other State Conservancies
The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy is a one of ten State Conservancies under the California Natural Resources Agency. The other State Conservancies are:

Local Government
The Conservancy frequently awards grants to cities, counties, resource conservation districts, and recreation and park districts for the acquisition or improvement of natural and scenic resources under the management of the local jurisdiction. Other government entities also partner with the Conservancy by contributing local funds towards the acquisition of Conservancy owned and operated parkland. Click on the links below for contact information for some of the local government agencies that the Conservancy partners with:

Nonprofit Organizations
The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy works together with many government and nonprofit agencies to achieve the mutual goal of an interlinking network of parks, trails, and open space for public use and wildlife habitat surrounding the great metropolitan areas of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. The Conservancy awards grants to nonprofit organizations qualified as exempt organizations by section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code for activities such as education and interpretation, strategic planning,  improvements, and land acquisition directly related to Conservancy projects.