Rim of the Valley Wildlife Corridors: Conejo Grade via US Highway 101

The Conejo Grade in Ventura County is a major thoroughfare connecting Newbury Park and Camarillo as well as being a major commuting route between Ventura/Oxnard and the San Fernando Valley. The 101 freeway is the highway connecting the communities and is a monstrous ten lanes wide as it winds through the pass creating an enormous obstacle for wildlife attempting to move from one side of the grade to the other. The only underpass through the whole study area is the Camarillo Springs Road underpass which is also access to a residential community. Further complicating the potential for a wildlife corridor in this study area is the presence of a recent wildfire. The Springs Fire raged through Point Mugu State park in the spring of 2013 and also charred portions of the vegetation near and directly over the Conejo Grade. Severe drought in California before and after the burn reduced the rebound effect from the recent burnt vegetation, stunting any possible recovery before the study period. This region of study is characterized by the very steep, extinct volcano Conejo Peak on the south side of the freeway and less steep hills on the north side of the freeway. Vegetation in the area is represented by arid chaparral grasses and cacti on the exposed hillsides north of the freeway whereas the majority of the vegetation on the south side of the freeway has been burnt recently and represents almost no useful cover.