Jane Block

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Jane Block

Ms. Block has been recognized by the Lincoln Institute, the YWCA, and the Jurupa Special Services District among others for her work as an environmentalist, feminist and children’s services activist. She is associated with the adoption of the Western Riverside County Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan, the preservation of the Santa Rosa Plateau, Box Springs Mountain Park, and Sycamore Canyon Park. She has served as President of the Riverside Land Conservancy and is a current board member. She is also a board member of the Endangered Habitats League, Cal State San Bernardino Water Resources Institute, the Riverside County Child Care Consortium and the Family Services Association.

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Return to MAKING WAVES: WOMEN’S ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT

Biological Resources

Ms. Block was a founding member of Preserve Our Plateau, helping to broker the funding of the project through mitigation funds held by the County of Riverside for the construction of Diamond Valley Lake by Metropolitan Water District.

Jane Block translated her experience in the feminist movement and a member of the National Organization of Women into a lifetime of environmental activism. Her chance encounter in 1972 with a developer in Two Trees Canyon near her home made her aware of plans to build a housing tract on Box Springs Mountain. She formed the Box Springs Mountain Conservation Association and within two years succeeded at the goal of establishing a park on the site.

Sycamore Canyon Park is the largest urban park in southern California since the creation of Griffith Park in Los Angeles.

Springbrook Wash starts in Box Springs Mountain and flows to the Santa Ana River. Approximately one-fifth of the stream channel is cemented with the balance supporting healthy riparian plant communities. Ms. Block was instrumental in forming the “Arroyo Project,” a group that brought city and county planners together to make new policy. Today, protection of Riverside’s arroyos are enshrined in the city’s General Plan.

“Tequesquite Arroyo runs through two golf courses, the Andulka Park site, RCC, the Evans Sports Complex and the Tequesquite Park site. It is partially channelized at the golf courses and when it passes through Downtown. The banks have been planted with non-native grasses at the golf courses. As a member of the ‘Arroyo Project,’ Ms. Block successfully lobbied for the protection of Riverside’s arroyos.”

“The Woodcrest, Prenda, Alessandro and Mockingbird Arroyos all originate in the southerly hills of Riverside and flow to the Santa Ana River. All of these arroyos are largely in a natural condition southerly of the 91 Freeway within the Arlington Heights Greenbelt and Alessandro Heights area. The protection of these arroyos is articulated in the city of Riverside’s General Plan as a result of Ms. Block’s and others efforts in the ‘Arroyo Project’ group.”

“The Box Springs Arroyo runs from the Box Springs Mountains to where it is partially detained at Quail Run. From Quail Run the water flows into the Sycamore Canyon Creek. A small portion of the channel is contained in concrete, where it flows under the SR- 60 Freeway into the UCR campus. The banks are characterized by healthy riparian communities and rocky outcroppings. Sycamore Canyon Creek flows through the Sycamore Canyon Wilderness Park. The entire length of the creek is unchannelized and characterized by sycamore groves and southern willow. As a member of the ‘Arroyo Project,’ Ms. Block helped to bring the city and county of Riverside together to consider the preservation of multi-jurisdictional watercourses like this.&lrquo;

“The University Arroyo begins in the Box Springs Mountains and is partially channelized. The banks contain mainly non-native grasses, although some areas are characterized by rocky outcroppings and riparian vegetation. This Arroyo runs through UCR, under the 60/215 freeway and into developed areas west of the freeway. Arroyos like this, located in multiple jurisdictions have benefited from Ms. Block’s efforts as a member of the ‘Arroyo Project,’ a group dedicated to the protection of these riparian areas.”

Ms. Block helped to persuade the University of California to create the Center for Conservation Biology, making the research UCR available for use in the preparation of environmental studies. This work led to her engagement in the process of forming the region’s multiple species habitat conservation plan as a way of preserving the region’s economy while allowing the creation of critical infrastructure.

Cultural and Historic Resources

Ms. Block formed the original group to work for a multi-purpose bike path on either side of Victoria Avenue. She is currently a member of the City of Riverside Bike Committee and is focusing on creating Class 1 multi-use bikeways in other areas of the city.

Open Space and Parks

Ms. Block was a founding member of Preserve Our Plateau, helping to broker the funding of the project through mitigation funds held by the County of Riverside for the construction of Diamond Valley Lake by Metropolitan Water District.

Jane Block translated her experience in the feminist movement and a member of the National Organization of Women into a lifetime of environmental activism. Her chance encounter in 1972 with a developer in Two Trees Canyon near her home made her aware of plans to build a housing tract on Box Springs Mountain. She formed the Box Springs Mountain Conservation Association and within two years succeeded at the goal of establishing a park on the site.

Sycamore Canyon Park is the largest urban park in southern California since the creation of Griffith Park in Los Angeles.

Sycamore Canyon Park is the largest urban park in southern California since the creation of Griffith Park in Los Angeles.

Water Resources

Springbrook Wash starts in Box Springs Mountain and flows to the Santa Ana River. Approximately one-fifth of the stream channel is cemented with the balance supporting healthy riparian plant communities. Ms. Block was instrumental in forming the “Arroyo Project,” a group that brought city and county planners together to make new policy. Today, protection of Riverside’s arroyos are enshrined in the city’s General Plan.

“Tequesquite Arroyo runs through two golf courses, the Andulka Park site, RCC, the Evans Sports Complex and the Tequesquite Park site. It is partially channelized at the golf courses and when it passes through Downtown. The banks have been planted with non-native grasses at the golf courses. As a member of the ‘Arroyo Project,’ Ms. Block successfully lobbied for the protection of Riverside’s arroyos.”

“The Woodcrest, Prenda, Alessandro and Mockingbird Arroyos all originate in the southerly hills of Riverside and flow to the Santa Ana River. All of these arroyos are largely in a natural condition southerly of the 91 Freeway within the Arlington Heights Greenbelt and Alessandro Heights area. The protection of these arroyos is articulated in the city of Riverside’s General Plan as a result of Ms. Block’s and others efforts in the ‘Arroyo Project’ group.”

“The Box Springs Arroyo runs from the Box Springs Mountains to where it is partially detained at Quail Run. From Quail Run the water flows into the Sycamore Canyon Creek. A small portion of the channel is contained in concrete, where it flows under the SR- 60 Freeway into the UCR campus. The banks are characterized by healthy riparian communities and rocky outcroppings. Sycamore Canyon Creek flows through the Sycamore Canyon Wilderness Park. The entire length of the creek is unchannelized and characterized by sycamore groves and southern willow. As a member of the ‘Arroyo Project,’ Ms. Block helped to bring the city and county of Riverside together to consider the preservation of multi-jurisdictional watercourses like this.&lrquo;

“The University Arroyo begins in the Box Springs Mountains and is partially channelized. The banks contain mainly non-native grasses, although some areas are characterized by rocky outcroppings and riparian vegetation. This Arroyo runs through UCR, under the 60/215 freeway and into developed areas west of the freeway. Arroyos like this, located in multiple jurisdictions have benefited from Ms. Block’s efforts as a member of the ‘Arroyo Project,’ a group dedicated to the protection of these riparian areas.”