[4] The preserve is home to large variety of plant- and animal species, including for instance southwestern pond turtles, mountain lions, bobcats, black bears, deer, coyotes, and avifauna such as quails, golden eagles, hawks, owls, and numerous others.

[3] The Hill Canyon Wastewater Treatment Plant has the largest constructed wetlands in Ventura County, within approximately 15 acres (6.1 ha) of the Arroyo Conejo Nature Preserve.

The area is home to the endemic Southwestern Pond Turtle, as well as large numbers of mallards, coots, herons, and numerous other species of freshwater fish and birds.

[8] The nature preserve was highlighted in the Conservation Element of the General Plan in 1972 and later identified in the City's Conejo Canyons Study of 1976 as an area with particularly sensitive and important resources.

"[9] On July 1, 1976, the Thousand Oaks-based News-Chronicle reported the formation of a Small Wilderness Area Preserves chapter to protect donated Canyon lands.