Western Riverside Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan California Department of Fish and Game Inland Deserts Region Bobcat photo by Gerald and Buff Corsi Introduce myself, topic of talk, thank commission for the opportunity to speak.

What is a MSHCP? Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan San Diego banded gecko Yellow-breasted chat Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan Natural Community Conservation Planning Act (1991) Regional or area-wide plan at landscape level Allows compatible economic activity Streamlined permitting Keeps unlisted species off the list, which prevents future needs for permitting California Fish and Game Code §§ 2800 et seq.)

Issue: Riverside County recognized that land use and infrastructure decisions were driven by environmental issues. Goals: Infrastructure development, especially roads, to support growth Streamlined Permitting Addresses environmental issues as a component of land use and infrastructure planning Protect and sustain endangered and threatened animals and plants, and their habitats in a comprehensive way Set the background for the driving forces behind the plan – rapid growth, great natural beautify, Riverside County motiviated to form plan. will result in much greater and more biologically effective habitat and species conservation than a project-by-project approach could produce

Provides “Take” for 146 plant and animals species 1.26 million-acre Plan Area Federal and State Permits issued in June 2004 75-year plan Permits issued to : County of Riverside, 18 local jurisdictions (Cities), Flood Control District, RCTC, Waste Management, Parks and Open Space District, Caltrans, State Parks

Main Plan Components Habitat (Acquisition) Implementation Management Monitoring

What are the Major Habitat Elements? Cores and Linkages

Core: a block of habitat that will generally support the life of one or more Covered Species. Each core has: an acreage total (i.e., 7,470 acres) specific biological considerations (e.g., habitat types, movement of species) specific planning species (e.g., California gnatcatcher, Munz’s onion, bobcat)

Linkages (2 types) Linkage Constrained Linkage Linkage is a connection between a core habitat

Implementation Western Riverside County Regional Conservation Authority (“RCA”) (coordinate implementation, collect and expend fees, purchase land, manage and monitor lands, administer MSHCP permits) Coordination between Wildlife Agencies, RCA (Monthly Meetings), and Permittees RCA Obligations Under the Plan joint regional authority formed by the County and the Cities. This authority shall be called the Western Riverside County Regional Conservation Authority (“Regional Conservation Authority or RCA”). •Collect and expend local development mitigation fees •Purchase lands to assemble the Reserve and coordinate assembly of the conservation lands with permittees •Coordinate implementation with Cities and County •Manage and monitor conservation lands •Administer and oversee implementation of the MSHCP permits RCA is not a regulatory agency RCA has noland use authority Review projects for consistency Transportation – Coordinate and consistency reviews on large circulation projects Compliance review – annual reports

Acquisition Goal: Funding Sources: Conserve 500,000 acres 347,000 acres of existing conserved lands 153,000 acres to be acquired for Conservation Acquired within first 25 years of the 75 year permit. Santa Rosa Plateau Funding Sources: Local Development Mitigation Fees Density Bonus Fees Regional Infrastructure Contribution Landfill Tipping Fees Section 6 grants WCB – bond funds Progress: To date, RCA has acquired 41,621 acres (27% of the 153,000-acre goal) 15,828 acres from the federal and state governments 25,793 acres RCA through its members and partner agencies. Los Angeles Pocket Mouse

California Horned Lark Successes Large Habitat Blocks Conserved - 43,034 acres (28%) acquired - RCA manages 26,000 acres of ARL Without MSHCP only get conservation when listed species are impacted conserve only portions of properties which may not be connected to other conserved lands. Results in fragmentation and increased edge effects California Horned Lark

Success story – linking habitat to SJWA San Timoteo/Badlands

2000-2004 2011

Management and Monitoring Requires monitoring and management of the Conserved lands and management of additional 55,000 acres of locally owned lands

Western Riverside MSHCP Summary 1.26 million acres 146 species 500,000 acres to be conserved 347,000 acres in conservation at start of plan 43,034 acres (28%) have been acquired by Local Permittees and state and federal agencies (12/31/10) MSHCP permits issued to : County of Riverside, 18 local jurisdictions (Cities), Flood Control District, RCTC, Waste Management, Parks and Open Space District, Caltrans, State Parks

Questions?

Thank You Contact Information: Heather Pert, Ph.D. Staff Environmental Scientist WR MSHCP Coordinator Inland Deserts Region 858-395-9692 hpert@dfg.ca.gov Santa Ana Sucker