Priority Conservation Areas Thousand PalmsThousand Palms Upper Mission Creek, including Morongo Wash Special Provisions AreaUpper Mission Creek, including Morongo Wash Special Provisions Area Willow HoleWillow Hole Coachella Valley Stormwater Channel and DeltaCoachella Valley Stormwater Channel and Delta East Indio HillsEast Indio Hills

Criteria Used Vulnerability. When even a small amount of loss could adversely impact the ability to achieve the MSHCP’s Conservation Objectives; e.g. Biological corridors with chokepoints, fluvial or Aeolian sand transport areas, which can also be quite narrow; and habitat for certain species or natural communities that occur in only a few limited areas; 9:1 conservation to development ratio areas. Degree of Threat from development based on such things as general plan land use designations, existing land use patterns, access to utilities, etc. “Rough Step” compliance under the MSHCP.

Methodology for Prioritizing Parcels Identify parcels with Vulnerability. This is based on a combination of the inherent risk to a Conservation Objective’s being met and the Rough Step status of the Conservation Objective. Identify parcels with a Threat based on general plan land use designations, existing land use patterns, and access to utilities. Combine the Vulnerability and Threat assessment classify each parcel as a Tier 1, Tier 2, or Tier 3 parcel (with Tier 1 having both Vulnerability and Threat). We will also have a Tier 4 that includes parcels with existing development on them where acquisition is not anticipated. We also have a list of potentially interested sellers based on previous contacts between landowners and CVAG/CVCC and/or the Acquisitions Manager. We will take special note of these parcels.

Next Steps Pursuant to the policy adopted by the CVCC at its June 2008 meeting regarding acquisition procedures, the next steps in the process are: Apply the methodology to identify the highest priority acquisition parcels and then determine the value of those parcels through appraisals. Identify potential willing sellers. Sources of information for this include contacting individuals who have previously contacted CVAG or the Acquisitions Manager, identifying parcels currently listed for sale, and directly contacting landowners. Propose specific acquisitions to the CVCC for consideration. For approved acquisitions, open escrow and complete the acquisition.

Committee input Today is an opportunity for the Acquisitions and Funding Coordinating Committee to provide any input it may have regarding identifying acquisition priorities. It should be noted that the list of priorities is not static because conditions change and special opportunities arise for acquisitions from time to time.