In 2001, EHL and the Sierra Club settled litigation with the City of Ontario over new development, establishing a mitigation fund anticipated to yield over $22 million for conservation. Now, with the selection of land trusts to implement the program, this partnership with the city has reached an important milestone.



The Riverside Land Conservancy and The Trust for Public Land will craft a strategic plan and then implement it through acquisitions, easements, and partnerships with other agencies. Likely priorities include habitat for the burrowing owl and the endangered Delhi Sands flower loving fly, wetlands restoration, connectivity for Chino Hills State Park, and conservation in the Prado Basin.

The mitigation fund is designed to help balance the conversion of thousands of acres of former dairy lands to development. Importantly, the City of Ontario is also providing leadership in the Inland Empire on urban planning.

EHL will work closely with the land trusts, local conservationists, and the City of Ontario on all phases of this effort.