With EHL as a co-chair, the Environment Element of the County’s visioning process has taken steps toward comprehensive habitat planning.

Back in 2012, the County of San Bernardino convened a large group of community and private and public sector stakeholders to create a Vision for its future. One component of the Vision was the Environment Element, and EHL served as co-chair of this group. At EHL’s suggestion, one of the initiatives adopted for the Environment Element was, “Develop multi-species habitat conservation plans that build upon and link existing species-specific habitat conservation plans and mitigation land banks.”

This is vital progress, for unlike its neighboring counties, San Bernardino did not initiate comprehensive habitat planning under the State of California’s Natural Community Conservation Planning (NCCP) program. Partially as a result, natural resources have been lost and development has been subject to lengthy permitting and lawsuits.

Now, in the first concrete step toward comprehensive planning, the County and the San Bernardino Association of Governments (SANBAG) will commission a study on conservation and mitigation activities to date (such as acquisitions in the Etiwanda alluvial fan and ongoing water agency-driven efforts along the Santa Ana River) as well as gaps in conservation and opportunities for filling the gaps. Whether or not a full-blown NCCP emerges, this study will be a good basis for further progress.

EHL will monitor the study and continue to participate. We commend the County, SANBAG, and the suite of stakeholders for their actions to date.