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CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
DATE: October 3, 2007
CONSENT CALENDAR
SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING TO
EXTEND THE COACHELLA VALLEY FRINGE -TOED LIZARD PERMITTO
ALLOW COMPLETION OF THE COACHELLA VALLEY MULTIPLE
SPECIES HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN, INCLUDING MEASURES
FOR CONTINUED CONSERVATION OF THE COACHELLA VALLEY
FRINGE -TOED LIZARD
FROM: David H. Ready, City Manager
BY: Craig A. Ewing, AICP, Director of Planning Services
SUMMARY
RECOMMENDATION,
Approve: MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) TO EXTEND THE
COACHELLA VALLEY FRINGE -TOED LIZARD PERMIT TO ALLOW COMPLETION OF
THE COACHELLA VALLEY MULTIPLE SPECIES HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN,
INCLUDING MEASURES FOR CONTINUED CONSERVATION OF THE COACHELLA
VALLEY FRINGE -TOED LIZARD,
STAFF ANALYSIS:
Since mid -July, CVAG staff has been working with the California Department of Fish and
Game to develop an agreement regarding the Coachella Valley fringe -toed lizard (CVFTL)
permit. The original Memorandum of Understanding dated March 21, 2001, as
subsequently amended, and the Consistency Determination for the CVFTL were set to
expire on August 31, 2007. After ongoing discussions with CDFG a meeting was held on
August 30 including CVAG Chairman Richard Kite and Supervisor Marion Ashley with Curt
Taucher, Regional Manager of the California Department of Fish and Game. At that
meeting, CDFG agreed to a series of proposed conditions and benchmarks that must be
met in order to maintain permit coverage for the CVFTL. In particular, CDFG would like to
see us move forward as quickly as possible to approve the MSHCP. The essential deal
ITEM NO. —.GCS___
City Council Staff Report
October 3, 2007 -- Page 2 of 3
Approval of MOU to Extend Coachella Valley Fringe -Toed Lizard Permit
points from the negotiations with CDFG have been incorporated into an MOU, which is
attached for your consideration. Among the key benchmarks included in the MOU are the
following conditions:
1. The CVAG Executive Committee and CVCC approved the MSHCP as well as the
provisions contained in this MOU at their September 10, 2007 specialjoint meeting.
- As the MSHCP and MOU are approved, the Consistency Determination is
extended until October 31. 2007
2. The Cities, County and CVWD shall consider and approve the MSHCP and this
MOU prior to October 31, 2007
- If the MSHCP and MOU are approved, the Consistency Determination will be
extended to March 15, 2008.
In addition to benchmarks toward approval of the MSHCP, other conditions in the MOU are
targeted at maintaining and enhancing conservation provisions for the CVFTL. The
following is a summary of the conditions which will need to be met as part of this
agreement:
1. CVAG and CVCC, on behalf of the Local Permittees will acquire 100 acres of land
to protect CVFTL habitat, and the sand source and sand transport areas required
for the maintenance of CVFTL habitat. CVAG and CVCC shall use available
funding sources, including but not limited to CVFTL fees, transportation funds, and
grants.
2. CVAG and CVCC shall initiate by October 31, 2007 and complete by January 30,
2008 a financial audit of the CVFTL fees collected by the Center for Natural Lands
Management since 2001.
3. The Cities and County shall continue to require payment of the CVFTL fee from
September 1, 2007 through March 15, 2008.
A. CVAG and CVCC will begin work on and will submit an initial draft of the
Implementation Manual sections which address CVFTL conservation to CDFG and
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by October 31, 2007.
5. Public projects will be responsible for paying the CVFTL fee. This condition
includes a provision to acknowledge that the Cities, County and CVWD have no
enforcement authority for public projects not within their jurisdiction.
6. The Cities and County will implement, to the extent allowed by law all of the
conservation measures in the Final MSHCP (included as Appendix A) that apply to
CVFTL. This condition is similar to one in the 2006 MOU; the measures listed in
Q00OG2
City Council Staff Report
October 3, 2007 -- Page 3 of 3
Approval of MOU to Extend Coachella Valley Fringe -Toed Lizard Permit
Appendix A are excerpted directly from the MSHCP and apply primarily to
unincorporated areas.
The dates outlined in these conditions regarding approval of the MSHCP will allow us to
move forward with completion of the Plan. Once all of the Permittees have approved the
Plan, the state and federal Wildlife Agencies will complete their analysis and issue a permit
decision. Every effort will be made to complete the Plan and obtain permits by the end of
2007/early 2008. It is anticipated that the MSHCP will be approved and state and federal
permits will be issued on or before March 15, 2008.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None.
Cfa g ng, AICP,
Director of Plannin S rvices
David H. Ready, Clt ager
Tom Wilson, - 19)1
Assistant City Manager, Dev't Svcs
Attachments:
1. Memorandum of Understanding to extend the Coachella Valley Fringe -Toed Lizard
Permit
000003
I MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
2 Between
3 COACHELLA VALLEY ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS, COACHELLA VALLEY CONSERVATION
COMMISSION, COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE, CITY OF CATHEDRAL CITY, CITY OF COACHELLA, CITY OF
4 INDIAN WELLS, CITY OF INDIO, CITY OF LA QUINTA, CITY OF PALM DESERT, CITY OF PALM
SPRINGS, CITY OF RANCHO MIRAGE, COACHELLA VALLEY WATER DISTRICT, CENTER FOR
$ NATURAL LANDS MANAGEMENT AND CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME
6 Regarding
7 THE COACHELLA VALLEY MULTIPLE SPECIES HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN/NATURAL
8 COMMUNITY CONSERVATION PLAN AND MEASURES TO MINIMIZE AND MITIGATE TARE AND
CONTINUED CONSERVATION OF THE COACHELLA VALLEY FRINGE -TO> D LIZARD
9
I.
10
PURPOSE
II
The Cities of Cathedral City, Coachella, Indian Wells, Indio, La Quirim, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Rancho
12
Mirage, all municipal corporations of the State of California ("Cities"), the County of Riverside, a political
13
subdivision of the State of California ("County"), the Coachella Valley Association of Governments ("CVAG"),
14
15 the Coacbella Valley Conservation Commission ("CVCC"), the Coachella Valley Water District ("CVWD"), the
16 California Department of Fisb and Game (`CDFG"), a subdivision oFthe California Resources Agency, and the
17 Center for Natural Lands Management collectively referred to as "the Parties", enter into this Memorandum of
18 Understanding ("MOU") for the purpose of establishing the obligations of each of the Parties towards the
19 completion of the Coachella Valley Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan/Natural Community Conservation
20 Plan ("MSHCP") and the continued conservation of the Coachella Valley Fringe -toed Lizard ("CVFTL") in
21 compliance with both the federal Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. Section 1531 et seq., as amended ("ESA"),
22 the California Endangered Species Act, California Fish and Game Code Section 2050 ct seq , as amended
23 ("CESA"), and the California Natural Community Conservation Planning Act, California Fish and Game Code
24 Section 2800 et seq
25 1I,
26
RECITALS
27
A. WHEREAS, the Parties agree that a permitted Coachella Valley Multiple Species Habitat Conservation
28
Plan ("MSHCP") is the appropriate course of action to provide long term regional conservation for the
606004 1
I Coachella Valley fringe -toed lizard, and support a concerted effort to complete the MSHCP by January 15,
2 2008,
3 B. WHEREAS, the Parties entered into a Memorandum of Understanding on March 21, 2001, and CDFG
4 subsequently made a determination pursuant to Section 2080.1 of the California Fish and Game Code
5 ("Consistency Determination") finding that the USFWS Section 10(a) Incidental Take Permit authorizing take
6 of the CVFTL in combination with the mitigation provided in the Memorandum of Understanding and other
7 documents is consistent with CESA;
8 C. WHEREAS, that Memorandum of Understanding, as subsequently amended, expires August 31, 2007,
9
D. WHEREAS, the Parties to that Memorandum of Understanding have complied with its tem-is and
10
conditions, including good faith efforts to complete the MSHCP, but desire that additional conservation
11
measures be implemented on an interim basis to protect the CVFTL until the MSHCP is in place, and
12
E. WHEREAS, the Parties desire to maintain take autborization for the CVFTL while the MSHCP pens fitting
13
14 process continues.
15
16 NOW, THEREFORE, TEE PARTIES AGREE TO THE FOLLOWING:
17 1. The Memorandum of Understanding dated March 21, 2001, as subsequently amended, and the
18 Consistency Determination currently expire on August 31, 2007. Based on the Local Agency
19
commitments in this MOU, CDFG agrees to extend the Consistency Determination to September 10,
20
2007, as long as there are no other events that would legally require CDFG to re-examine whether the
21
Consistency Determination is still appropriate. The CVAG Executive Committee and CVCC shall
22
consider approval of the MSHCP as well as the provisions contained in this MOU at their September
23
10, 2007 special joint meeting, and if the MSHCP and MOU are approved, the Consistency
74
Determination shall be extended until October 31, 2007, as long as there are no other events that would
25
legally require CDFG to re-examine whether the Consistency Determination is still appropriate.
26
Thereafter, if the Cities, County and CVW D consider and approve the MSHCP and this MOU prior to
27
October 31, 2007, the Consistency Determination shall be cr.-tended to March 15, 2008, It is
28
000005
anticipated that the MSHCP will be approved and state and federal permits will be issued on or before
2 March 15, 2008.
3 2, The Parties agree that the provisions of the Memorandum of Understanding dated March 21, 2001, as
4 subsequently amended in August of 2006, are hereby incorporated by reference subject to the specific
5 modifications and/or additions contained in this MOU. Section III D of the August 2006 MOU is not
6 incorporated by reference into this MOU
7 3. CVAG and CVCC, on behalf of the Local Pcrmittees identified in the Final Recirculated MSHCP dated
8
September 2007, shall acquire 100 acres of land between August 31, 2007 and March 1 i, 2008 to
9
10
11
12
protect CVFTL habitat, and the sand source and sand transport areas required for the maintenance of
CVFTL habitat. CVAG and CVCC shall use available funding sources, including but not limited to
CVFTL fees, transportation funds, and grants A monthly accounting of the status of the acquisition
effort shall be provided to CDFG and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. By September 30, 2007,
13
14 CVAG and CVCC in consultation with the Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy, CDFG and the
15 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service shall set acquisition priorities.
16 4. CVAG and CVCC shall initiate by October 31, 2007 and complete by January X 2008 a financial
17 audit of the CVFTL fees collected by the Center for Natural Lands Management since 2001 The audit
18 will examine the number of disturbed acres for which construction permits were issued and the
19 corresponding amount of fees paid and collected. If the amount is not accurate, the Consistency
20 Determination shall terminate until the fee collection is brought into compliance.
21 5. The Cities and County shall continue to require payment of the CVFTL fee from September 1, 2007
22 through March 15, 2008.
23 6. CVAG and CVCC shall submit an initial draft of the Implementation Manual sections which address
24 CVFTL conservation to CDFG and the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service by October 31, 2007.
25 7. Public projects shall pay the CVFTL fee. Public projects include roads, schools, and flood control
26 facilities. From September 1, 2007 through March 15, 2008, all public projects shall either: a) pay the
27
CVFTL fee or b) provide conservation land acceptable to CDFG in an amount equivalent in value to
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000006 3
I the CVFTL fee amount. It is understood that the Cities, County and CVWD have no enforcement
2 authority with regard to this provision for public projects not within their jurisdiction
3 S. CVAG and CVCC, on behalf of the Local Permittees identified in the Final Recirculated MSHCP dated
4 September 2007, shall provide a Rough Step analysis and status update for the CVFTL to CDFG and
5 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife as described in Section 6,5 of the MSHCP monthly.
6 9, The Cities and County shall implement, to the extent allowed by law, through the Interim Project
7 Review Process, all of the conservation measures and provisions in the attached Appendix A, which
8
excerpts those measures that apply to CVFTL from the Final Recirculated MSHCP dated September
9
2007
10
10. This MOU may be amended with the written consent of each of the Parties to this MOU.
11
it. Without limiting the applicability of the rights granted to the public pursuant to the provisions of 16
12
U.S. C. Section 1540(g) and under California law, this MOU shall not create any right or interest in the
13
14 public, or any member thereof, as a third party beneficiary hereof, nor shall it authorize anyone not a
15 party to the MOU to maintain a suit for personal injuries or property damages pursuant to the
16 provisions of this MOU The duties, obligations, and responsibilities of the Parties to this MOU with
17 respect to third parties shall remain as imposed under existing Federal or California law.
is 12. The terms of this MOU shall be governed by and considered in accordance with ESA, C> SA, and other
19 applicable laws. In particular, nothing in this MOU is intended to limit the authority of the U.S Fish
20 and Wildlife Service to seek penalties or otherwise fulfill its responsibilities under ESA, or to limit the
21 authority of CDFG to seek penalties or otherwise fulfill its responsibilities under CESA. Nothing in
22 this MOU is intended to limit or diminish the legal obligations and responsibilities of the U.S Fish and
23 Wildlife Service as an agency ofthe Federal government or of CDFG as an agency of the State of
24 California.
25 13, Implementation of this MOU by CDFG is subject to the availability of appropriated funds. Nothing in
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this MOU shall be construed by the Parties to reduirc the obligation, appropriation, or expenditure of
27
any money from the Treasury of the State of California The Parties aclmowledge and agree that
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1 CDFG shall not be required to expend any state appropriated funds unless and until an authorized
2 official of that agency affirmatively acts to commit such expenditure as evidenced in writing.
3
4 CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME
Date:
6 Regional Manager
7 Inland Deserts Region
California Department of Fish and Game
S Los Alamitos, California
9
COACHELLA VALLEY ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS
10
I I Date:
Chair of the Executive Committee
12 Coachella Valley Association of Governments
Palm Desert, California
13
14 COACHELLA VALLEY CONSERVATION COMMISSION
15
16 Date:
Chair
17 Coachella Valley Conservation Commission
Palm Desert, California
18
19
RIVERSIDE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
20
21 Date:
Chair of the Board of Supervisors
22 Riverside County Board of Supervisors
Riverside, California
23 CITY OF CATHEDRAL CITY
24
25 Date: _
Mayor
26 City of Cathedral City
Cathedral City, California
27
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000008
5
l
CITY OF COACHELLA
Date:
3
Mayor
City of Coachella
4
Coachella, California
5
CITY OF INDIAN WELLS
6
7
Date-
s
Mayor
City of Indian Wells
9
Indian Wells, California
10
CITY OF INDIO
11
12
Date:
Mayor
13
City of Indio
Indio, California
14
15
CITY OF LA QLIINTA
16
1
Date:
Mayor
18
City of La Quinta
La Quinta, California
19
20
CITY OF PALM DESERT
11
22
Date:
Mayor
73
City of Palm Desert
Palm Desert, California
24
CITY OF PALM SPRINGS
�5
26
Data
27
Mavor
City of Palm Springs
28
Palm Springs, California
000009 6
1
2 CITY OF RANCHO MIRAGE
3
Daze.
4 Mayor
City of Rancho Mirage
5 Rancho Mirage, California
6
7 COACHELLA VALLEY WATER. DISTRICT
S
Date:
9 Chair
Coachella Valley Water District
10 Coachella, California
11
CENTER FOR NATLRtAL LANDS MANAGEMENT
12
13 Date:
Executive Director
14 Center for Natural Lands Management
15 Fallbrook, California
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
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000010 7
COACHELLA VALLEY FRINGE -TOED LIZARD MOU - Appendix A
Note: There conditions arc excerpted directlyjrom the Feral Recirculated Coachella Valley MSHCP—September
2007 The numbers jor Conservation Objecdves aid Required Maaiuras are as they appear in theM3RCP.
1. Permittees will maintain the fluvial sand transport Essential Ecological
Process in the Cabazon, Long Canyon, and West Deception Canyon
Conservation Areas as described in Section 4 2.2.2.4.
2. The undeveloped portions of parcels in Conservation Areas on which
Development is approved by a Permittee shall count toward meeting the
MSHCP's Conservation Objectives only when the undeveloped portion of the
parcel is legally described and permanently protected through an appropriate
Legal Instrument, and provision is made for the land to be monitored and
managed pursuant to the MSHCP's Monitoring Program and Management
Program. Review of individual Development projects will occur in accordance
with the Implementation Manual.
3. Permittees will protect the fluvial sand transport Essential Ecological Process
in the Cabazon, Long Canyon, and West Deception Canyon Conservation
Areas to ensure no net reduction in fluvial sand transport in these areas.
Figure 4-5 of the MSHCP depicts these areas. The Permittees will require
that natural flows onto parcels in the fluvial sand transport areas shall be
conveyed offsite in the natural pre -disturbance direction of flow. This ensures
that Development on the property shall not impede water -borne sand
transport across the parcel in its natural direction of flow. In addition, water-
borne sediments and floodwaters shall not be artificially retained onsite.
Concentration of flows and increase in flow velocity offsite shall be minimized
to avoid downstream erosion and scour. Alternatively, a flood control structure
for the area that is designed to ensure no net reduction of sediment transport
from the sand source area to the sand deposition area where aeolian sand
transport processes are active may be used to achieve the Conservation
Objective of fluvial sand transport. Construction of such flood control
structures, unless identified as Covered Activities in Section 7.3 of the
MSHCP, will require Wildlife Agencies' concurrence.
4. Covered Activities described in Section 7.3 of the MSHCP will adhere to the
required Avoidance/Minimization Measures for aeolian and fluvial Sand
Transport.
5. Permittees shall submit all development projects proposed in the
Conservation Areas as described in the MSHCP to the Coachella Valley
Conservation Commission (CVCC) for the Interim Project Review process as
described in Section 6,6.1.1 of the CVMSHCP.
6. Permittees will adhere to the Measures below as excerpted from the MSHCP:
4.3.1 Cabazon Conservation Area
Conservation Obiectives. The Conservation Objectives for this
Conservation Area are. -
In total, 2,340 acres of the Cabazon Conservation Area shall be
conserved. (This may be less than the sum of acres indicated in the
following objectives because there can be overlap among areas covered
by the objectives. For example, Core Habitat for two or more species may
overlap, or Core Habitat and an Essential Ecological Process area may
overlap. The individual acreage figures will be used in compliance
monitoring.)
2. Conserve at least 1,629 acres of the sand source areas.
5. Maintain the current capacity for fluvial (water -borne) sand transport along
4,496 acres of the San Gorgonio River and its tributaries.
6. Maintain functional Biological Corridors under 1-10 by conserving at least
631 acres in the Fornat Wash Biological Corridor to maintain ecosystem
function for Covered Species. Aside from the freeway culvert, which is an
unavoidably narrow segment, the Biological Corridor shall be one mile
wide, except where Existing Uses or Indian reservation lands not subject
to the Plan preclude this width, to minimize edge effects. It should also be
noted that portions of the corridor cross Indian reservation land, which is
not a part of the Plan and over which the Plan exerts no control.
7. Coordinate with the Western Riverside County MSHCP Regional
Conservation Authority to ensure that fluvial sand transport along the San
Gorgonio River west of the Cabazon Conservation Area and functionality
of the San Gorgonio River as a Biological Corridor are maintained.
In this Conservation Area, the Essential Ecological Process of fluvial sand
transport is to be maintained on 4,496 acres through flood control guidelines and
land use regulation only. Of the remaining area in this Conservation Area, 47% of
the land is currently in public or non-profit conservation organization ownership.
Current conservation ranges from Level 1 to Level 3.
Required Measures for the Conservation Area. Table 4-12 shows how
many acres of Existing Conservation Lands are in this Conservation Area and
how many acres of Additional Conservation Lands will need to be acquired or
otherwise conserved through acquisition or other means. The following measures
will be imposed to achieve the Conservation Objectives in this Conservation
Area.
1. Conservation of the identified fluvial sand transport process areas will be
achieved through application of the general plan land use designations
and policies. In the fluvial sand transport areas, the Permittees will require
that natural flows onto a parcel on which Development is proposed shall
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be conveyed offsite in the natural pre -disturbance direction of flow, and
will require that Development on the property shall not impede water-
borne sand transport across the parcel in its natural direction of flow. In
addition, water -borne sediments and floodwaters shall not be artificially
retained onsite. Concentration of flows and increase in flow velocity offsite
shall be minimized to the maximum extent Feasible to avoid downstream
erosion and scour, Alternatively, a flood control structure for the area that
is designed to ensure no reduction in sediment transport from the sand
source area to the sand deposition area where aeolian sand transport
processes are active may be used to achieve the Conservation Objective
of fluvial sand transport.
2. The culvert conveying Fornat Wash under 1-10 shall be maintained by
Caltrans at no less than its current size, with a soft -bottom, to maintain
current levels of sand transport and wildlife movement under 1-10.
3. Outside of the fluvial sand transport Essential Ecological Process area,
the Permittees shall comply with applicable avoidance, minimization, and
mitigation measures described in Section 4.4 and the Land Use Adjacency
Guidelines as described in Section 4.5.
5. Within one year of Permit issuance, CVCC and the applicable Local
Permittee will coordinate with the Western Riverside County MSHCP
Regional Conservation Authority to ensure that fluvial sand transport along
the San Gorgonio River west of the Cabazon Conservation Area and
functionality of the San Gorgonio River as a Biological Corridor are
maintained.
Table 4-12: Conservation and Take Authorization for
Cabazon Conservation Area
(All acreages are based on 1996 pre -Planning Agreement information.)
Total Acres
Existing
Acres of
Remaining
in
Conservation
Disturbance
Acres to
Conservation
Lands
Authorized
be
Conservation Objective
Area
Conserved
Conserve sand
7,683
5,873
181
1,629
source areas
Conserve fluvial
4,538
42
N/A
_
N/A'
sand transport areas
3 Conservation of the identified fluvial sand transport process areas will he achieved through application of the
general plan land use designations and
policies, not through
acquisition
1103013
F.M
4.3.2 Stubbe and Cottonwood Canyons Conservation Area
Conservation Obiectives. The Conservation Objectives for this
Conservation Area are:
1. In total, 2,430 acres of the Stubbe and Cottonwood Canyons Conservation
Area shall be conserved. (This may be less than the sum of acres
indicated in the following objectives because there can be overlap among
areas covered by the objectives. For example, Core Habitat for two or
more species may overlap, or Core Habitat and an Essential Ecological
Process area may overlap The individual acreage figures will be used in
compliance monitoring.)
4. Conserve at least 1,241 acres of the sand source area in the San
Bernardino Mountains to maintain the natural erosion processes that
provide sediment for the blowsand ecosystem.
5. Conserve at least 1,129 acres in the fluvial (water -borne) sand transport
area. Maintain the current capacity for fluvial sand transport in Stubbe
Canyon Wash.
S. Maintain functional Biological Corridors under 1-10 by conserving at least
1,058 acres in the Stubbe Canyon Wash Biological Corridor north of the
freeway to maintain potential Habitat connectivity for desert tortoise,
Coachella Valley round -tailed ground squirrel, and Palm Springs pocket
mouse, and a wildlife movement corridor to maintain ecosystem function
for Covered Species. Aside from the freeway culverts and any Existing
Use areas, which are unavoidably narrow segments, the Biological
Corridor shall expand to one mile wide to minimize edge effects.
Reauired Measures for the Conservation Area. Table 4-17 shows how
many acres of Existing Conservation Lands are in this Conservation Area and
how many acres of Additional Conservation Lands will need to be conserved
through acquisition or other means. The following measures will be imposed to
achieve the Conservation Objectives in this Conservation Area.
1. Existing culverts under 1-10 at West Stubbe and East Stubbe will be
maintained by Caltrans at no less than their current size, with soft -
bottoms, to maintain current levels of sand transport and wildlife
movement under 1-10.
3. The Permittess shall comply with applicable avoidance, minimization, and
mitigation measures described in Section 4.4 and the Land Use Adjacency
Guidelines as described in Section 4.5,
A9 000014
Table 4-17: Conservation and Take Authorization for
Stubbe and Cottonwood Canyons Conservation Area
(All acreages are based on 1996 pre -Planning Agreement information.)
Total Acres Existing Acres of Remaining
in Conservation Disturbance Acres to
Conservation Objective Conservation Lands Authorized be
Area Conserved
Conserve sand 8,402 7,023 138 1,241
source areas
Conserve fluvial sand 1,375 121 125 1,129
transport areas
Conserve Stubbe Canyon 1,181 6 117 1,058
Wash Bio. Corridor
' Disturbance of no more than three acres may occur, but it would be replaced to ensure that the no net loss
occurs and the conservation Objective is achieved.
4.3.3 Snow Creek/Windy Point Conservation Area
Conservation Obiectives. The Conservation Objectives for this
Conservation Area are:
1. In total,, 2,340 acres of the Snow Creek/Windy Point Conservation Area
shall be conserved. (This may be less than the sum of acres indicated in
the following objectives because there can be overlap among areas
covered by the objectives. For example, Care Habitat for two or more
species may overlap, or Core Habitat and an Essential Ecological Process
area may overlap. The individual acreage figures will be used in
compliance monitoring.)
2. Conserve Core Habitat and associated Essential Ecological Processes (as
set forth below) for Coachella Valley milkvetch, Coachella Valley giant
sand -treader cricket, Coachella Valley Jerusalem cricket, Coachella Valley
fringe -toed lizard, Coachella Valley round -tailed ground squirrel, and Palm
Springs pocket mouse, allowing evolutionary processes and natural
population fluctuations to occur. Minimize fragmentation, human -caused
disturbance, and edge effects to Core Habitat by conserving contiguous
Habitat and effective Linkages between patches of Core Habitat.
d. Conserve at least 672 acres of Core Habitat for the Coachella Valley
fringe -toed lizard in the City of Palm Springs portion of the area and at
least 501 acres of Core Habitat in the unincorporated portion of the
area.
g. Conserve at least 838 acres of the fluvial and aeolian sand transport
area in the City of Palm Springs portion of the area and at least 1,482
acres in the unincorporated portion of the area. Maintain the current
capacity for fluvial sand transport in the San Gorgonio River floodplain
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7. Conserve at least 62 acres of the active desert dunes and at least 610
acres of the ephemeral desert sand fields in the City of Palm Springs
portion of the area, and at least 409 acres of the ephemeral desert sand
fields and at least 93 acres of the stabilized and partially stabilized desert
sand fields in the unincorporated portion of the area to provide for the
conservation of these natural communities. As these conserved natural
communities are all part of the Core Habitat areas identified in
Conservation Objective 2 for this area, attainment of that objective will
also achieve this objective.
8. Maintain functional Biological Corridors and Linkages under 1-10 and
Highway 111 by conserving at least 415 acres of identified Biological
Corridor in the unincorporated portion of the Conservation Area and at
least 247 acres identified Biological Corridor in the City of Palm Springs'
portion, such that the functionality of each individual Biological Corridor
listed below is not compromised:
a. Conserve the Stubbe Canyon Wash Biological Corridor south of the I-
10 to maintain potential Habitat connectivity for desert tortoise,
Coachella Valley round -tailed ground squirrel, and Palm Springs
pocket mouse, and to maintain ecosystem function for Covered
Species. Aside from the freeway culverts and any Existing Use areas,
which are unavoidably narrow segments, the Biological Corridor shall
expand to one mile wide to minimize edge effects.
b. Conserve. the Whitewater Floodplain Biological Corridor south of
Highway 111 to maintain potential Habitat connectivity for Coachella
Valley Jerusalem cricket, Coachella Valley round -tailed ground
squirrel, and Palm Springs pocket mouse, and to maintain ecosystem
function for Covered Species. Aside from the highway culverts and any
Existing Use areas, which are unavoidably narrow segments, the
Biological Corridor shall expand to one mile wide to minimize edge
effects.
Required Measures for the Conservation Area. Table 4-22 shows how
many acres of Existing Conservation Lands are in this Conservation Area and
how many acres of Additional Conservation Lands will need to be conserved
through acquisition or other means. The following measures will be imposed to
achieve the Conservation Objectives in this Conservation Area.
1. The culvert under Highway 111 west of Windy Point and the bridge over
the San Gorgonio River at Windy Point will be maintained by Caltrans at
no less than their current size, with soft -bottoms, to maintain current levels
of sand transport and potential wildlife movement under Highway 111.
2. The Permittees shall comply with applicable avoidance, minimization, and
mitigation measures described in Section 4.4 and the Land Use Adjacency
Guidelines as described in Section 4.5,
A-6 000016
Table 4-22a: Conservation and Take Authorization for
Snow Creek/Windy Point Conservation Area —
City of Palm Springs Area
(All acreages are based on 1996 pre -Planning Agreement information)
Total Acres
Existing
Acres of
Remaining
Conservation Objective
in
Conservation
Conservation
Disturbance
Acres to be
Area
Lands
Authorized
Conserved
Conserve Core Habitat
for CV fringe -toed lizard
749
2
75
672
Conserve active desert
dunes
69
0
7
62
Conserve ephemeral
desert sand fields
680
2
58
610
Conserve fluvial and
aeolian sand transport
934
3
93
838
Conserve Hwy I I I —
WWR Biological Corridor
276
2
27
247
Table 4-22b: Conservation and Take Authorization for
Snow Creek/Windy Point Conservation Area —
Riverside County Area
(All acreages are based on 1996 pre -Planning Agreement information)
Total Acres Existing Acres of Remaining
in Conservation Disturbance acres to be
Conservation Objective Conservation Area Lands Authorized conserved
Conserve Core Habitat 625 68 55 502
for CV fringe -toed lizard
4.3A Whitewater Canyon Conservation Area
Conservation Obiectives. The Conservation Objectives for this .
Conservation Area are:
1. In total, 1,440 acres of the Whitewater Canyon Conservation Area shall be
conserved. (This may be less than the sum of acres indicated in the
following objectives because there can be overlap among areas covered
by the objectives. For example, Core Habitat for two or more species may
overlap, or Core Habitat and an Essential Ecological Process area may
overlap. The individual acreage figures will be used in compliance
monitoring,)
A 000017
3. Conserve at least 850 acres of the sand source area in the San
Bernardino Mountains in the unincorporated portion of the area to
maintain the natural erosion processes that provide sediment for the
blowsand ecosystem.
4. Conserve at least 435 acres in the fluvial (water -borne) sand transport
area in the Riverside County portion of the area- Maintain the current
capacity for fluvial sand transport in the Whitewater River -
Required Measures for the Conservation Area, Tables 4-27a and 4-27b
show how many acres of Existing Conservation Lands are in this Conservation
Area and haw many acres of the Additional Conservation Lands will need to be
conserved through acquisition or other means. The following measures will be
imposed to achieve the Conservation Objectives in this Conservation Area,
1. The existing bridge over the Whitewater River on 1-10 will be maintained
by Caltrans at no less than its current size, with a soft -bottom, to maintain
at least current levels of sand transport and potential wildlife movement
under 1-10.
3- The Permittees shall comply with applicable avoidance, minimization, and
mitigation measures described in Section 4.4 and the Land Use Adjacency
Guidelines as described in Section 4.5.
Table 427b: Conservation and Take Authorization for
Whitewater Canyon Conservation Area —
Riverside County Area
(All acreages are based -on 9996 pre -Planning Agreement information)
Total Acres
Existing
Acres of
Remaining
in
Conservation
Disturbance
Acres to
Conservation
Conservation
`ands
Authorized
he
Objective
Area
Conserved
Conserve sand source
12,616
11,672
94
850
areas
Conserve fluvial sand
1,392
909
48
435
transport areas
Disturbance of no more than 11 acres may occur,
but It would be replaced to ensure that the no net loss
occurs and the Conservation Ob)ective is achieved.
4,3,6 Whitewater Floodplain Conservation Area
Conservation Obiectives. The Conservation Objectives for this
Conservation Area are'
In total, 4,140 acres of the Whitewater Floodplaln Conservation Area shall
be conserved. (This may be less than the sum of acres indicated in the
OOM8
I&M
following objectives because there can be overlap among areas covered
by the objectives. For example, Core Habitat for two or more species may
overlap, or Core Habitat and an Essential Ecological Process area may
overlap. The individual acreage figures will be used in compliance
monitoring.)
2. Conserve Core Habitat and associated ecological processes (as set forth
below) for Coachella Valley milkvetch, Coachella Valley giant sand -treader
cricket, Coachella Valley fringe -toed lizard, Coachella Valley round -tailed
ground squirrel, and Palm Springs pocket mouse, allowing evolutionary
processes and natural population fluctuations to occur. Minimize
fragmentation, human -caused disturbance, and edge effects to Core
Habitat by conserving contiguous Habitat and effective Linkages between
patches of Core Habitat.
c. Conserve at least 2,659 acres of Core Habitat for the Coachella Valley
fringe -toed lizard in the Palm Springs portion of the area, at least 61
acres in the Cathedral City portion of the area, and at least 57 acres in
the unincorporated Riverside County portion of the area.
f. Conserve at least 3,484 acres of the fluvial and aeolian sand transport
area in the Palm Springs portion of the area, at least 61 acres in the
Cathedral City portion of the area, and at least 481 acres in the
unincorporated Riverside County portion of the area. Maintain the
current capacity for fluvial sand transport in the Whitewater River
floodplain.
5. Conserve at least 392 acres of the active desert sand fields in the Palm
Springs portion of the area; at least 43 acres of the active desert sand
fields in the Cathedral City portion of the area; at least 1,185 acres of the
ephemeral desert sand fields in the Palm Springs portion of the area and
at least 52 acres in the unincorporated Riverside County portion of the
area for the conservation of these natural communities; at least 394 acres
of the stabilized and partially stabilized desert sand fields in the Palm
Springs portion of the area and at least 4 acres of the stabilized and
partially stabilized desert sand fields in the unincorporated Riverside
County portion of the area. As these conserved natural communities are
all part of the Core Habitat areas identified in Conservation Objective 2 for
this area, attainment of that objective will also achieve this objective.
6. Maintain functional Biological Corridors and Linkages by conserving at
least 475 acres of identified Biological Corridor in the unincorporated
portion of the Conservation Area, at least 809 acres of identified Biological
Corridor in the City of Palm Springs' portion, and at least 18 acres of
identified Biological Corridor in the City of Cathedral City portion, such that
the functionality of each individual Biological Corridor listed below is not
compromised:
a. Conserve the Whitewater River Biological Corridor south of 1-10 in the
unincorporated area to maintain potential Habitat connectivity for
DDDO�Q
A-9
desert tortoise, Coachella Valley round -tailed ground squirrel, and
Palm Springs pocket mouse, and to maintain ecosystem function for
Covered Species. Aside from the freeway bridge and any Existing Use
areas, which are unavoidably narrow segments, the Biological Corridor
shall expand to one mile wide to minimize edge effects.
b. Conserve the Mission Creek Biological Corridor south of the freeway in
the Palm Springs portion of the Conservation Area to maintain
potential Habitat connectivity for Coachella Valley round -tailed ground
squirrel, and Palm Springs pocket mouse, and to maintain ecosystem
function for Covered Species. Aside from the freeway culvert and any
Existing Use areas, which are unavoidably narrow segments, the
Biological Corridor shall expand to one mile wide to minimize edge
effects.
d. Maintain the ability of wildlife to cross Indian Avenue and Gene Autry
Trail by providing undercrossings for Coachella Valley fringe -toed
lizard, flat -tailed horned lizard, Coachella Valley round -tailed ground
squirrel, and Palm Springs pocket mouse if these roads are widened to
six lanes or more.
Required Measures for the Conservation Area. Tables 4-37a, 4-37b,
and 4-37c show how many acres of Existing Conservation Lands are in this
Conservation Area and how many acres of Additional Conservation Lands will
need to be acquired or otherwise conserved through acquisition or other means.
The following measures will be imposed to achieve the Conservation Objectives
in this Conservation Area.
1. The appropriate Local Permittee for the project will ensure that when
Gene Autry Trail and Indian Avenue are widened to six lanes, or in 2038-
39, whichever comes first, fluvial and aeolian sand transport capacity is
not reduced. Roadway design will facilitate aeolian sand transport. Sand
that accumulates upwind of either road will be deposited on the downwind
side of the road to address potential impacts to aeolian sand transport. At
the same time, the appropriate Local Permittee will also ensure that
wildlife underpasses of sufficient size, to be determined in consultation
with the Wildlife Agencies, are installed to provide for the movement of
Coachella Valley round -tailed ground squirrel, Palm Springs pocket
mouse, Coachella Valley fringe -toed lizard, and other species.
2. In the future, the Salvia Road (Micro Place) and Garnet Avenue Extension
together may create a frontage road on the south side of 1-10 connecting
Indian Avenue and Gene Autry Trail. Where the road would cross Mission
Creek it must provide for fluvial sand transport along Mission Creek.
Additionally, the bridge structure or culvert must provide for the movement
of wildlife under the road.
3. CVWD will deposit sand removed from the groundwater recharge basins
during maintenance operations in the fluvial and aeolian sand transport
A-10 000920
area on available Reserve Lands in a manner that downwind habitat
would receive appreciable inputs of aeolian sand from the deposits, as
determined in consultation with the RMOC. It is understood that CVWD
has a sediment relocation experiment underway and that the results of the
experiment will be considered when they are available.
4. The Permittees shall comply with applicable avoidance, minimization, and
mitigation measures described in Section 4.4 and the Land Use Adjacency
Guidelines as described in Section 4.5.
Table 4-37a: Conservation and Take Authorization for
Whitewater Floodplain Conservation Area —
City of Palm Springs Area
(All acreages are based on 1996 pre -Planning Agreement information.)
Total Acres
in
Existing
Acres of
Remaining
Conservation
Conservation
Conservation
Disturbance
Acres to be
Objective
Area
Lands
Authorized
Conserved
Conserve Core
Habitat for CV fringe-
5,418
2,464
295
2,659
toed lizard
Conserve active
436
0
44
392
desert sand fields
Conserve ephemeral
2,873
1,556
132
1,185
desert sand fields
Conserve stabilized
& partially stabilized
577
139
44
394
desert sand fields
Conserve fluvial &
aeollan sand
6,590
2,719
387
3,484
transport
Conserve Biological
Corridors
1,183
284
90
809
' Includes Whitewater River
at Interstate 10, Mission
Greek, and Willow
Wash Biological Corridors
A-11 000021
Table 4437b: Conservation and Take Authorization for
Whitewater Floodplain Conservation Area —
City of Cathedral City Area
(All acreages are based on 1996 pre -Planning Agreement information)
Total Acres
in
Existing
Acres of
Remaining
Conservation
Conservation
Conservation
Disturbance
Acres to be
Objective
Area
Lands
Authorized
Conserved
Conserve Core Habitat
for CV fringe -toed lizard
107
39
7
61
Conserve active desert
49
1
5
43
sand fields
Conserve fluvial &
107
39
7
61
aeolian sand transport
Conserve Biological
28
8
2
18
Corridors'
Includes Willow Wash Biological
Corridor
Table 4-37c: Conservation and Take Authorization for
Whitewater Floodplain Conservation Area —
Riverside County Area
(All acreages are based on 1996 pre -Planning Agreement information)
Total Acres
in Existing Acres of
Remaining
Conservation Conservation Conservation Disturbance
Acres to be
Objective. Area Lands Authorized
Conserved
Conserve Core
Habitat for CV
92
29
6
57
fringe -toed lizard
Conserve
ephemeral desert
86
28
6
52
sand fields
Conserve stabilized
& partially stabilized
5
0
1
4
desert sand fields
Conserve fluvial &
aeolian sand
707
173
53
481
transport
Conserve Biological
Corridors
701
173
53
475
Includes Whitewater River at Interstate 1a, Mission Creek, and Willow Wash Biological Corridors
A-12 000022
4.3.7 Upper Mission Creek/Big Morongo Canyon Conservation Area
Conservation Obiectives. The Conservation Objectives for this
Conservation Area are:
1. In total, 11,037 acres of the Upper Mission Creek/Big Morongo Canyon
Conservation Area shall be conserved. (This may be less than the sum of
acres indicated in the following objectives because there can be overlap
among areas covered by the objectives. For example, Core Habitat for two
or more species may overlap, or Core Habitat and an Essential Ecological
Process area may overlap. The individual acreage figures will be used in
compliance monitoring.) If through means not under the control of the
Permittees this Conservation Objective cannot be achieved within the
Desert'Hot Springs or Riverside County portions of the Conservation Area,
the acreage not conserved per this Conservation Objective shall be
conserved in or adjacent to this Conservation Area or the Willow Hale,
Whitewater Canyon, or Snow Creek/Windy Point Conservation Areas as
described below for the individual species. The Wildlife Agencies shall
review impacts and conservation pursuant to the requirements above
annually during the Rough Step review. If, as described below, the
maximum impacts are exceeded or the minimum required conservation is
not occurring, coverage for Palm Springs pocket mouse and/or Little San
Bernardino Mountains linanthus shall automatically terminate and the
CVCC and Permittees will be given written notice acknowledging the
termination of coverage for the above -referenced species 30 days prior to
coverage terminating.
2. Conserve Core Habitat and associated ecological processes (as set forth
below) for Little San Bernardino Mountains linanthus, triple -ribbed
milkvetch, desert tortoise, and Palm Springs pocket mouse, allowing
evolutionary processes and natural population fluctuations to occur.
Minimize fragmentation, human -caused disturbance, and edge effects to
Care, Habitat by conserving contiguous Habitat and effective Linkages
between patches of Core Habitat.
e. Conserve at least 6 acres of the sand source areas in the Desert Hot
Springs portion of the area and at least 6,488 acres in the Riverside
County portion subject to natural erosion processes.
f. Conserve at least 1,399 acres of the fluvial sand transport areas in the
Desert Hot Springs portion of the area, at least 22 acres in the Palm
Springs portion, and at least 1,509 acres in the Riverside County
portion. Maintain the current capacity for fluvial sand transport in
Mission Creek and Morongo Wash,
7. Maintain the two bridges on Highway 62 over Mission Creek so as not to
affect the existing sediment transport and Biological Corridor. Maintain
functional Biological Corridors under Highway 62 by conserving at least
A-13
000023
715 acres in the Riverside County portion to maintain potential Habitat
connectivity for desert tortoise and Palm Springs pocket mouse, and to
maintain ecosystem function for Covered Species. Aside from the highway
bridges and any Existing Use areas, which are unavoidably narrow
segments, the Biological Corridor shall expand to one mile wide to
minimize edge effects.
S. Maintain the fluvial sand transport along the existing Mission Creek
Channel.
Required Measures for the Conservation Area. Tables 4-42a, 4-42b,
and 4-42c show how many acres of Existing Conservation Lands are in this
Conservation Area and how many acres of Additional Conservation Lands will
need to be conserved through acquisition or other means for each jurisdiction.
The following measures will be imposed to achieve the Conservation Objectives
in this Conservation Area.
1. Any improvements to Highway 62 by Caltrans will not reduce the size,
openness, and existing natural character of the bridges over Mission
Creek so as not to impede fluvial sand transport and wildlife movement.
S. For proposed Development in Little San Bernardino Mountains linanthus
modeled Habitat, Development in Essential Ecological Process fluvial
sand transport areas shall not obstruct natural watercourses, and the rate
of flow and sediment transport shall not be impeded.
4. The Permittees shall comply with applicable avoidance, minimization, and
mitigation measures described in Section 4.4 and the Land Use Adjacency
Guidelines as described in Section 4.5,
A-th 000021,
Table 4-42a: Conservation for
Upper Mission Creek/Big Morongo Canyon
Conservation Area — City of Desert Hot Springs Area (No
Covered Activities)
(Ali acreages are based on 1996 pre -Planning Agreement information.)
Total Acres Existing Acres Not Remaining
in Conservation Conserved Acres to be
Conservation
Conservation
Lands Conserved
O
Objective
Area'
Conserve sand
source
343 337 6
Areas
Conserve fluvial sand
869 184 1,399
transport areas
Conserve Hwy 62
73 0 66
Biological Corridor
Acreages forthe
Morongo Wash Special Provisions Area are included in this
table. See Table 4-42d for the total and conservation acreages for the Desert Hot
Springs portion of
the Special Provisions Area.
Table 4-42b: Conservation and Take Authorization for
Upper Mission Creek/Big Morongo Canyon
Conservation Area — City of Palm Springs Area
(All acreages are based on 7996 pre -Planning Agreement information)
Conservation
Obiective -
Conserve Fluvial sand
transport
Total Acres in
Conservation
Area
24
Existing
Conservation
Lands
0
Acres of
Disturbance
Authorized
2
Remaining
Acres to
be
Conserved
22
A-15
000925
Table 4-42c: Conservation and Take Authorization for
Upper Mission Creek/Big Morongo Canyon
Conservation Area — Riverside County Area
(All acreages are based on 9996 pre -Planning Agreement information.)
Total Acres in Existing Acres of Remaining
Conservation Conservation Disturbance Acres to
Conservation Areal Lands Authorized be
Objective Conserved
Conserve sand 19,789 12,580 721 6,488
source areas
Conserve fluvial sand 2,279 602 158 1,509
transport areas
Conserve Hwy, 62 907 113 79 715
Biological Corridor
Disturbance of no mare than eight acres may occur, but it would be replaced to ensure that the no net
loss occurs and the conservation Objective is achieved.
2 Acreages for the Morongo Wash Special Provisions Area are included in this table. See Table 4-42e for
the total and conservation acreages for the Riverside County portion of the Special Provisions
Area.
4.3.8 Willow Hole Conservation Area
Conservation Obiectives. The Conservation Objectives for this
Conservation Area are.-
1 In total, 4,920 acres of the Willow Hole Conservation Area shall be
conserved. (This may be less than the sum of acres indicated in the
following objectives because there can be overlap among areas covered
by the objectives. For example, Core Habitat for two or more species may
overlap, or Core Habitat and an Essential Ecological Process area may
overlap. The individual acreage figures will be used in compliance
monitoring.)
2. Conserve Care Habitat and associated ecological processes (as set forth
below) for Coachella Valley milkvetch, Coachella Valley fringe -toed lizard,
Coachella Valley round -tailed ground squirrel, and Palm Springs pocket
mouse, allowing evolutionary processes and natural population
fluctuations to occur. Minimize fragmentation, human -caused disturbance,
and edge effects to Core Habitat by conserving contiguous Habitat
patches and effective Linkages between patches of Core Habitat.
b. Conserve at least 211 acres of Core Habitat for the Coachella Valley
fringe -toed lizard in the Cathedral City portion of the area and at least
454 acres in the Riverside County portion-
s. Conserve at least 710 acres of the sand source area in the Cathedral
City portion of the area and at least 17 acres in the Riverside County
A-16 00002E
portion to maintain the natural erosion processes that provide sediment
for the blowsand ecosystem.
3. Conserve at least 798 acres in the fluvial (water -borne) and aeolian (air-
borne) sand transport area in the Cathedral City portion of the area and at
least 2,734 acres in the Riverside County portion. Maintain the current
capacity for fluvial sand transport in Mission Creek and Morongo Wash for
sand transport to the Willow Hole/Edom Hill Reserve.
4. Conserve at least 319 acres of stabilized & partially stabilized desert
dunes in the Riverside County portion; at least 33 acres of active desert
sand fields in the Cathedral City portion of the area; at least 178 acres of
ephemeral desert sand fields in the Cathedral City portion of the area and
at least 728 acres in the Riverside County portion; at least 51 acres of
stabilized and partially stabilized desert sand fields in the Cathedral City
portion of the area and at least 128 acres in the Riverside County portion;
and at least 152 acres of desert saltbush scrub in the Riverside County
portion of the area to conserve these natural communities.
5. Maintain functional Biological Corridors between this area and the
Whitewater Floodplain Conservation Area by maintaining the culverts
conveying Mission Creek and Willow Wash under 1-10 at no less than their
current size and character. Maintain functional Biological Corridors under
1-10 by conserving at least 397 acres total, such that the functionality of
each individual Biological Corridor listed below is not compromised:
a. Conserve the Mission Creek Biological Corridor north of the freeway to
maintain potential Habitat connectivity for Coachella Valley round -
tailed ground squirrel, and Palm Springs pocket mouse, and to
maintain ecosystem function for Covered Species. Aside from the
freeway culvert and any Existing Use areas, which are unavoidably
narrow segments, the Biological Corridor shall expand to one mile wide
to minimize edge effects.
b. Conserve the Willow Wash area north of the freeway in the
unincorporated county portion to maintain potential Habitat connectivity
for Coachella Valley round -tailed ground squirrel, and Palm Springs
pocket mouse, and to maintain ecosystem function for Covered
Species. Aside from the freeway culverts and any Existing Use areas,
which are unavoidably narrow segments, the Biological Corridor shall
expand to one mile wide to minimize edge effects.
6. Maintain the ability of wildlife to cross Mountain View Road, Varner Road, 18tn
Avenue, and Dillon Road by providing culverts or undercrossings for
Coachella Valley fringe -toed lizard, Coachella Valley giant sand -treader
cricket, Coachella Valley round -tailed ground squirrel, Palm Springs pocket
mouse, and other species if these roads are widened beyond two lanes.
7. Maintain the fluvial sand transport along the existing Mission Creek Channel,
000027
A-17
Required Measures for the Conservation Areas. Tables 4-47a and 4-
47b show how many acres of Existing Conservation Lands are in this
Conservation Area and how many acres of Additional Conservation Lands will
need to be conserved through acquisition or other means. The following
measures will be imposed to achieve the Conservation Objectives in this
Conservation Area.
1. At such time as those portions of Little Morongo Road, Mountain View
Road, Dillon Road, 18rh Avenue, and Varner Road within the Conservation
Area are widened to four or more lanes, the appropriate Local Permittee
for the project will ensure that culverts or undercrossings of adequate size
and design to maintain ecosystem function for Covered Species are
constructed under the road. Widening projects will undergo the Joint
Project Review Process set forth in Section 6.6.1,1 to determine the
dimensions of the culverts or undercrossings based on site specific
conditions and best available science.
Table ¢47a: Conservation and Take Authorization
for Willow Hole
(All acreages are.based on 9996 pre -Planning Agreement information.)
Conservation Objective
Conserve Core Habitat
for CV fringe -toed lizard
Conserve active desert
sand fields
Conserve ephemeral
desert
sand fields,
Conserve stabilized &
partially stabilized desert
dunes
Conserve stabilized &
partially stabilized desert
sand fields
Conserve sand
source areas
Conserve fluvial & aeolian
sand transport areas
Total Acres Existing
in Conservation
Conservation Lands
Area
264
37
227
1
57
833
966
29
0
29
0
0
44
79
Acres of
Remaining
Disturbance
Acres to
Authorized
be
Gonserve__d
24
211
4
33
20 178
0 1
6 51
79 710
89 798
A-18 000028
Table 4-47b: Conservation and Take Authorization for Willow
Hole Conservation Area -- Riverside County Area
(All acreages are based on 1996 pre -Planning Agreement information.)
Total Acres Existing Acres of Remaining
in Conservation Disturbance Acres to
Conservation Objective Conservation Lands Authorized be
Area Conserved
Conserve Core Habitat for
CV fringe -toed lizard
633
128
51
454
Conserve ephemeral desert
sand fields .
906
97
81
728
Conserve stabilized &
partially stabilized' desert
383
29
35
319
dunes
Conserve stabilized &
partially stabilized desert
144
2
14
128
sand fields
Conserve mesquite
125
16
ill
98
Hummocks
Conserve sand source
186
167
2
17
Areas
Conserve fluvial & aeolian
sand transport areas
3,500
462
304
2,734
Conserve Mission Creek (I-
10), Willow Wash Biological
509
68
44
397
Corridors
Pursuant to the avoidance, minimization, and mitigation measures in Section 4.4, mesquite hummocks will
be avoided to the maximum extent Feasible.
2. The appropriate Local Permittee shall maintain existing 36" culverts under
Palm Drive at no less than their current width to provide for movement of
Coachella Valley fringe -toed lizard, Coachella Valley round -tailed ground
squirrel, and Palm Springs pocket mouse.
3. Existing culverts under 1-1 0 for Mission Creek, and Willow Wash will be
maintained by Caltrans at no less than their current size, with soft -bottoms
to maintain the potential for sand transport and biological connectivity.
4. A Conservation to Development ratio of 9:1 shall be maintained within the
portion of the north half of Section 24, T3S R4E that is in the Conservation
Area to maintain the functionality of the fluvial and aeolian sand transport
systems. The Local Permittee(s) shall incorporate feasible design,
orientation, or other criteria in the Implementation Manual. The 9:1 criteria
would not apply to single-family homes, emergency response activities, or
any non-commercial accessory uses and structures including but not
limited to second units on an existing legal lot. If it appears that the ratio
may not be maintained, the appropriate Local Permittee(s) will meet with
the Wildlife Agencies and identify additional means or alternative methods
A-19 00002E
that will be implemented to achieve these goals and objectives, including
an accelerated acquisition program and/or Development standards to
maintain fluvial sand transport. The requirements for Development in
floodplains also help ensure that sand transport capacity is maintained.
(See Figure 4-13f.) Special Site Planning Standards apply in this area,
and with a Rural Residential general plan land use designation as of June
2004. To implement these standards the Board of Supervisors must
approve an overlay zone. The standards are described below.
5. A Conservation to Development ratio of 9:1 shall be maintained within the
north half of Section 19, T3S RSE; within the portion of the south half of
the northwest quarter of Section 20, T3S R5E that is in the Conservation
Area; and within a portion of the northwest quarter of Section 29, T3S
R5E; to maintain the functionality of the fluvial and aeolian sand transport
systems: The Local Permittee(s) shall incorporate feasible design,
orientation, or other criteria in the Implementation Manual. The 9:1 criteria
would not apply to single-family homes, emergency response activities, or
any non-commercial accessory uses and structures including but not
limited to second units on an existing legal lot. If it appears that the ratio
may not be maintained, the appropriate Local Permittee(s) will meet with
the Wildlife Agencies and identify additional means or alternative methods
that will be implemented to achieve these goals and objectives, including
an, accelerated acquisition program and/or Development standards to
maintain fluvial and aeolian sand transport. The requirements for
Development infloodplains also help ensure that sand transport capacity
is maintained. (See Figure 4-13f.) Special Site Planning Standards apply
in this area, and with a Rural Residential general plan land use
designation as of June 2004. To implement these standards the Board of
Supervisors must approve an overlay zone. The standards are described
below.
6. A Conservation to Development ratio of 9:1 shall be maintained within the
south half of the south half of Section 28, T3S R5E to maintain the
functionality of the aeolian sand transport system and the Biological
Corridor. The Local Permittee(s) shall incorporate feasible design,
orientation, or other criteria in the Implementation Manual. The 9:1 criteria
would not apply to single-family homes, emergency response activities, or
any non-commercial accessory uses and structures including but not
limited to second units on an existing legal lot. If it appears that the ratio
may not be maintained, the appropriate Local Permittee(s) will meet with
the Wildlife Agencies and identify additional means or alternative methods
that will be implemented to achieve these goals and objectives, including
an accelerated acquisition program and/or Development standards to
maintain aeolian sand transport capacity and Development standards to
restrict fencing that would impede wildlife movement. (See Figure 4-13f.)
Special Site Planning Standards apply in this area, and with a Rural
Residential general plan land use designation as of June 2004- To
aaoa�a
A-20
implement these standards the Board of Supervisors must approve an
overlay zone. The standards are described below.
7. The Permittees shall comply with applicable avoidance, minimization, and
mitigation measures described in Section 4.4 and the Land Use Adjacency
Guidelines as described in Section 4.5.
S. For construction of a frontage road north of and parallel to 1-10, the
appropriate Local Permittee shall ensure that project design provides for
fluvial sand transport along Salvia, Edom, and Willow Washes to allow
sand to be transported under 1-10. Additionally, any future bridge structure
over Willow Wash must provide for the movement of the Coachella Valley
round -tailed ground squirrel under the road.
9. The' appropriate Local Permittee for any Development or flood control
structures along Long Canyon Wash south of Varner Road in the
Conservation Area will ensure that the project does not impede fluvial and
aeolian sand transport along the wash to provide sand to the Stebbins'
dune area.
11. The portion of Section 3, T4S R5E, in the Conservation Area is a Special
Provisions area as follows,
a. Take Authorization is provided for Development in the area depicted in
Figure 4-13g. This Take Authorization becomes effective only upon the
permanent Conservation of the area depicted in Figure 4-13g for
Conservation.
b. The Local Development Mitigation Fee will not be assessed in the
Take Authorization area delineated in Figure 4-13g.
c. At, such time as the Take Authorization becomes effective, the
Conservation Objectives for affected species, conserved natural
communities, and ecological processes shall be adjusted to reflect the
Tgke Authorjzation and Conservation in Section 2 provided through
this measure. The: Take Authorization does not count against the acres
of Take/disturbance identified in the Plan prior to the implementation of
these Special Provisions
12. At such time as those portions of Long Canyon Channel within the Willow
Hale Conservation Area are built, the appropriate Local Permittee for the
project will design the facility to maintain the current sand transport
process for the Conservation Area. The appropriate Local Permittee for
the project will initiate a Joint Project Review Process set forth in Section
6.6.1.1 to maintain the current sand transport process for the Willow Hole
Conservation Area.
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000031
4.3.9 Long Canyon Conservation Area
Conservation Obiectives. The Conservation Objective for this
Conservation Area is-
1 Maintain the fluvial (water -borne) transport of sediment through the Long
Canyon floodplain area. Maintain the current capacity for fluvial sand
transport in Long Canyon wash.
4.3.10 Edam Hill Conservation Area
Conservation Obiectives, The Conservation Objectives for this
Conservation Area are. -
In total, 3,060 acres of the Edom Hill Conservation Area shall be
conserved. (This may be less than the sum of acres indicated in the
following objectives because there can be overlap among areas covered
by the objectives. For example, Core Habitat for two or more species may
overlap, or Core Habitat and an Essential Ecological Process area may
overlap. The individual acreage figures will be used in compliance
monitoring.)
2. To maintain connectivity„ conserve the Other Conserved Habitat patches
for the Coachella Valley milkvetch, Coachella Valley giant sand -treader
cricket, Coachella Valley fringe -toed lizard, Coachella Valley round -tailed
ground squirrel, and Palm Springs pocket mouse between the Thousand
Palms Conservation Area and the Willow Hole Conservation Area.
Maintain the Other Conserved Habitat patches, allowing evolutionary
processes and natural population fluctuations to occur. Minimize
fragmentation, human -caused disturbance, and edge effects to the Habitat
by conserving effective Linkages between patches of Core Habitat.
3, Conserve ecological processes (as set forth below) for the Willow Hole
Conservation Area and the Thousand Palms Conservation Area.
a. Conserve at least 310 acres of the sand source area for the Willow
Hole Conservation Area in the Cathedral City portion of the area and at
least 1,770 acres in the Riverside County portion to maintain the
natural erosion processes that provide sediment for the blowsand
ecosystem.
b. Conserve at least 565 acres in the fluvial sand transport area in the
Riverside County portion of the area for the Willow Hale Conservation
Area. Maintain the current capacity for fluvial sand transport in the
washes emanating from the Indio Hills that carry sand to the Willow
Hole Conservation Area.
c. Conserve that portion of the sand source area for the Thousand Palms
Conservation Area in the Riverside County portion of the Conservation
A-22 .. 000032
Area to maintain the natural erosion processes that provide sediment
for the blowsand ecosystem.
6. Conserve at least 3 acres of the stabilized and partially stabilized desert
sand_ fields, and at least 37 acres of active desert sand fields in the
Riverside County portion of the area to ensure the conservation of these
conserved natural communities.
Reauired Measures for the Conservation Area. Tables 4-56a and 4-561b
show how many acres of Existing Conservation Lands are in this Conservation
Area and how many acres of Additional Conservation Lands will need to be
conserved through acquisition or other means. The following measures will be
imposed to achieve the Conservation Objectives in this Conservation Area.
f . In its activities on the Edam Hill Landfill well parcel, County Waste will not
significantly reduce fluvial sand transport along the wash that crosses the
parcel and will not fence the property in a manner that prevents wildlife
movement across the parcel.
2. The Permittees shall comply with applicable avoidance, minimization, and
mitigation measures described in Section 4A and the Land Use Adjacency
Guidelines as described in Section 4.5.
Table 4-56a: Conservation and Take Authorization for
Edom Hill Conservation Area - City of Cathedral City Area
(All acreages are based on 1996 pre -Planning Agreement information.)
Total Acres in
Existing
Acres of
Remaining
Conservation
Conservation
Conservation
Disturbance
Acres to
be
Objective
Area
Lands
Authorized
Conserved
Conserve sand source
345
0
35
310
areas
A_23 000033
Table 4456b: Conservation and Take Authorization for
Edom Hill Conservation Area - Riverside County Area
(All acreages are based on 1996 pre -Planning Agreement information.)
Total Acres in
Existing
Acres of
Remaining
Conservation
Disturbance
Acres to be
Conservation
Conservation
Lands
Authorized
Conserved
Objective
Area
Conserve Other Cons.
Habitat for CV fringe-
103
58
5
40
toed lizard
Conserve active desert
73
32
4
37
sand fields
Conserve stabilized &
partially stabilized
29
25
1
3
desert sand fields
Conserve sand source
2,665
698
197
1,770
areas
Conserve fluvial'sand
628
0
63
565
transport areas
4.3.11 Thousand Palms Conservation Area
Conservation Objectives. The Conservation Objectives for this
Conservation Area are:
1. In total, 8,040 additional acres of the Thousand Palms Conservation Area
shall be conserved. (This may be less than the sum of acres indicated in
the following objectives because there can be overlap among areas
covered by the objectives. For example, Core Habitat for two or more
species may overlap, or Core Habitat and an Essential Ecological Process
area may overlap. The individual acreage figures will be used in
compliance monitoring.)
2. Conserve Core Habitat and associated ecological processes (as set forth
below) for Coachella Valley milkvetch, Mecca aster, Coachella Valley
giant sand -treader cricket, Coachella Valley fringe -toed lizard, flat -tailed
horned lizard, Coachella Valley round -tailed ground squirrel, and Palm
Springs pocket mouse, allowing evolutionary processes and natural
population fluctuations to occur. Minimize fragmentation, human -caused
disturbance, and edge' effects to Core Habitat by conserving contiguous
Habitat patches and effective Linkages between patches of Core Habitat.
This will also help maintain connectivity with Habitat at Willow Hole
through the Edom Hill Conservation Area.
A-24 000034
d. Conserve at least 818 acres of Core Habitat for the Coachella Valley
fringe -toed lizard.
h. Conserve at least 3,712 acres of the sand source area to maintain the
natural erosion processes that provide sediment for the blowsand
ecosystem. This also maintains Linkages for wildlife to the Edom Hill
Conservation Area.
i. Conserve at least 4,206 acres in the fluvial and aeolian sand transport
area to maintain the sand transport system. Maintain the current
capacity for fluvial sand transport in the washes emanating from the
Indio' Hills that provide sand for the Thousand Palms Conservation
Area. This also maintains Linkages for wildlife to the Edom Hill
Conservation Area.
7. Conserve at least 14 acres of active desert dunes and at least 804 acres
of active desert 'sand fields to provide for the Conservation of these
conserved natural communities. This goal will be attained through
attaining Goal 2 for the species that inhabit these conserved natural
communities.
9. Maintain the ability of wildlife to cross Ramon Road, Washington Street,
and Thousand Palms Canyon Road by providing undercrossings for
Coachella Valley fringe -toed lizard, flat -tailed horned lizard, Coachella
Valley round -tailed ground squirrel, and Palm Springs pocket mouse if
these roads are widened. These undercrossings should also provide for
seed dispersal.
Reauired Measures for the Conservation Area, Table 4-61 shows how
many acres of Existing Conservation Lands are in this Conservation Area and
how many acres of Additional Conservation Lands will need to be conserved
through acquisition or other means. The following measures will be imposed to
achieve the Conservation Objectives in this Conservation Area-
1. The planned Whitewater Flood Control Project in this area consists of a
series of levees to, provide flood protection for the Thousand Palms
community and I710 areas. A Section 7 consultation has been completed
on this project and a No Jeopardy determination made through the
Biological Opinion. The approved project's levees would define the
southern edge of this Conservation Area. Final project design has not
been completed, so the precise alignment has not been determined. The
final alignment may cause a minor adjustment of the Conservation Area
boundary such that the levees will not be in the Conservation Area, but will
define the edge of the area. The project includes the protection of a 550
acre floodway within the Conservation Area. The levee system will help
direct fluvial -borne sand into the depositional area where aeolian sand
transport processes will sort and transport sand downwind. O&M of the
levees will be in conformance with an 0&M Manual to be developed with
the 'U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in consultation with the Wildlife
a25 DOt��35 I
Agencies. Take associated with operation and maintenance by CVWD can
be authorized pursuant to a Minor Amendment with Wildlife Agency
concurrence. ,
2. If Ramon Road, Washington Street, and Thousand Palms Canyon Road
are widened to four lanes or more, the County will install wildlife
undercrossings for Coachella Valley fringe -toed lizard, flat -tailed horned
lizard, Coachella Valley round -tailed ground squirrel, Palm Springs pocket
mouse, and other species. Widening projects will undergo the Joint
Project Review Process set forth in Section 6.6.1.1 to determine the
dimensions of the culverts or undercrossings based on site -specific
conditions and best available science.
3. Special Site Planning Standards apply in those portions of Sections 7 and
8, T4S R6E, located in the Conservation Area and with a Rural Residential
and Light Industrial general plan land use designation as of June 2004 It
is estimated that the implementation of the standards would conserve over
80% of the vacant parcels as of June 2004. To implement these
standards the Board of Supervisors must approve an overlay zone. The
standards are described below.
Site Planning Standard 1: Development on the property shall not impede
water -borne sand transport across the parcel in its natural direction of
flow.,A drainage plan for the site shall be required and demonstrate that
natural flows onto the parcel shall be conveyed offsite in the natural pre -
disturbance direction of flow. Water -borne sediments shall not be
artificially retained onsite.
Site Planning Standard 2: Development shall be limited to 50% of the
parcel for parcels smaller than 4 acres in size. Development shall be
limited to 2 acres on parcels 4 acres or larger in size. The portion of each
parcel that is not Developed shall be permanently conserved as natural
open space through conveyance of fee title or conservation easement, or
through deed restriction prior to issuance of any grading permit. The
owner will be compensated by CVCC for the market value of the portion of
the parcel required to be conserved. The Local Permittee(s) shall
incorporate feasible design, orientation, or other criteria in the
Implementation Manual. The portion of the site to be conserved shall be
determined consistent with attainment of Site Planning Standard 1 and the
maximization of aeolian sand transport relative to adjacent parcels to the
extent Feasible. This portion of the property shall not be fenced.
Site Planning Standard 3: Onsite driveways shall be at grade, without
gutters, curbs, berms, or other elevated areas that may impede or divert
the passage of water -borne or wind-borne sand.
4. CVCC•shall continue the acquisition of vacant parcels in those portions of
Sections 7 and 8, T4S R6E, located in the Conservation Area at market
value from willing sellers as a high priority so long as vacant parcels
remain.' CVCC shall maintain $500,000 available at all times for
A26 000936
acquisitions in Sections 7 and 8 until all vacant land has been acquired or
Developed consistent with the Conservation Objectives and required
measures.
5. CVCC and the County shall develop and implement a land exchange
program within Sections 7 and 8, T4S R6E, which will maximize
attainment of the Conservation Objectives by encouraging Development to
occur in the least sensitive portions of the sections or outside the
Conservation Area. CVCC and the County shall consult with the Wildlife
Agencies and ISAs to determine the least sensitive portions of the area
and the highest priority parcels for Conservation. As appropriate, the land
exchange program will include incentives to encourage landowners to
exchange parcels with high priority for Conservation for parcels in the
least sensitive portions of the sections or outside the Conservation Area,
6. A Conservation -to Development ratio of 9:1 shall be maintained within
Section'21, T4S R6E, south of Ramon Road to maintain the functionality
of the fluvial and aeolian sand transport systems. The Local Permittee(s)
shall incorporate feasible design, orientation, or other criteria in the
Implementation Manual. The 9:1 criteria would not apply to single-family
homes, emergency response activities, or any non-commercial accessory
uses and structures including but not limited to second units on an existing
legal lot. If it appears that the ratio may not be maintained, the appropriate
Local Permittee(s) will meet with the Wildlife Agencies and identify
additional means or alternative methods that will be implemented to
achieve these objectives, including an accelerated acquisition program
and%or, Development standards to maintain fluvial and aeolian sand
transport. The requirements for Development in floodplains also help
ensure that sand transport capacity is maintained. See Figure 4-16f,
Special Site Planning Standards apply in this area located in -the
Conservation Area and with a Rural Residential and Light Industrial
general plan land use designation as of June 2004. To implement these
standards the Board of Supervisors must approve an overlay zone. The
standards are described below.
7. The alignment for Rio Del Sol from approximately Vista Chino to 201"
Avenue'in this Conservation Area identified in the Circulation Element of
the Riverside County General Plan could create significant Habitat
fragmentation, impact fluvial sand transport, and disrupt a Biological
Corridor. Therefore, construction of Rio Del Sol through the Conservation
Area from approximately Vista Chino to 20'h Avenue would require a Major
Amendment to the Plan.
8. The alignment for 22"d Avenue from Rio Del Sol to Sky Ridge in this
Conservation Area identified in the Circulation Element of the Riverside
County' General Plan could create significant Habitat fragmentation,
impact fluvial sand transport, and disrupt a Linkage between Conservation
Areas. Therefore, construction of 22"d Avenue through the Conservation
A.27 000037
Area from Rio Del Sol to Sky Ridge would require a Major Amendment to
the Plan.
9. If an extension of Chase School Road is constructed in the future,
Riverside County will realign the proposed extension of Chase School
Road, also known as Chocktaw Rd. and Vista del Pajaro, to an alignment
outside the Conservation Area.
10, The Permittees shall comply with applicable avoidance, minimization, and
mitigation measures described in Section 4A and the Land Use Adjacency
Guidelines as described in Section 4.5,
11. If the Monitoring Program for the Conservation Area indicates that bird
predation of Coachella Valley fringe -toed lizards or flat -tailed horned
lizards is a problem because of the use of IID overhead power lines and
poles, IID will consult with the Reserve Unit Management Committee to
identify appropriate Adaptive Management measures for it to implement.
Table 4-61: Conservation and Take Authorization
for Thousand Palms Conservation Area
(All acreages are based on 1996 pre -Planning Agreement information.)
Total Acres Acres of Remaining
'' in .Existing Acres of Acres to
Conservation Conservation Disturbance be
Conservation Objective Area Lands Authorized Conserved
Conserve Core Habitat 3,962 3,053 91 818
for CV fringe -toed lizard
Conserve active desert 421 405 2 14
dunes
Conserve active desert 3,543 2,650 89 804
sand fields
Conserve mesquite 58 58 0 0
hummocks
Conserve sand source 13,056 8,932 412 3,712
areas
Conserve fluvial & aeolian 12,550 7,877 467' 4,206
sand transport areas
Conserve Linkages 25,607 16,808 880' 7,919
Of this Authorized Take, 147 acres can be used only in Section 8, T45 P.6E. The acres o disturbance
authorized were calculated using private land in 1996 in the Thousand Palms Conservation Area and do
not include the 147 acres of disturbance authorized for Section B. Therefore, to obtain the total authorized
disturbance for the Thousand Palms Conservation Area for these species, the 147 acres of disturbance
authorized for Section 8 should be added
A-28
4.3.12 West Deception Canyon Conservation Area
Conservation Objectives, The Conservation Objectives for this
Conservation Area are:
1. Conserve at least 1,063 acres of the sand source area to maintain the natural
erosion processes that provide sediment for the blowsand ecosystem.
2. Maintain the current capacity for fluvial sand transport in the West Deception
Canyon fluvial sand transport system.
Reuuired Measures for the Conservation Area. Table 4-66 shows how
many acres of Existing Conservation Lands are in this Conservation Area and
haw many acres of Additional Conservation Lands will need to be conserved
through acquisition or other means. The following measures will be imposed to
achieve the Conservation Objectives in this Conservation Area.
1. Development requirements imposed in floodplains will ensure that sand
transport capacity is maintained.
2. If flood control structures are built in the West Deception Canyon
Conservation Area, the appropriate Local Permittee for the project will
ensure'fhat such structures avoid adverse impacts to the sand transport
process for the Thousand Palms Conservation Area. A Major Plan
Amendment will be required for such flood control structures, unless such
a flood control structure is determined to be beneficial to the sand
transport process. In that instance, a Minor Amendment to the Plan can be
approved with Wildlife Agency concurrence.
4.3.13 Indio Hills/Joshua Tree National Park Linkage Conservation Area
Conservation Obiectives. The Conservation Objectives for this
Conservation Area are:
1. In total, 10,530 acres of the India Hills/Joshua Tree National Park Linkage
Conservation Area shall be conserved. (This may be less than the sum of
acres indicated in the following objectives because there can be overlap
among areas covered by the objectives. For example, Core Habitat for two
or more species may overlap, or Core Habitat and an Essential Ecological
Process area may overlap. The individual acreage figures will be used in
compliance monitoring.)
2. Conserve ecological processes for the Thousand Palms Conservation
Area that occur in the Indio Hills/Joshua Tree National Park Linkage
A-29 000039
Conservation Area and Core Habitat for the desert tortoise as set forth
below:
In, Conserve at least 4,135 acres of the sand source area to maintain the
natural erosion processes that provide sediment for the blowsand
ecosystem.
c. Conserve at least 6,132 acres in the fluvial sand transport area.
Maintain the current capacity for fluvial sand transport in the washes
emanating from the Little San Bernardino Mountains that flow into
Thousand Palms Canyon.
Required Measures for the Conservation Area, Table 4-71 shows how
many acres of Existing Conservation Lands are in this Conservation Area and
how many acres of Additional Conservation Lands will need to be conserved
through acquisition or other means. The following measures will be imposed to
achieve the Conservation Objectives in this Conservation Area,
2, A Conservation to Development ratio of 9:1 shall be maintained within
Section 30, T3S R7E to maintain the functionality of the fluvial sand
transport systems. The Local Permittee(s) shall incorporate feasible
design, orientation, or other criteria in the Implementation Manual. If it
appears that the ratio may not be maintained, the appropriate Local
Permittee(s) will meet with the Wildlife Agencies and identify additional
means or alternative methods that will be implemented to achieve these
goals and objectives, including an accelerated acquisition program and/or
Development standards to maintain fluvial sand transport. The
requirements for Development in floodplains also help ensure that sand
transport capacity is maintained (See Figure 4-18f).
Table 4-71, Conservation and Take Authorization for
Indio Hills/Joshua Tree National Park linkage Conservation Area
(All acreages are based on 1996 pre -Planning Agreement information)
Total Acres
in
Conservation Objective
Conservation
Area
Conserve sand source
5,823
areas
Conserve fluvial sand
7,304
transport areas
Existing
Conservation
Lands
1,228
491
Acres of
Remaining
Disturbance
Acres to
Authorized
be
Conserved
460
4,135
681 6,132
A-30
000040
4.3.15 Fast Indio Hills Conservation Area
Conservation Obiectives. The Conservation Objectives for this
Conservation Area are-
3 Conserve at least 4 acres of active desert dunes in the Riverside County
portion; at least 295 acres of stabilized and partially stabilized desert sand
fields in the Riverside County portion of the area; at least 100 acres of
stabilized shielded desert sand fields in the City of Indio portion of the area
and at least 256 acres in the Riverside County portion; at least 2 acres of
mesquite hummocks in the City of Indio portion of the area and at least 39
acres in the Riverside County portion, and at least 7 acres of desert
saltbush scrub in the Riverside County portion of the area to conserve
these natural communities. Conservation of natural communities in the
City of Indio is subject to the conditions in measure 1 of the Required
Measures for the Conservation Area section below.
4.3.16 Joshua Tree National Park Conservation Area
Conservation Obiectives. The Conservation Objectives for this
Conservation Area are.
2. Conserve Core Habitat for desert tortoise, potential Habitat for gray vireo,
and ecological processes for the Joshua Tree National Park Conservation
Area (as set forth below), allowing evolutionary processes and natural
population fluctuations to occur. Minimize fragmentation, human -caused
disturbance, and edge effects to Core Habitat by conserving contiguous
Habitat patches and effective Linkages between patches of Core Habitat.
d. Maintain the current capacity for fluvial sand transport in the washes
emanating from the Little San Bernardino Mountains that provide sand
for the Thousand Palms Conservation Area.
Avoidance'and Minimization Measure
Fluvial Sand Transport. Activities, including 0&M of facilities and
construction of permitted new projects, in fluvial sand transport areas in the
Cabazon, Stubbe and Cottonwood Canyons, Snow Creek/Windy Point,
Whitewater Canyon, Whitewater Floodplain, Upper Mission Creek/Big Morongo
Canyon, Mission Creek/Morongo Wash, Willow Hole, Long Canyon, Fdom Hill,
Thousand Palms, West Deception Canyon, and Indio Hills/Joshua Tree National
Park Linkage Conservation Areas will be conducted in a manner to maintain the
fluvial sand transport capacity of the system.
A-31 000041