Purpose
This plan is being created as a practical, science-based conservation approach to protect and contribute to the recovery of sensitive species within the Planning Area, while providing for continued economic growth and prosperity for land owners, agricultural operators, businesses, and residents.
The Multiple Species Conservation Program (MSCP) is a strong commitment to the environment; it balances habitat conservation with the County?s responsibility to meet housing, recreation and economic development needs. The North County MSCP is the second of three parts of the County?s MSCP.
Background
The impetus for the plan is rooted in two unique aspects of San Diego County - high biological diversity and rapid urban growth. San Diego County has more rare, threatened, and endangered species than any comparable land area in the continental United States . On a national and global scale, the region has been identified as a major "hot spot" for biodiversity and species endangerment in scientific journals. San Diego County is also one of the most rapidly growing regions of the country.
The traditional project-by-project mitigation process for resolving conflicts between species preservation and impacts of development is costly, cumbersome and, moreover, results in the ineffective conservation of isolated habitat fragments. The approach of the MSCP is based on the tenets of biological preserve design and guides project-specific mitigation to those areas most critical to maintenance of ecosystem function and species viability.
This Plan will serve as a multiple species Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) pursuant to Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA), as well as a Natural Community Conservation Plan (NCCP) under the California NCCP Act. The Plan has been submitted to Wildlife Agencies in support of applications for permits and authorizations for incidental "take" of listed, threatened or endangered species or other species of concern. The County will be issued an incidental take permit for species that are found to be "covered" by implementation of the plan. The County, as "take authorization holder," may share the benefits of that authorization by using it to permit public or private projects, referred to as Third Party Beneficiaries, that comply with the plan.
Study Area Description
The total study area for the Plan encompasses 311,890 acres in and around the unincorporated communities of Bonsall, De Luz, Fallbrook, Harmony Grove, Rancho Santa Fe, Lilac, Pala, Pauma Valley , Rainbow, Ramona, Rincon Springs, Twin Oaks Valley , and Valley Center . This study area has been further distilled into a Planning Area which excludes tribal lands, Forest Service lands, and most water district lands. Of the 280,459-acre Planning Area where the conservation measures will apply, approximately 17% is urbanized and 28% is in agriculture (excluding grazing lands). The remaining 55% of the Planning Area consists of natural lands.
Most of the inland areas are made up of chaparral or oak woodland vegetation. Coastal areas contain more sensitive habitats such as coastal sage scrub and southern maritime chaparral. There are several large river systems running east-west that contain extensive riparian woodlands and forests, such as the San Luis Rey River, Santa Margarita River, and Escondido Creek.
Conservation Planning
To plan the North County MSCP a regional vegetation map and several species databases were utilized. The County convened a group of independent science advisors to oversee the planning process and recommend sound conservation biology planning principles. The County also used several GIS-based computer models to compile existing biological data and design an efficient and effective preserve network for 63 species. A list of species anticipated to be covered by this plan is in the North County MSCP Biology Page. The preserve network incorporated existing open space lands. The current draft preserve network is shown in the North County MSCP Map Page. A standard of no net loss of wetland functions and values is acknowledged in this plan.
There are also several specific issues that were addressed during conservation planning. One of these was the need to expand State Route 76 west of Interstate 15 and along the San Luis Rey River. A second issue is the conservation of vernal pools in Ramona. The last issue is the extensive agricultural industry in north San Diego County and the potential role of agricultural lands in wildlife conservation.
Last updated: June 2008
