Ten million acres of public land in California deserts are under a new management blueprint with the U.S. Department of the Interior’s approval of the Record of Decision for the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP) in September. The new landscape-level plan being implemented includes designation of use zones and management directives for renewable energy,
California is home to countless historic places, some dating back more than a century, and many of which carry no official historic designation. Historic designation on local, state or national registers offers a variety of benefits to property owners and communities, including the formal recognition of a property’s historical or architectural significance, the promotion and
Restoring California fish habitat is crucial to maintain native fish species as anadromous and other native fish populations decline in California rivers and streams. Drought conditions have exacerbated competition for dwindling water resources, increased aquatic habitat degradation, and contributed to invasions of non-native fish species. Fish and other aquatic species require specific habitat for all
In-lieu fee (ILF) programs present a desirable option to both project permittees and local resource conservation districts (RCD) for offsetting wetland impacts. An ILF program matches the permittee’s compensatory mitigation need with an RCD’s charter to be the on-the-ground leader for conservation efforts in their local community. In-Lieu Fee Program Advantages An ILF program can
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) analyses could become more involved under the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (CDFW) proposed changes to its existing regulations protecting the nests of birds of prey and California native birds. Changes to the California Fish and Game Code (FGC) regulations would formalize the interpretations that the CDFW has traditionally
Volunteer habitat rehabilitation efforts in drought-stricken Southern California have proven helpful in recovering butterfly populations threatened by weeds, which have crowded out butterfly host plants. Host plant re-establishment represents just one aspect of full habitat restoration, but without preservation efforts on the Palos Verdes Peninsula (Peninsula), extinction of two rare subspecies of blue butterflies—the El
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) issued updated survey protocol guidelines for listed fairy shrimp in California and southern Oregon on June 25. The guidelines divide California into Zones A, B and C (see map below) for surveying protocol purposes. Protocol Guidelines Brock Ortega, a Dudek biology practice lead and long-time permit holder, offers
Ineffective excavation of and construction on cultural resource sites can cost a project time and money. Successful efforts by the Carpinteria Sanitary District (CSD) and South Orange County Wastewater Authority (SOCWA) highlight the benefits of replacing traditional excavation methods with geoprobes to achieve more accurate, cost-efficient evaluation of cultural resource sites. Assessment of archaeological resources
“Project owners with pending permitting and habitat mitigation programs need to plan for potential setbacks if California’s extended dry weather continues,” said Michael Sweesy, Dudek senior habitat restoration expert. “California had its worst drought conditions in 90 years between January and May last year, and the first seasonal snow survey in early January of this
A multiple species habitat conservation plan recently approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) allows for development of California’s largest contiguous expanse of private land, Tejon Ranch, while protecting the California condor, golden eagle, and 23 other rare species. Founded in 1843, Tejon Ranch comprises 270,000 acres, largely within Kern County, and provides
