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VOLUME I � SECTION 7 June 17, 2003

FINAL MSHCP 7-1

SECTION 7.0

COVERED ACTIVITIES/ALLOWABLE USES

7.1 COVERED ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE CRITERIA AREA AND

PQP LANDS

Public and private Development, including construction of buildings, structures, infrastructure and

all alterations of the land, that are carried out by Permittees, Participatory Special Entities, Third

Parties Granted Take Authorization and others within the Plan Area, that are outside of the Criteria

Area and PQP Lands are permitted under the Plan, subject to consistency with MSHCP policies that

apply outside the Criteria Area (such as policies related to Riparian and Riverine Areas and Vernal

Pools, Narrow Endemic Plant Species, Additional Survey Needs and Procedures, and Funding/Fee

Issues).

7.2 COVERED ACTIVITIES WITHIN EXISTING PUBLIC/QUASI-

PUBLIC LANDS

The following is a discussion of Covered Activities within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands.

Some of these activities may be proposed on federal lands, or may involve federal agency approvals

(i.e., have a federal “nexus”). To the extent that these Covered Activities that involve a federal

nexus are determined to affect federally listed species and as such require a Section 7 consultation

with the USFWS under FESA, Incidental Take of listed species would occur through the Section 7

process, not through the MSHCP, however, the USFWS Obligations and Assurances provided for

in Section 14.9 of the Implementing Agreement would apply.

7.2.1 Existing Roads Within Existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands

There are many existing roadways within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands, including interstates,

freeways, State highways, city and county maintained roadways, as well as local roads, which are

not city, or county maintained that provide property access. This latter category of other maintained

roadways are generally maintained by the adjacent property owners, either individually or

collectively. Table 7-1 provides an estimate summarizing the extent of these various types of

existing roadways which are permitted to remain within Public/Quasi-Public Lands.

7.0 Covered Activities/Allowable Uses


FINAL MSHCP 7-2

TABLE 7-1

EXISTING ROADS WITHIN PUBLIC/QUASI-PUBLIC LANDS

Area Plan Facility Type

Length (Miles)*

Public/Quasi Public

Eastvale Interstate & Freeways 0.6

State Highways 0.0

County Maintained - Paved 1.8

County Maintained - Unpaved 0.0

CSA/CSD Maintained 0.0

City Maintained 0.0

Subtotal 0.6

Roadways Maintained by Others** 0.8

Area Plan Total 1.4

Jurupa Interstate & Freeways 0.5

State Highways 0.0




City Maintained 0.0

Subtotal 0.5


Area Plan Total 0.8

Temescal Canyon Interstate & Freeways 1.0

State Highways 1.6




City Maintained 3.9

Subtotal 9.4


Area Plan Total 10.0

TABLE 7-1 (Continued)




Length (Miles)*

Public/Quasi Public


FINAL MSHCP 7-3

Elsinore Interstate & Freeways 0.0

State Highways 1.7




City Maintained 4.7

Subtotal 4.9



Southwest Interstate & Freeways 0.0

State Highways 0.0




City Maintained 1.9

Subtotal 46.1



Sun City/Menifee Interstate & Freeways 0.0

State Highways 0.0




City Maintained 0.0

Subtotal 0.0


Area Plan Total 0.3





Length (Miles)*

Public/Quasi Public


FINAL MSHCP 7-4

Lake Mathews/Woodcrest Interstate & Freeways 0.0

State Highways 0.0




City Maintained 0.0

Subtotal 3.2



Mead Valley Interstate & Freeways 0.0

State Highways 0.0




City Maintained 7.5

Subtotal 9.2


Area Plan Total 9.4

Highgrove Interstate & Freeways 0.0

State Highways 0.0




City Maintained 0.0

Subtotal 0.0


Area Plan Total 0.0





Length (Miles)*

Public/Quasi Public


FINAL MSHCP 7-5

Harvest Valley/Winchester Interstate & Freeways 0.0

State Highways 0.0




City Maintained 0.0

Subtotal 0.4


Area Plan Total 5.1

Reche Canyon/Badlands Interstate & Freeways 0.0

State Highways 0.0




City Maintained 13.1

Subtotal 13.6



Lakeview/Nuevo Interstate & Freeways 0.0

State Highways 0.0




City Maintained 0.0

Subtotal 0.0


Area Plan Total 3.4





Length (Miles)*

Public/Quasi Public


FINAL MSHCP 7-6

San Jacinto Valley Interstate & Freeways 0.0

State Highways 0.0




City Maintained 5.5

Subtotal 5.8



The Pass Interstate & Freeways 0.0

State Highways 0.0




City Maintained 0.2

Subtotal 4.8


Area Plan Total 9.0

Riverside Extended Mountain Interstate & Freeways 4.9

State Highways 1.3




City Maintained 3.8

Subtotal 10.0







Length (Miles)*

Public/Quasi Public


FINAL MSHCP 7-7

Cities of Riverside and Norco Interstate & Freeways 0.0

State Highways 0.0

County Maintained - (Bridges in the Santa Ana River) 1.5



City Maintained 0.0

Subtotal 1.5


Area Plan Total 1.5

* Totals may not precisely add due to rounding

** Limited coverage afforded, subject to submittal of application for Certificate of Inclusion.

CSA/CSD Maintained roads derived from selecting County Roads within CSA Boundaries.

Roadways Maintained by Others derived from selecting roads types other than those specified above.

' Covered Road Maintenance Activities Within Public/Quasi-Public

Lands

Privately Maintained Roads

Maintenance Activities on "Roadways Maintained by Others" are afforded limited coverage, subject

to the submittal of an application for Certificate of Inclusion. The covered Maintenance Activities

for these roadways is substantially limited in scope, including only such grading as necessary to

restore a smooth driving surface, maintain existing graded shoulders within the existing rights-of-

way, and essential weed abatement, excluding the application of any herbicides. Guidelines are

provided in Appendix C which would minimize and avoid impacts to sensitive species and Habitats

occurring adjacent to the existing roadway.



FINAL MSHCP 7-8

Publicly Maintained Roads

Some of the existing County maintained unpaved roads may be paved within the existing roadbed

as future traffic, safety and/or environmental conditions warrant. In addition, safety improvements

to other publicly maintained existing roadways within Public/Quasi-Public Lands are Covered

Activities. Guidelines are provided in Appendix C which would minimize and avoid impacts to

sensitive species and Habitats occurring adjacent to the existing roadway.

Necessary operation and Maintenance Activities conducted for safety purposes would be permitted

within Public/Quasi-Public Lands. These activities include the following:

! Signage

! Traffic Control Devices

! Guardrails and Fences

! Pavement Repairs

! Accident Response

! Tree Trimming

! Natural Disaster Damage/Restoration of Emergency Access

! Storm Damage

! Weed Control

! Grading Shoulders (up to 12 feet from the edge of paved or unpaved roadways)

! Grading Existing Dirt Roadways

! Dust Stabilization

! Culverts/Drop Structures

! Curbs/Gutters/Sidewalks

! Roadway Widening

! Berms

! Roadway Resurfacing

! Ditch Clearing

! Landscape Maintenance

! Bridge Maintenance

! Roadway Reconstruction

Maintenance and operation activities conducted for safety purposes, as described above, are subject

to compliance with Best Management Practices (BMPs), as detailed in Appendix C of this document.



FINAL MSHCP 7-9

7.2.2 Planned Roads Within Existing Public/Quasi-Public

Lands

Circulation Element Roads

New Circulation Element roads, or improvements to existing Circulation Element roads proposed

within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands include Cajalco Road, Butterfield Stage Road, Anza

Road, Bautista Canyon Road, Gilman Springs Road and Roads crossing the Santa Ana River,

including a potential new crossing at Schleisman Avenue. Siting, design and construction of these

facilities shall be subject to the guidelines provided in Sections 7.5.1, 7.5.2, and 7.5.3, and will also

be subject to the Best Management Practices identified in Appendix C.

Impacts to Habitats within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands shall be compensated by purchase

and dedication into the MSHCP Conservation Area of land that is in addition to the Additional

Reserve Lands.

Hemet to Corona/Lake Elsinore CETAP Corridor

Two east-west CETAP alternatives for the Hemet to Corona/Lake Elsinore transportation Corridor

have been selected for further analysis: Alternatives 1 and 5. Alternative 1 includes two options, 1a

and 1b, and Alternative 5 includes three options, 5a, 5c and 5e. In addition, there are two hybrid

options that involve portions of alignment segments from various alternatives. Only one of these

east-west CETAP alternatives will be chosen to be constructed. A complete description of the

Hemet to Corona/Lake Elsinore Corridor is provided later in this section. The purpose of this

discussion is to identify the portions of the Corridor that are proposed to encroach upon existing

Public/Quasi-Public Lands.

Portions of the proposed alignment for Alternatives 1a and 1b, and Hybrids 1 and 3 encroach into

existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands. The impacted areas are currently part of existing reserves for

Stephens’ kangaroo rat. Table 7-2 provides an estimate of the total acreage of impact that these

alignments will have.



FINAL MSHCP 7-10

TABLE 7-2

HEMET TO CORONA/LAKE ELSINORE IMPACTS

WITHIN PUBLIC/QUASI-PUBLIC LANDS

Existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands

Alt 1a

(Acres)

Alt 1b

(Acres)

Hybrid 1

(Acres)

Hybrid 3

(Acres)

Lake Mathews/Estelle M ountain 215 230 215 170

San Jacinto/Lake Perris 45 45 0 0

Steele Peak 0 0 0 0

TOTAL 260 275 215 170

In the areas where these impacts occur, the estimated width of right-of-way for the Corridor is

approximately 500 feet. The facility will potentially include the following elements:

! Three mixed flow lanes in each direction

! One HOV lane in each direction

! Shoulders at Caltrans standards for freeways

! Medians of sufficient width to accommodate Caltrans standard median widths, including an

exclusive transitway, either rail or bus

! Buffer areas and areas for utilities

No interchanges are proposed within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands. Any interchanges that may

be proposed in the future with Public/Quasi-Public Lands will not be covered and will require an

amendment to the MSHCP. Maintenance Activities that are proposed for the portions of the CETAP

Corridor that may be located within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands are the same as those listed

in Section 7.2.1.

Guidelines for construction of wildlife crossings for the portions of the Hemet to Corona/Lake

Elsinore CETAP Corridor that encroach on existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands are addressed in

Section 7.5.2. Construction guidelines are listed for this facility are included in Section 7.5.3. Siting

and design guidelines contain in Section 7.5.1 apply only to the specific alignment and design of this



FINAL MSHCP 7-11

facility, as the general alignment has been analyzed in the MSHCP. This facility is also subject to

the Best Management Practices outlined in Appendix C. Impacts to Habitats within existing

Public/Quasi-Public Lands shall be compensated by purchase and dedication into the MSHCP

Conservation Area of land that is in addition to the Additional Reserve Lands.

7.2.3 Cajalco Road Realignment and Widening

The transportation agencies are continuing their planning process for the Hemet to Corona/Lake

Elsinore CETAP Corridor. To ensure flexibility, the transportation agencies are proposing a process

to include as a Covered Activity, an alternative to the alignment northerly of Lake Mathews currently

under study, as described in Section 7.3.5. If it is not Feasible to build the CETAP Corridor in the

alignment north of Lake Mathews, the proposed alternative involves the realignment and widening

of Cajalco Road south of Lake Mathews to a four-lane arterial status, or other configuration that

could be demonstrated to meet the criteria outlined in this section. The alternative would be

proposed in place of the CETAP alternative between El Sobrante Road and the Temescal Wash.

The Cajalco Road alternative would involve the realignment of existing Cajalco Road and the

construction of a new four-lane divided roadway, or other configuration that could be demonstrated

to meet the criteria outlined in this section, to replace the existing two-lane roadway. The road

improvements will follow the CETAP alternative alignment from I-215 westerly to a location

approximately 9 miles east of I-15, at roughly the intersection of existing Cajalco Road and El

Sobrante Road. At that location the proposed Cajalco Road Option alignment will continue in a

south and westerly direction, while the CETAP alternative alignment travels northwesterly. The

greatest distance between the two alignments is approximately three miles, at a location that is south

of the western end of Lake Mathews. The Cajalco Road Option joins the CETAP Alternative

alignment again approximately 1 mile east of I-15. The area within the gap between the two

alignments is almost entirely within the existing Lake Mathews Reserve.

Should this option be selected, the CETAP Alternative north of Lake Mathewswould not be

constructed as a CETAP Corridor.

The following outlines the proposed process to include the Cajalco Road realignment and widening

alternative as a Covered Activity:



FINAL MSHCP 7-12

An equivalency analysis shall be provided by the Riverside County Transportation Commission

(RCTC) for review and concurrence by the Wildlife Agencies in narrative and graphic form

comparing the effects/benefits of the proposed project with the northerly CETAP alternative. The

analysis shall consider specific project design features, including consideration of the siting and

design guidelines, and guidelines for construction of wildlife crossings contained in Section 7.5.2,

as well as the Best Management Practices contained in Appendix C to this document. A primary

issue for consideration in the analysis of equivalency is habitat fragmentation. Potential adverse

impacts related to fragmentation of Habitats within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands and

Additional Reserve Lands shall be thoroughly analyzed and discussed. The equivalency analysis will

address the following categories:

1. Effects on Habitats

2. Effects on Covered Species

3. Effects on Core Areas (as identified on the MSHCP Core and Linkage map)

4. Effects on Linkages and Constrained Linkages (as identified on the MSHCP Core

and Linkage map)

5. Effects on MSHCP Conservation Area configuration and management (such as

increases or decreases in edge)

6. Effects on ecotones (defined as areas of adjoining Vegetation Communities,

generally characterized by greater biological diversity) and other conditions affecting

species diversity (such as invasion by exotics)

7. Effects on and consistency with existing HCPs and/or NCCPs.

The equivalency analysis shall draw conclusions regarding the degree to which the Cajalco

realignment and widening project is considered to be biologically equivalent or superior to the

Hemet to Corona/Lake Elsinore CETAP alternative. If the project is determined not to be

biologically equivalent or superior by the Wildlife Agencies in the review and concurrence process,

the project will be considered a Major Amendment, and required to follow the procedures described

in Section 6.10 of this document.



FINAL MSHCP 7-13

RCTC shall meet and confer with the Wildlife Agencies to discuss road alignment and design issues

and subsequently submit the equivalency analysis in writing to the Wildlife Agencies for their

review. If the Wildlife Agencies do not concur with the analysis, the project shall be subject to a

Major Amendment. If the Wildlife Agencies concur, or if they fail to respond within the 60-day

period, the project would be permitted as a Covered Activity.

Specific design considerations that shall be incorporated into the project to facilitate the Biological

Equivalency Determination include the following:

1. Construction of Cajalco Road shall be designed in such a way as to facilitate the

movements of avian species, including the California gnatcatcher and least Bells

vireo by depressing the roadbed below the level of the adjacent natural grade, to the

extent practical.

2. Beginning at Gavilan Road and proceeding westerly for roughly 3.4 miles, Cajalco Road

shall be realigned to the southerly edge of the existing reserve in such a way as to

minimize the existing reserve fragmentation. Once the road is relocated, the existing

roadbed shall be removed and the area returned to a natural state including revegetation

with native materials. Any remaining portions of existing Cajalco Road not needed to

provide for local access will also be removed and restored.

3. All stream crossing shall be designed to facilitate the movement of mammal species.

Design considerations will include bridges and/or undercrossings, particularly in the

western portions of the alignment that contain more significant topography. Wildlife

crossings shall include design parameters that will ensure their success, including natural

lighting/line of sight configurations, and fencing to direct wildlife movement to the

crossings. Additional considerations for small mammals shall include provision of

undercrossings in the flatter areas of the alignment, immediately south of the lake.

Crossing opportunities shall be numerous through this area and will be focused on the

most opportunistic movement features. Please refer to Section 7.5.2 for more details

regarding guidelines for wildlife crossings.

4. Impacts related to fragmentation and direct impacts to existing Public/Quasi-Public

Lands shall be mitigated through the acquisition and Conservation of lands that are in

addition to the 153,000 acres of Additional Reserve Lands at an appropriate ratio to

support the findings of biological equivalency.



FINAL MSHCP 7-14

The equivalency analysis shall demonstrate that the enhanced design features for Cajalco Road together

with project-specific mitigation, which shall require Conservation of land in addition to the Additional

Reserve Lands, shall result in equivalent conservation value when compared to the Hemet to Corona/Lake

Elsinore CETAP Alignment Alternatives, for the portion of the alignment that would be replaced by the

Cajalco Road realignment and widening. In addition, for any portions of the alignment that would

traverse the existing Lake Mathews Reserve, consistency with the Lake Mathews Multiple Species

Habitat Conservation Plan shall be demonstrated.

7.2.4 Future Facilities Within Public/Quasi-Public Lands

Future facilities such as water, sewer, electrical, gas and solid waste facilities, that are described in more

detail in Section 7.3.9 would also be permitted within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands subject to a

finding of equivalent conservation provided through individual project mitigation. An equivalency

analysis shall be provided by either the Permittee or the entity requesting a Certificate of Inclusion. The

analysis shall be provided for review and concurrence by the Wildlife Agencies in narrative and graphic

form comparing the effects/benefits of the proposed project including specific mitigation and

compensation for lost conservation values, with the conditions prior to facility implementation. The

analysis shall consider specific project design features, including consideration of the siting and design

guidelines, contained in Section 7.5.1, as well as the Best Management Practices contained in Appendix

C of this document. The equivalency analysis shall address the following categories:



3. Effects on Core Areas (as identified on the MSHCP Core and Linkage map)

4. Effects on Linkages and Constrained Linkages (as identified on the MSHCP Core and

Linkage map)

5. Effects on MSHCP Conservation Area configuration and management (such as increases

or decreases in edge)



FINAL MSHCP 7-15

6. Effects on ecotones (defined as areas of adjoining Vegetation Communities, generally

characterized by greater biological diversity) and other conditions affecting species

diversity (such as invasion by exotics)

Impacts to Habitats within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands shall be compensated by purchase and

dedication into the MSHCP Conservation Area of land at not less than a ratio of 1:1 that is in addition

to the Additional Reserve Lands.

7.2.5 Maintenance of Other Existing Facilities Within Public/

Quasi-Public Lands by Permittees

Public facilities within existing Public/Quasi-Public Lands may be maintained by Permittees within the

existing disturbance area of each existing facility, and without any changes in the operating characteristics

of the facility that would affect Covered Species.

7.2.6 Existing Agricultural Uses Within Local Public/Quasi-

Public Lands

Existing Agricultural Operations within Local Public/Quasi-Public Lands are Covered Activities subject

to the provisions of Section 6.2 of the Plan.

7.3 COVERED ACTIVITIES INSIDE CRITERIA AREA

7.3.1 Public and Private Development Consistent with MSHCP

Criteria

As discussed in Section 3.0 of this document, public and private Development within the Criteria Area

that is determined to be consistent with the Criteria is considered a Covered Activity.



FINAL MSHCP 7-16

7.3.2 Single-Family Homes on Existing Parcels Within the

Criteria Area

Development of individual single-family homes on existing parcels, in accordance with existing land use

regulations is a Covered Activity within the Criteria Area. As described in Section 6.1.1 of this

document, there is currently a process for siting a home on an existing lot. The location of a single

family home or mobile home on an existing lot is determined by factors such as access,

topography/terrain, zoning development standards including setbacks, soil types, presence of earthquake

fault lines, leach fields, presence of oak trees and location of lot within a high fire hazard area. Therefore,

an expedited review process, through the Property Owner Initiated Habitat Evaluation and Acquisition

Negotiation Process has been developed to assist in determining the appropriate location of a single

family home or mobile home on an existing lot within the Criteria Area.

An application for the issuance of a grading permit for an individual single family home on an existing

lot or a site preparation permit for a mobile home on an existing lot within the Criteria Area will be

subject to review against the MSHCP Conservation Criteria solely in order to determine the location of

a building foot print area and any necessary access road(s) on the least sensitive portion of the lot. A

habitat assessment may be required in order to assist in determining the most appropriate location for the

area of disturbance and any necessary access road(s). A habitat assessment for purposes of this provision

shall include mapping of the vegetation at sufficient detail to identify sensitive areas. Upon completion

of the review, the Permittee will determine the location of the area of disturbance, and the location of any

necessary road(s). Any necessary firebreaks will be included within the area of disturbance.

If during the review period it is determined that all or part of the property may benefit assembly of the

MSHCP Conservation Area, the Permittee may negotiate with the property owner to acquire the entire

lot or portion thereof or determine which incentives may apply in order to acquire a conservation

easement over that portion of the property not necessary for access road(s) and outside of the building

footprint area. If the Permittee is unable to reach agreement with the property owner concerning the

acquisition of the entire lot or a conservation easement over a portion of the lot upon completion of the

review period, the property owner may proceed with the processing of the grading or site preparation

permit application. However, compliance with the location of the building footprint area as well as the

location of any necessary road(s) will be required.



FINAL MSHCP 7-17

Trend data collected from 1995 to mid 2002 suggests that, on average, there is development of

approximately 75 single-family homes on lots averaging approximately 9 acres in size within the Criteria

Area on an annual basis. Therefore, the Single-Family Home Expedite Process will have the potential

to affect approximately 675 acres of land within the Criteria Area annually. For purposes of this analysis,

it is assumed that approximately 50% of that area, or 338 acres potentially impacted by such Development

will be within areas of sensitive Habitat that are considered desirable for inclusion in the MSHCP

Conservation Area. This is based on the overall ratio of Additional Reserve Lands to Criteria Area,

which is roughly one half. Based on the trend data and average parcel size, that 338 acres represents

approximately 38 parcels. It is estimated that the Permittees will be able to successfully negotiate with

75%, or 29 of the 38 property owners through the Property Owner Initiated Habitat Evaluation and

Acquisition Negotiation Process. Therefore, it is assumed that Conservation that conforms to the Criteria

will be achieved on approximately 253 of the 338 acres of land per year that is potentially impacted

through this process. It is assumed that the remaining approximately 85 acres will be developed in

accordance with the Criteria and will become unavailable for Conservation on an annual basis, as a result

of the Single-Family Home Expedite Process.

The inability to incorporate into the MSHCP Conservation Area approximately 85 acres of land that is

desirable for Conservation throughout the Plan Area on an annual basis will not reduce the overall

acreage required for Additional Reserve Lands. So while Conservation may be precluded on an estimated

average of 85 acre per year, it is not expected that this will adversely affect the ability to assemble a viable

MSHCP Conservation Area, since there is adequate additional land within the Criteria Area that could

be acquired in lieu of the areas subject to Development under the Single-Family Home Expedite Process.

In addition, annual reporting will determine whether the activity of single-family home Development

occurs in a manner that is consistent with the assumptions used for the MSHCP analysis. The number

of grading or site preparation permits for the construction or location of a single family home or a mobile

home on an existing lot located within the Criteria Area will be monitored and reported on at least an

annual basis in order to insure that appropriate assembly of the MSHCP Conservation Area is occurring.

Corrective action will be taken if necessary, to direct Reserve Assembly activities in a manner that adjusts

for single-family home construction activities to avoid the adverse foreclosure of Reserve Assembly

options.



FINAL MSHCP 7-18

7.3.3 Agricultural Lands Within the Criteria Area

Existing agricultural uses and conversion of natural lands to agricultural use, as defined and outlined in

Section 6.2 of this document, will be allowed as a Covered Activity within the Criteria Area. New

conversions to agricultural use within the Criteria Area are covered up to an established threshold of

10,000 acres over the life of the Plan. Agricultural Operations, as defined in Section 6.2, include the

production of all plants (horticulture), fish farms, animals and related production activities, including the

planting, cultivation and tillage of the soil, dairying, and apiculture; and the production, plowing, seeding,

cultivation, growing, harvesting, pasturing and fallowing for the purpose of crop rotation of any

agricultural commodity, including viticulture, apiculture, horticulture, and the breeding, feeding and

raising of livestock, horses, fur-bearing animals, fish, or poultry and all uses conducted as a normal part

of such operations; provided such actions are in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.

The guidelines for coverage of Agricultural Operations and mechanisms for implementing the New

Agricultural Lands Cap are discussed in detail in Section 6.2. The purpose of this discussion is to

establish a process for monitoring New Agricultural Lands and for ensuring that Reserve Assembly

activities are adjusted to account for New Agricultural Lands in the Criteria Area.

In order to verify the location of the Existing Agricultural Operations, the County will establish a database

identifying Existing Agricultural Operations (“Existing Agricultural Operations Database”) on or before

the Effective Date of the Implementing Agreement or the issuance of the Section 10(a) Permit and the

NCCP Authorization. The New Agricultural Lands Cap of 10,000 acres within the Criteria Area will be

applied to Agricultural Operations that are in addition to the activities recorded in the Existing

Agricultural Operations Database. The 10,000 acre New Agricultural Lands Cap represents

approximately 3 percent of the total acreage contained within the Criteria Area.

If New Agricultural Lands conversions result in the need to acquire Additional Reserve Lands that were

not contemplated in the Criteria, it will be demonstrated that the Additional Reserve Lands meet not only

the total acreage requirements of the Plan, but also the conservation functions and values (including

reserve design and configuration considerations) specified in the Plan. It is anticipated that there will be

adequate and appropriate land available for Conservation within the Criteria Area that could compensate

for areas potentially considered for Conservation that will be made unavailable through the agricultural

conversion allowance. Annual review of MSHCP implementation and Reserve Assembly will provide

a mechanism for addressing potential issues associated with Reserve Assembly that may be brought about



FINAL MSHCP 7-19

by agricultural conversions within the Criteria Area. Corrective action will then be taken to direct

Reserve Assembly activities in a manner that adjusts for agricultural activities and avoids the adverse

foreclosure of Reserve Assembly options.

Because there are agricultural activities that do not require discretionary actions by the County, such

activities may be difficult to monitor through review of permitting. Aerial photographs of the Criteria

Area will be reviewed every three years to determine the level of activity occurring within that period.

Through the annual reporting process, the trend of agricultural activity will be examined to determine if

Reserve Assembly options are being precluded.

To estimate the potential effects of New Agricultural Lands in relation to the MSHCP, it is assumed that

approximately 50% of the agricultural conversions that take place within the Criteria Area will be

consistent with the Criteria. Therefore, it is assumed that approximately 5,000 acres of New Agricultural

Lands will occur within areas considered desirable for Conservation under the Criteria. This represents

approximately 1.5% of the total Additional Reserve Lands proposed to be acquired within the Criteria

Area. Tracking of MSHCP implementation, and adjustments to Reserve Assembly strategies as outlined

in this section, will provide a mechanism to ensure that adequate acreage of Additional Reserve Lands

is being acquired, and that appropriate reserve design and configuration are being achieved.

7.3.4 Existing Roads Within the Criteria Area

Maintenance of existing roads within the Criteria Area is considered a Covered Activity for Permittees,

Participating Special Entities, and Third Parties Granted Take Authorization. Existing roads within the

Criteria Area are not anticipated to be included in the total acreage of Additional Reserve Lands and will

not be included in the MSHCP Conservation Area. However, maintenance and minor modifications to

existing roads may result in impacts to listed species. Specified road maintenance activities as outlined

in this section, are Covered Activities under the Plan. Existing roadways within the Criteria Area include

interstates, freeways, State highways, City and County maintained roadways, as well as local roads, which

are not City, or County maintained that provide property access. This latter category of other maintained

roadways are generally maintained by the adjacent property owners, either individually or collectively.

Table 7-3 provides an estimate summarizing the extent of these various types of existing roadways which

are permitted to remain within the Criteria Area.



FINAL MSHCP 7-20

TABLE 7-3. EXISTING ROADS PERMITTED TO REMAIN IN THE CRITERIA AREA


Length (Miles)

Criteria Area

Eastvale Interstate & Freeways 0.9

State Highways 0.0




City Maintained 0.0

Subtotal 0.9

Roadways Maintained by Others* 0.8

Area Plan Total 1.7

Jurupa Interstate & Freeways 5.2

State Highways 13.9




City Maintained 0.0

Subtotal 39.8



Temescal Canyon Interstate & Freeways 9.7

State Highways 3.5




City Maintained 8.5

Subtotal 29.5



Elsinore Interstate & Freeways 24.0

State Highways 2.1






EXISTING ROADS PERMITTED TO REMAIN IN THE CRITERIA AREA



Length (Miles)

Criteria Area


FINAL MSHCP 7-21

Subtotal 140.0



Southwest Interstate & Freeways 13.7

State Highways 21.5





Subtotal 237.3



Sun City/Menifee Interstate & Freeways 1.8

State Highways 0.0




City Maintained 0.5

Subtotal 6.1



Lake Mathews/Woodcrest Interstate & Freeways 0.0

State Highways 0.0




City Maintained 0.0

Subtotal 9.5



Mead Valley Interstate & Freeways 4.6

State Highways 0.0





Length (Miles)

Criteria Area


FINAL MSHCP 7-22





Subtotal 25.8



Highgrove Interstate & Freeways 0.0

State Highways 2.6




City Maintained 1.0

Subtotal 9.2



Harvest Valley/Winchester Interstate & Freeways 0.0

State Highways 1.4




City Maintained 0.1

Subtotal 5.8


Area Plan Total 7.2

Reche Canyon/Badlands Interstate & Freeways 0.0

State Highways 8.6





Subtotal 44.8







Length (Miles)

Criteria Area


FINAL MSHCP 7-23

Lakeview/Nuevo Interstate & Freeways 0.0

State Highways 0.0




City Maintained 0.0

Subtotal 14.1



San Jacinto Valley Interstate & Freeways 0.0

State Highways 14.3





Subtotal 78.4



The Pass Interstate & Freeways 9.7

State Highways 23.8





Subtotal 64.1



Riverside Extended Mountain Interstate & Freeways 0.0

State Highways 1.2







Length (Miles)

Criteria Area


FINAL MSHCP 7-24

Subtotal 28.0



Western County Total 1,393

* Limited coverage afforded, subject to submittal of application for Certificate of Inclusion.

CSA/CSD Maintained roads derived from selecting County Roads within CSA Boundaries.

Roadways Maintained by Others derived from selecting roads types other than those specified above.

' Covered Road Maintenance Activities Within the Criteria Area

Privately Maintained Roads

Maintenance Activities on "Roadways Maintained by Others" will be afforded limited coverage, subject

to the submittal of an application for Certificate of Inclusion. The covered Maintenance Activities for

these roadways will be substantially limited in scope, including only such grading as necessary to restore

a smooth driving surface, maintain existing graded shoulders within the existing rights-of-way, and

essential weed abatement, excluding the application of any herbicides. The construction guidelines

provided in Section 7.5.3, as well as Best Management Practices outlined in Appendix C, will minimize

and avoid impacts to sensitive species and Habitats occurring adjacent to the existing roadway.

Publicly Maintained Roads

Some of the existing County maintained unpaved roads may be paved within the existing roadbed as

future traffic, safety and/or environmental conditions warrant. In addition, safety improvements to other

publicly maintained existing roadways within the Criteria Area are Covered Activities. The construction

guidelines provided in Section 7.5.3, as well as Best Management Practices outlined in Appendix C, will

minimize and avoid impacts to sensitive species and Habitats occurring adjacent to the existing roadway.

Necessary operation and Maintenance Activities conducted for safety purposes will be Covered Activities

within the Criteria Area. These activities include, but are not limited to, the following:



FINAL MSHCP 7-25

! Signage

! Traffic Control Devices

! Guardrails and Fences

! Pavement Repairs

! Accident Response

! Tree Trimming

! Natural Disaster Damage/Restoration of Emergency Access

! Storm Damage

! Weed Control

! Grading Shoulders (up to 12 feet from the edge of paved or unpaved roadways)

! Grading Existing Dirt Roadways

! Dust Stabilization

! Culverts/Drop Structures

! Curbs/Gutters/Sidewalks

! Roadway Widening

! Berms

! Roadway Resurfacing

! Ditch Clearing

! Landscape Maintenance

! Bridge Maintenance

! Roadway Reconstruction

Maintenance and operation activities conducted for safety purposes, as described above, are subject to

compliance with Best Management Practices (BMPs), as detailed in Appendix C of this document.

7.3.5 Planned Roads Within the Criteria Area

Planned roadways are defined as either existing facilities that require improvements (i.e., widening) or

as new facilities to be constructed. Planned roadways include seven types of roadways, freeways, CETAP

Corridors and other major facilities that have been identified as part of the General Plan circulation

element (Figure 7-1). Planned roadways are depicted in a general fashion on the County Circulation

Element (Figure 7-1).



FINAL MSHCP 7-26



FINAL MSHCP 7-27

Roads with special environmental issues due to their location within particularly sensitive areas are listed

in Table 7-4, which identifies specific considerations for design and alignment of these roads.

TABLE 7-4

PLANNED FACILITIES

Planned Facility Specific Considerations

Lambs Canyon Road -

This existing facility crosses areas proposed for conservation in the southern

Badlands and may interfere with wildlife movement.

! Maintain and/or enhance the number and size of undercrossings

to facilitate wildlife movement

San Timoteo Canyon Road -

This existing facility occurs within areas proposed for conservation along the

San Timoteo Creek. Improvements may impact creek and interfere with

wildlife movement between Noble Creek and the Badlands.

! Widen roadway away from creek

! Maintain and/or enhance the number and size of undercrossings to

facilitate wildlife movement

Gilman Springs Rd -

This existing facility may interrupt wildlife crossings from Mystic Lake to the

Badlands.

! Maintain and/or enhance the number and size of undercrossings to

facilitate wildlife movement

Bridge Street -

This existing facility crosses the Mystic Lake area, San Jacinto River and

areas adjacent to the River identified for conservation. The San Jacinto River

is not channelized west of Sanderson. The proposed improvements may

interfere with connectivity between Mystic Lake and Lakeview Mtns.

! Maintain existing box culvert to facilitate wildlife movement and

provide additional culverts, if necessary;

! The linkage between Mystic Lake and Lakeview Mtns. will be moved

to the west side of Bridge to reduce fragmentation of this linkage by

Bridge St.

Reche Canyon Road -

This existing facility traverse areas within Reche Canyon desired for

Conservation.

! Expand facility away from areas desired for Conservation where

possible.

Pigeon Pass Road -

This existing facility may interfere with connectivity between Box Springs

and the Badlands.

! Avoid siting alignment in areas desired for Conservation to the extent

Feasible;

! Minimize number of crossings into reserve

! Align will turn road west to connect to corridor

! Construct road at grade at Center St. and build overcrossing for

wildlife movement

Schleisman -

Proposed roadway would cross PQP Lands within the Santa Ana River.

! Bridge over Santa Ana River

Hamner -

This existing facility crosses PQP Lands within the Santa Ana River.


River Road -




PLANNED FACILITIES




FINAL MSHCP 7-28

Van Buren -



Mission -



Market -



CETAP Hemet to Corona/Lake Elsinore Alternative 1B -

The proposed facility would traverse areas north of Lake Mathews and La

Sierra Hills. The facility would potentially fragment a large block of habitat.

! Provide wildlife crossing (cut-n-cover) between MWD and existing

reserve

! Span Temescal Wash at westerly terminus

CETAP Hemet to Corona/Lake Elsinore Alternative 5A and 5E -

The proposed expansion of the existing facility would traverse the linkage

between North Peak and Ramsgate and may interrupt connectivity between

these two areas.

! Provide overcrossing between North Peak and Ramsgate and

maintain connectivity between these two areas.

Soboba Road -

This existing facility would traverse San Jacinto River between Soboba Rd

and Ramona Expressway and may interrupt wildlife movement along this

riparian linkage.

! Span the San Jacinto River with bridge

! Need to consider San Bernardino kangaroo rat in this area

SR 371 -

This existing facility traverses large habitat blocks in the Sage/Aguanga area.

! Need to consider measures to reduce fragmentation and provide for

wildlife movement.

Castile Canyon Road -

This existing facility traverses the San Jacinto River and may interrupt

wildlife movement along this riparian linkage.

! Span San Jacinto River with bridge

Nuevo Road -




Ethanac Road -




San Jacinto Road -

This existing facility (proposed for expansion) crosses the San Jacinto River

and may interrupt wildlife movement along this riparian linkage.



PLANNED FACILITIES




FINAL MSHCP 7-29

Menifee Road-

This existing facility would traverse the linkage between core habitat in the

French Valley area and core habitat in the Sedco Hills area and may interrupt

wildlife movement along this linkage.

! Provide a wildlife crossing under Menifee Road

! Align Menifee through the narrowest segment of the linkage to reduce

edge effects.

Briggs Road -

This existing facility would traverse core habitat in the French Valley area

and cross Warm Springs Creek and may fragment proposed Core areas.

! Provide culvert for wildlife crossing

! Span facility over Warm Springs Creek

Whitewood Road -

This existing facility would traverse the linkage between core habitat in the

French Valley area and core habitat in the Sedco Hills area and potentially

result in habitat fragmentation.


! Maintain visual connectivity for birds

Washington Street -

This existing facility crosses two linkages connecting the French Valley core

habitat area and the existing Southwestern Riverside County Multi-Species

Reserve and may interrupt wildlife movement in these areas.

! Provide two culverts for wildlife undercrossing at Scott

Road/Washington and south of Keller at Washington Street.

SR-79 south of Domenigoni Parkway -

This existing facility crosses two constrained linkages connecting the French

Valley core habitat area and the existing Southwestern Riverside County

Multi-Species Reserve and may interrupt wildlife movement in these areas.

! Provide habitat bridge overcrossing in the vicinity of Scott Road and

SR-79

! Provide wildlife undercrossing north of Auld/SR-79.

Leon Road -

This existing facility crosses Upper Warm Springs Creek linkage between

French Valley and the existing Southwestern Riverside County Multi-Species

Reserve and may interrupt wildlife movement in this area.

! Provide culvert(s) for wildlife crossing

Clinton Keith Road -

This existing facility crosses core habitat in French Valley supporting quino,

narrow endemics and gnatcatcher and may result in habitat fragmentation.

! The crossing of Warm Springs Creek will span the floodway with

sufficient vertical clearance and length including a span bridge, and

cut and cover element. Specific design details to be determined at the

time facility construction is proposed.

Los Alamos -

This existing facility would traverse areas proposed for Conservation south

of Clinton Keith Road and may result in habitat fragmentation.

! Align this facility to connect directly into Clinton Keith Road to

minimize edge effects and fragmentation.

Auld Road -

The portion of Auld Road west of Leon Road would cross linkage between

Johnson Ranch and French Valley and may interrupt wildlife movement.



PLANNED FACILITIES




FINAL MSHCP 7-30

Murrieta Hot Springs -

This existing facility crosses Lower Warm Springs Creek and Lower Tucalota

Creek.

! This facility is permitted per ACOE 404 permits. This facility will not

be extended into the existing Johnson Ranch Reserve.

Butterfield Stage Road -

This existing facility traverses the existing Johnson Ranch reserve and the

constrained Santa Gertrudis Creek linkage.

! This facility will be constructed consistent with the requirements of

AD161 HCP.

Pauba Road -

This existing facility crosses Temecula Creek north of SR-79 South and may

interfere with wildlife movement in this area.

! Span Temecula Creek with bridge

Rainbow Canyon -

This existing facility may interfere with wildlife movement from the Santa

Ana Mountains.

! Incorporate wildlife crossings into design of facility

HWY 74 (City of Lake Elsinore) This existing facility traverses Proposed Core 1 and may interfere with

wildlife movement.

! Incorporate a wildlife overcrossing between North Peak and

Ramsgate at road upgrade.

Green Wald Avenue

The exisitng facitily traverses Proposed Linkage 7 and may interfere with

wildlife movement.

! Incorporate a wildlife undercrossing in a riparian drainage at road

upgrade.

! Incorporate a wildlife overcrossing on the hill west of the Tuscany

Hills development at road upgrade.

City of Murrieta -

A number of facilities cross Murrieta Creek west of I-15

! Only existing projects with ACOE 404 permits shall cross Murrieta

Creek. No other planned facilities are proposed to cross Murrieta

Creek.

I-15

This existing facility traverses a number of core and linkage areas between

the Santa Ana Mountains and areas desirable for Conservation to the east,

and may interfere with wildlife movement.

! Future guidelines for construction shall include provisions for wildlife

crossings south of Temecula Creek to facilitate wildllife movement

between Santa Ana Mountains and San Diego County.



FINAL MSHCP 7-31

Evaluations of planned roadways with respect to Conservation of biological resources have been

conducted throughout the MSHCP planning process. As a result, only those planned roadways identified

in this section are Covered Activities within the Criteria Area. Roadways other than those identified in

this section are not covered without an amendment to the MSHCP in accordance with the procedures

described in Section 6.10 of this document. Design and siting guidelines for planned roadways, presented

in this section will be implemented to ensure that planned roadways are sited, designed, and constructed

in a manner consistent with MSHCP conservation objectives.

Planned roadways, which include improvements to existing roadways and construction of new roadways,

are proposed to occur within the Criteria Area to serve future Development anticipated under the General

Plans of the Permittees, including planned state and federal highway improvements.

Four categories of planned roadways are depicted on Figure 7-1: (1) circulation element roadways, (2)

SR-79 North Corridor, (3) freeways, and (4) CETAP Corridors. These facilities are generally described

as follows:

Circulation Element Roadways

Seven types of roadways are proposed as part of the General Plan Circulation Element: expressways (184'

ROW), urban arterials (152' ROW), arterials (128' ROW), major roads (118' ROW), mountain arterials

(110' ROW), secondary roads (100' ROW) and collector roads (74' ROW). The improvement/

construction of circulation element roadways shown on Figure 7-1 are Covered Activities within the

Criteria Area, as well as the operation and Maintenance Activities conducted for these facilities. The

Circulation element roads included in Figure 7-1 and that are analyzed in this section include a composite

of County and Cities General Plan Circulation Elements.

Approximately 5,840 acres of roadways will be improved/constructed within the Criteria Area. Table

7-5 summarizes the impacts to Vegetation Communities as a result of development of circulation element

roadways within the Criteria Area.



FINAL MSHCP 7-32

TABLE 7-5. CIRCULATION ELEMENT ROADWAYS

IMPACTS TO VEGETATION COMMUNITIES OCCURRING

WITHIN THE CRITERIA AREA

VEGETATION COMMUNITY]

CRITERIA AREA

(Acres)

Agriculture 1,260

Chaparral 900

Coastal Sage Scrub 740

Desert Scrubs 70

Grasslands 1,240

Playas and Vernal Pools 130

Riparian Scrub, Woodland, Forest 150

Riversidean Alluvial Fan Sage Scrub 100

Woodlands and Forests 120

Developed or Disturbed Land 1,130

TOTAL 5,840

State Route 79 Realignment (Newport Road to Gilman Springs Road)

The RCTC intends to preserve right-of-way and construct an improved State Route 79 (SR-79)

Transportation facility. As previously identified, improvements to the portion of SR-79 south of

Domenigoni Parkway are covered under the MSHCP as part of the proposed circulation element of the

County General Plan. The northerly segment, from Newport Road to Gilman Springs Road, includes

construction activities between Newport Road and the southern approach to the Sanderson Avenue bridge

over the San Jacinto River. As construction is not proposed north of the San Jacinto River, impacts will

not occur to Existing Linkage C and Proposed Core 3. However, this project has the potential to impact

portions of Proposed Non-contiguous Habitat Blocks 6 and 7 and Existing Constrained Linkage B, as

described in the discussion of Cores and Linkages (Section 3.2.3 of this document). Species proposed

for Conservation within these areas are associated with vernal pool and alkali playa Habitats. Any

impacts to these Habitats resulting from the road alignment will be required to demonstrate equivalent

conservation value. The project is in the early planning phase and specific alignment Corridor



FINAL MSHCP 7-33

alternatives have not been fully developed. The cross section for this project has not been defined, but

is anticipated to conform to state standards for right-of-way requirements, thereby exceeding the County

standards outlined in Section 7.3.5. Therefore, coverage for the northerly segment of SR-79, depending

on impacts, may be subject to a determination of biologically equivalent or superior Conservation. The

following outlines the proposed process to include the improvements and realignment of the northerly

segment of State Route 79 as a Covered Activity:

If the project will not impact the Criteria Area, it would be considered a Covered Activity and would be

subject to the design guidelines and BMPs outlined for circulation element roads, thus not requiring any

further analysis.

If the alignment would result in impacts within the Criteria Area, a technical study will be provided by

RCTC, for review and concurrence by the Wildlife Agencies, in narrative and graphic form identifying

plant and wildlife impacts associated with the selected alignment of the SR-79 northerly segment. Also

within the technical study, project proposals to replace habitat values from project impacts to Planning

Species for Proposed Non-contiguous Habitat Blocks 6 and 7 and Existing Constrained Linkage B will

be presented. An analysis in the technical study (equivalency analysis) will evaluate the replacement value

of the project proposals against the project impacts. The project will consider specific project design

features, including consideration of the siting and design guidelines, and guidelines for construction of

wildlife crossings contained in Section 7.5.3, as well as the Best Management Practices contained in

Appendix C of this document. If the alignment results in measurable impacts to the Criteria Area, the

technical study will address the following categories:


2. Effects on Planning Species for Proposed Non-contiguous Habitat Blocks 6 and 7 and

Existing Constrained Linkage B

3. Effects on Core Areas (as identified on the MSHCP Schematic Cores and Linkages Map,

Figure 3-2)

4. Effects on Linkages and Constrained Linkages (as identified on the MSHCP Schematic

Cores and Linkages Map)



FINAL MSHCP 7-34

5. Effects on MSHCP Conservation Area configuration and management (such as increases

or decreases in edge)

RCTC will meet and confer with the Wildlife Agencies to discuss road alignment and design issues and

subsequently submit the technical study, including the equivalency analysis, in writing to the Wildlife

Agencies for their review. If the Wildlife Agencies do not concur with the technical study, the project

will be subject to a Major Amendment. If the Wildlife Agencies concur, or if they fail to respond within

the 60-day period, the project will be permitted as a Covered Activity.

Criteria for Determining Equivalency

The following criteria will be incorporated into the alignment selection and design process for the SR-79

northerly segment. Compliance with these criteria shall demonstrate compliance with the MSHCP.

! Determination of biological equivalency must be demonstrated and achieved within the area

affected. Specifically, it must be demonstrated that the Conservation/mitigation proposed to

achieve biological equivalency is within Subunit 4 of the San Jacinto Area Plan (Section 3.3.13

of this document) and/or Subunit 2 of the Harvest Valley/Winchester Area Plan (Section 3.3.4

of this document).

! The analysis of the effects on species will address:

vernal pool fairy shrimp

Riverside fairy shrimp

burrowing owl

mountain plover

loggerhead shrike

Davidson's saltscale

thread-leaved brodiaea

vernal barley

little mousetail

spreading navarretia

California Orcutt grass

Munz's onion

Los Angeles pocket mouse

San Jacinto Valley crownscale



FINAL MSHCP 7-35

Parish's brittlescale

Coulter's goldfields

Wright's trichocoronis

! Parameters for analyzing effects on vernal pool/alkali playa Habitats will consider the pool area,

hydrology, water quality issues, and the presence of species listed in these criteria.

! Potential means for achieving equivalency may include restoration of existing Habitats within the

Area Plan Subunits, which may include the removal of existing uses including, land-use

disturbances, ditches and drainage canals, and transportation and other types of infrastructure.

Recognition will be provided to RCTC for the direct benefit(s) of implementing these activities,

as well as to the secondary benefit(s) that result within and adjacent to Proposed Non-contiguous

Habitat Block 7.

! Efforts to maintain and/or improve habitat conditions may include maintenance of existing

conditions, natural generation or enhancement, or actual habitat creation, associated with a

wide-range of effort and cost. The selection of the approach and method will be determined with

technical merit and negotiated with RCTC. Typical definitions for this range of potential actions

are provided in Section 5.2.1 of this document, and include maintenance, natural regeneration,

enhancement, revegetation, restoration, and creation.

! The project will maintain hydrology to existing vernal pool/alkali playa Habitat to provide for the

Conservation of the species listed in these criteria by either (1) maintaining natural hydrologic

processes; or (2) designing/ implementing an engineered hydrologic solution that maintains the

necessary hydrologic processes.

! The project will maintain Existing Constrained Linkage B, as identified on the Cores and

Linkages Map (Section 3.2.3 of this document).

! The project will not preclude the ability to assemble Proposed Core 3 at the northern terminus

of the alignment, as identified on the Cores and Linkages Map (Section 3.2.3 of this document).

! The project will maintain Existing Constrained Linkage C, as identified on the Cores and

Linkages Map (Section 3.2.3 of this document).



FINAL MSHCP 7-36

! Impacts related to the fragmentation of vernal pool/alkali playa Habitat, due to the removal of

surface hydrology and the inability of the project to meet the criteria identified above, may be

mitigated through the acquisition and Conservation of lands that are in addition to the 153,000

acres of Additional Reserve Lands at an appropriate ratio to support the findings of biological

equivalency for the project.

Freeways

State freeways are also shown on Figure 7-1 and they include I-215, I-15, I-10, SR-60, and SR-91.

Freeways are operated and maintained by Caltrans and include interchanges that connect these facilities

to other freeways, state highways and local roads. Caltrans has identified preliminary improvements for

these facilities that have been included in the analysis as Covered Activities.

Interstate 215 Improvements

Interstate 215 is currently a 4-lane facility from the I-215 interchange to the San Jacinto River crossing,

and a 6-lane facility from that point to the SR-60 interchange. Ultimate improvements include widening

to 8 regular travel lanes, with 4 High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes and 2 auxiliary lanes from I-215

to SR-60. Additional improvements may include 75 feet of rail Corridor within the alignment.


Interstate 15 is currently an 8-lane facility from the San Diego County Line to the San Bernardino County

Line. Improvements include addition of 4 HOV lanes and 2 auxiliary lanes, with an additional 75 feet

of rail Corridor within the alignment.


Within the Plan Area, I-10 is an 8-lane facility. The ultimate improvements will result in the addition of

4 HOV lanes, 2 auxiliary lanes and a 75-foot wide rail Corridor.



FINAL MSHCP 7-37

State Route 60 Improvements

From the San Bernardino County line to the I-215 separation, SR-60 is currently a 6-lane facility. To the

east of I-215, SR-60 is a 4-lane facility. Improvements will include widening the facility through the Plan

Area to 8 lanes, with 4 additional HOV lanes, 2 auxiliary lanes and a 75-foot wide rail Corridor.

State Route 91 Improvements

SR-91 ranges from 6 to 12 lanes within the Plan Area, including HOV lanes from the Orange County line

to Magnolia Street. Proposed improvements will include widening and lane reconfigurations that will

result in 8 regular travel lanes, 4 HOV lanes and 2 auxiliary lanes, with an additional 75-foot wide rail

Corridor.

Approximately 360 to 400 acres of freeways are proposed to occur within the Criteria Area. Table 7-6

presents the Vegetation Communities that will be impacted by the improvement/construction of freeways

within the Criteria Area. Since the precise right-of-ways widths and alignments for these facilities are

not currently known, potential impacts are presented as acreage ranges.

TABLE 7-6

SUMMARY OF VEGETATION COMMUNITIES IMPACTED BY FREEWAYS

VEGETATION COMMUNITY

CRITERIA AREA

(Acres)

Chaparral 80-100

Coastal Sage Scrub 450-475

Grasslands 100-150

Meadow and Marshes 280-300

Riparian Scrub, Woodland, Forest 60-90

Riversidean Alluvial Fan Sage Scrub 30-40

Woodlands and Forests 10-20

TOTAL 1,010-1,175



FINAL MSHCP 7-38

In addition to the freeways listed, Caltrans maintains jurisdiction over other state highway facilities

including the following: SR-74, SR-79, SR-371 and SR-71. Impacts associated with these facilities are

included with the circulation element roadways.

CETAP Corridors

Two CETAP transportation Corridors are proposed to be located within the MSHCP Plan Area: a north-

south CETAP transportation Corridor from Winchester to Temecula and an east-west transportation

Corridor from Hemet to Corona/Lake Elsinore. Two additional “out-of-county” Corridors are also

contemplated, but their connections outside of the MSHCP Plan Area have not been confirmed or

analyzed in the MSHCP. Multiple alternatives for the Winchester to Temecula and the Hemet to

Corona/Lake Elsinore transportation Corridors are currently being contemplated; however, only one east-

west Corridor and one north-south Corridor will be selected and built. Several of the alternatives include

multiple options; however, only one of the options will be selected. Alternatives that are not ultimately

selected may remain as part of the General Plan Circulation Element if an underlying designation, such

as expressway or urban arterial, exists for the alignment.

The estimated width of right-of-way for the CETAP Corridors ranges between approximately 500 and

1,000 feet. The facilities will potentially include the following elements:

! Three mixed flow lanes in each direction

! One HOV lane in each direction

! Shoulders at Caltrans standards for freeways

! Medians of sufficient width to accommodate Caltrans standard median widths, including an

exclusive transitway, either rail or bus

! Buffer areas and areas for utilities

! Interchanges at locations to be identified

The general alignments of the Winchester to Temecula and the Hemet to Corona/Lake Elsinore CETAP

transportation Corridors and the San Bernardino to Moreno Valley Corridor are described below:

Winchester to Temecula

Two north-south CETAP alternatives for the Winchester to Temecula transportation Corridor have been

selected for further analysis: Alternatives 1 and 7. Alternative 7 includes two options, 7a and 7b. The



FINAL MSHCP 7-39

northern terminus of both Alternatives 1 and 7 is located at Domenigoni Parkway and Winchester Road.

As mentioned previously, only one north-south Corridor, either Alternative 1, 7a or 7b, will be ultimately

constructed. The alternatives that are not selected will be constructed as a circulation element roadway

if such underlying designation exists for the alternative.

! Alternative 1 continues south along Winchester Road until Scott Road. The alignment

then proceeds west along Scott Road to I-215.

! From the Domenigoni Parkway and Winchester Road intersection, Alternative 7a will

generally proceed west and southwest to the intersection of Craig and Leon Avenue.

Alternative 7a continues west along Craig Avenue to I-215, approximately 1.0 mile

south of Newport Road.

! Alternative 7b will generally proceed west and southwest to the intersection of Craig and

Leon Avenue from the Domenigoni Parkway and Winchester Road intersection. From

the intersection of Craig and Leon Avenue, Alternative 7b continues in a southwest

direction to Scott Road and then along Scott Road to I-215.

Table 7-7 summarizes the impacts to Vegetation Communities occurring within the Criteria Area for

Winchester to Temecula Alternative 1.

TABLE 7-7

WINCHESTER TO TEMECULA ALTERNATIVE 1

IMPACTS TO VEGETATION COMMUNITIES OCCURRING WITHIN

THE CRITERIA AREA


CRITERIA AREA

(Acres)

Agriculture 70


Grasslands 30

Developed or Disturbed Land 20

TOTAL 130



FINAL MSHCP 7-40

Alternatives 7a and 7b proceed along a common alignment from the intersection of Domenigoni Parkway

and Winchester Road to the intersection of Craig and Leon Avenue. Approximately 535 to 555 acres of

this common alignment occurs outside of the Criteria Area and approximately 10 to 15 acres, comprised

of Agricultural lands, occur in Public/Quasi-Public Land.

From the intersection of Craig and Leon Avenue, Alternative 7a continues west along Craig Avenue to

I-215, approximately 1.0 mile south of Newport Road. Alternative 7b continues in a southwest direction

to Scott Road, from the intersection of Craig and Leon Avenue, and then along Scott Road to I-215.

Neither of these segments of Alternative 7a or 7b will occur in Public/Quasi-Public Land or the Criteria

Area.

In summary, for the Winchester to Temecula transportation Corridor alternatives, Alternative 1 will

impact approximately 130 acres within the Criteria Area; Alternative 7a will impact 10 to 15 acres within

Public/Quasi-Public Land; and Alternative 7b will impact 10 to 15 acres within Public/Quasi-Public

Land. Only one north-south Corridor will be covered under the MSHCP.

Hemet to Corona/Lake Elsinore

Two east-west CETAP alternatives for the Hemet to Corona/Lake Elsinore transportation Corridor have

been selected for further analysis: Alternatives 1 and 5. Alternative 1 includes two options, 1a and 1b,

and Alternative 5 includes three options, 5a, 5c and 5e. In addition, there are two hybrid options that

involve portions of alignment segments from various alternatives. Only one of these east-west CETAP

alternatives will be chosen to be constructed.

! The eastern terminus of Alternative 1a for the Hemet to Corona/Lake Elsinore Corridor

is located at Sanderson Avenue and Ramona Expressway. This alignment generally

follows Ramona Expressway west to the I-215. West of I-215, the alignment continues

along Cajalco Road to El Sobrante Road. The alignment proceeds along El Sobrante

Road to La Sierra Avenue. From El Sobrante Road and La Sierra Avenue, Alternative

1a will follow new alignment to the I-15/Cajalco Road interchange. The new alignment

between El Sobrante Road and La Sierra Avenue and the I-15/Cajalco Road interchange

will be located north and west of Lake Mathews. As shown on Figure 7-1, Alternative

1a traverses northwest from the El Sobrante Road/La Sierra Avenue interchange towards

Eagle Valley and the Home Gardens communities, before heading south near Corona and

staying east of El Cerrito to Cajalco Road and I-15.



FINAL MSHCP 7-41

! The eastern terminus of Alternative 1b for the Hemet to Corona/Lake Elsinore Corridor

is located at Sanderson Avenue and Ramona Expressway. This alignment generally

follows Ramona Expressway west to the I-215. West of I-215 the alignment continues

along Cajalco Road to El Sobrante Road. The alignment proceeds along El Sobrante

Road to La Sierra Avenue. From El Sobrante Road and La Sierra Avenue, Alternative

1b will follow new alignment to the I-15 and Cajalco Road interchange. The new

alignment between El Sobrante Road and La Sierra Avenue and the I-15/Cajalco Road

interchange will be located north and west of Lake Mathews. As shown on Figure 7-1,

Alternative 1b includes an option to continue along Eagle Canyon Road from La Sierra

Avenue and El Sobrante Road to I-15 and Cajalco Road.

! The eastern terminus of Alternative 5a is located at Domenigoni Parkway and Winchester

Road. The alignment continues west along Domenigoni Parkway, northwest along the

San Jacinto Branch rail line to Ethanac Road, and west along Ethanac Road. At Ethanac

and SR-74, the alignment proceeds southwest along SR-74 to I-15.

! The eastern terminus of Alternative 5c is located at Domenigoni Parkway and Winchester

Road. The alignment continues west along Domenigoni Parkway and then northwest

along the San Jacinto Branch rail line to Ethanac Road. The alignment proceeds along

Ethanac Road until SR-74/Ethanac Road intersection, where the alignment turns

southwest along SR-74 to the extension of Nichols Road. Alternative 5c follows Nichols

Road to I-15.

! The eastern terminus of Alternative 5e is located at Domenigoni Parkway and Winchester

Road. The alignment continues west along Domenigoni Parkway, northwest along the

San Jacinto Branch rail line to Ethanac Road, and west along Ethanac Road. From

Ethanac Road, Alternative 5e will continue along new alignment paralleling SR-74

approximately 1 mile to the east. This alternative will cross SR-74 at the extension of

Nichols Road and then continue along Nichols Road to I-15.

Tables 7-8 and 7-9, summarize the impacts to Vegetation Communities as a result of development of

Alternative 1b and the shared alignment portion of Alternatives 5a, 5c and 5e, respectively, within the

Criteria Area.



FINAL MSHCP 7-42

TABLE 7-8

HEMET TO CORONA/LAKE ELSINORE ALTERNATIVE 1B




CRITERIA AREA

(Acres)


Grasslands 190

Playas and Vernal Pools 40


TOTAL 580

TABLE 7-9

HEMET TO CORONA/LAKE ELSINORE ALTERNATIVES 5A & 5E

SHARED ALIGNMENT - IMPACTS TO VEGETATION COMMUNITIES

OCCURRING WITHIN THE CRITERIA AREA


CRITERIA AREA

(Acres)

Agriculture --

Coastal Sage Scrub 25-35

Developed or Disturbed Land 15-20

TOTAL 40-55

From approximately 1 mile east of the SR-74 and Ethanac Road interchange, the alignment for

Alternatives 5a and 5c diverge from Alternative 5e. Alternatives 5a and 5c continue west along Ethanac

Road and then southwest along SR-74. The alignment for Alternative 5a diverges from 5c at the

intersection of the extension of Nichols Road and SR-74. Alternative 5a follows SR-74 to I-15, while

Alternative 5c continues along Nichols Road to I-15.



FINAL MSHCP 7-43

Alternative 5a traverses portions of the Criteria Area. Table 7-10 summarizes the impacts to Vegetation

Communities as a result of development of Alternative 5a within the Criteria Area.

TABLE 7-10

HEMET TO CORONA/LAKE ELSINORE ALTERNATIVE 5A

IMPACTS TO VEGETATION COMMUNITIES OCCURRING WITHIN

THE CRITERIA AREA


CRITERIA AREA

(Acres)


Grassland 30

Riparian Scrub, Woodlands & Forests 3

TOTAL 143

Table 7-11 summarizes the impacts to Vegetation Communities as a result of development of Alternative

5c within the Criteria Area.

TABLE 7-11. HEMET TO CORONA/LAKE ELSINORE ALTERNATIVE 5C




CRITERIA AREA

(Acres)


Grasslands 70


TOTAL 213



FINAL MSHCP 7-44

Alternative 5e proceeds along new alignment paralleling SR-74, approximately 1 mile to the east. This

alternative will cross SR-74 at the extension of Nichols Road and then continue along Nichols Road to

I-15. Table 7-12 summarizes the impacts to Vegetation Communities as a result of development of

Alternative 5e within the Criteria Area.

TABLE 7-12

HEMET TO CORONA/LAKE ELSINORE ALTERNATIVE 5E




CRITERIA AREA

(Acres)

Chaparral 10


Grasslands 180


TOTAL 415

In summary, fewer acres within the Criteria Area are anticipated to be impacted if the Winchester to

Temecula transportation Corridor Alternatives 7a or 7b and the Hemet to Corona/Lake Elsinore

transportation Corridor Alternative 5a are ultimately selected. Greater impacts are anticipated if the

Winchester to Temecula transportation Corridor Alternative 1 and the Hemet to Corona/Lake Elsinore

transportation Corridor Alternative 1b are ultimately selected. Only one east-west transportation Corridor

will be covered under the MSHCP.

San Bernardino to Moreno Valley Corridor

The San Bernardino to Moreno Valley Corridor will be located in the vicinity of I-215 and Ironwood

Avenue, Riverside County and extend to California Street in San Bernardino County. This facility will

be tunneled under the Box Springs Reserve. The tunnel portals will be sited outside of the Criteria Area.

The Corridor will proceed east from Box Springs Reserve generally along Center Street and span Reche

Canyon Road before entering San Bernardino County.



FINAL MSHCP 7-45

This facility is covered under the MSHCP for direct, indirect and cumulative impacts within the MSHCP

Plan Area. However, coverage is conditioned upon impacts outside of the MSHCP Plan Area being

addressed. These include direct, indirect and cumulative impacts of the facility in San Bernardino

County. In the absence of a mechanism to comprehensively address the impacts outside of the Plan Area,

an amendment to the MSHCP may be required to permit this facility within the MSHCP Conservation

Area. The type of amendment, major or minor, will be determined once additional information is

assembled regarding the design location of the facility and its relationship to potential impacts within San

Bernardino County.

Table 7-13 summarizes the impacts to Vegetation Communities as a result of development of the San

Bernardino to Moreno Valley Corridor within the Criteria Area.

TABLE 7-13. SAN BERNARDINO TO MORENO VALLEY CORRIDOR IMPACTS

TO VEGETATION COMMUNITIES OCCURRING WITHIN THE CRITERIA AREA


CRITERIA AREA

(Acres)

Chaparral 160


Grassland 130

TOTAL 370

Orange County - Riverside County Corridor

A transportation Corridor linking Orange County with Riverside County is currently under study by

RCTC and OCTA. The Corridor is not currently contemplated in the Draft General Plan Circulation

Element, but has been identified as a mitigation measure in the Draft EIR for the General Plan as a

mitigation measure to reduce the significant traffic impacts associated with the General Plan.

There are six alternative alignment/location concepts (Alternatives A through F) under study. Only one

alignment alternative would be selected. The selected alignment would be considered a Covered Activity



FINAL MSHCP 7-46

under the MSHCP, subject to the criteria and conditions contained in this section. The MSHCP coverage

applies only within the MSHCP Plan Area. In addition, it is acknowledged that if the selected alignment

requires actions of the USFS, a separate FESA Section 7 consultation process between the USFS and the

USFWS will be required.

The direct, indirect, cumulative and growth inducing impacts of the facility within the MSHCP Plan Area

are addressed in the MSHCP Plan. In addition, for Alternatives A through D, indirect, cumulative and

growth inducing impacts are considered to be addressed in the Orange County Central and Coastal

Subregion NCCP, subject to satisfaction of the criteria contained in this section. This assumption is made

due to the fact that the Central and Coastal Subregion NCCP addresses buildout within its planning area.

Alternatives A through D of the proposed facility are not anticipated to affect buildout assumptions within

the NCCP planning area because the primary impact of the facility would be on employment centers in

the developed/non-preserve portions of the NCCP planning area.

For Alternatives E and F, direct, indirect, cumulative and growth inducing impacts of the facility outside

of the MSHCP Plan Area are currently not addressed, but are required to be addressed and mitigated

through the proposed Orange County Southern Subregion NCCP. Approval of the Southern Subregion

NCCP Plan is required as a condition of coverage for these two alternatives, as further detailed in this

section.

DESCRIPTION OF THE CONCEPTUAL ALTERNATIVES

Alternative A (I-15 to SR-241, North Expressway)

This alternative would be an elevated facility starting at the junction of I-15 and SR-91, following the

BNSF Railroad alignment through North Corona then joining the SR-91 alignment in the vicinity of

Prado Dam, then following the alignment of the SR-91 with elevated grade separation above the existing

SR-91 and then directly joining the SR-241 There would be no direct connections to SR-91 after

departing the I-15/SR-91 junction. This Corridor would follow existing transportation alignments. Based

on this preliminary description, it is estimated that between approximately 130 and 170 acres of the

facility would be located within the Criteria Area. Of that area, approximately 20 to 40 acres are

comprised of natural Habitats, primarily grassland and riparian scrub/woodland.



FINAL MSHCP 7-47

Alternative B (SR-91 Expressway)

This alternative would be an elevated facility above and following the alignment of SR-91 from the I-15

connecting to the SR-241. This alignment would follow the exact alignment of SR-91. There would

be no direct connections to SR-91 after departing the I-15/SR-91 junction. This alternative is expected

to occupy between approximately 80 to 120 acres within the Criteria Area, containing approximately 20

to 40 acres of mostly grassland and riparian scrub/woodland.

Alternative C (I-15 to SR-91 to SR-241)

This alternative start near the junction of the I-15 and Cajalco Road. The road would head west

following the outskirts of Corona in the south. Prior to entering the Cleveland National Forest, the facility

would enter a tunnel section, and prior to joining the SR-91 alignment near Green River the Corridor

daylights and joins the SR-91 alignment as an elevated facility, and then would follow the SR-91

alignment to the SR-241. There would be no direct connections to SR-91 after departing the

I-15/Cajalco junction. Approximately 140 to 180 acres of the impact area of this alternative is expected

to be within the Criteria Area. Of that area, approximately 80 to 100 acres of sensitive Habitats exist,

consisting of mostly coastal sage scrub and grasslands.

Alternative D (I-15/Cajalco to SR-241/133)

This alternative start at the I-15 near Cajalco Road, and heads southwest. Prior to entering the Cleveland

National Forest, the facility would enter a tunnel section. The facility would daylight past the forest and

would intersect near the junction of SR-241 and SR-133. The non-tunnel bore sections, on both sides of

the forest; would maximize use of viaducts for wildlife movement. Alternative D is anticipated to have

approximately 80 to 120 acres of impact within the Criteria Area, including approximately 40 to 60 acres

of grassland, coastal sage scrub and riparian scrub communities.

Alternative E (I-15/SR-74 to SR-241/133)

This alternative begin at I-15 off the SR-74 and head west. Prior to entering the Cleveland National

Forest, the facility would enter a tunnel section. The facility would daylight below the junction of

SR-241 and SR-133. Impacts within the Criteria Area from this alternative are anticipated to be in the

range of 500 to 550 acres, including approximately 400 to 450 acres of impact to primarily coastal sage

scrub, but also including grassland and riparian scrub communities.



FINAL MSHCP 7-48

Alternative F (SR-74 Expressway, I-15/SR-74 to SR-241/133)

This alternative follow the existing SR-74 alignment and improve the facility, straightening and widening

the existing road. The facility enter a tunnel section immediately east of the Riverside/Orange County

line. Approximately 550 to 600 acres of this alternative would be located within the Criteria Area,

including approximately 540 to 560 acres of sensitive Habitats, consisting primarily of coastal sage scrub,

but also containing chaparral, grassland and riparian scrub communities.

PROCESS FOR DETERMINING CONSISTENCY WITH THE MSHCP

The RCTC shall provide to the Wildlife Agencies a consistency analysis, in narrative and graphic form,

of plant and wildlife impacts associated with the selected alignment for the Orange County

Transportation Corridor. The analysis shall include specific alignment and design features, including

consideration of the relevant species objectives in Section 9.0 of this document and Core and Linkage

guidelines contained in Section 3.0 of this document, as well the siting and design criteria identified in

Section 7.5.3, guidelines for wildlife corridors contained in Section 7.5.2, construction guidelines

contained in Section 7.5.3, and the Best Management Practices Guidelines contained in Appendix C of

this document. The analysis will address the following categories:



3. Effects on Core Areas (as identified on the Schematic Cores and Linkages Map contained

in Section 3.2.3 of this document)

4. Effects on Linkages and Constrained Linkages (as identified on the Schematic Cores and

Linkages map contained in Section 3.2.3 of this document)

5. Effects on MSHCP Conservation Area configuration and management

The County of Riverside shall submit the analysis in writing to the Wildlife Agencies for their review.

The Wildlife Agencies shall respond in writing within 60 days as to their concurrence with the analysis.

If the Wildlife Agencies do not concur, the project will require an amendment in order to become a

Covered Activity under the MSHCP. If the Wildlife Agencies concur, or if they fail to respond in writing

within the 60-day period, the project will be permitted as a Covered Activity.



FINAL MSHCP 7-49

GENERAL CRITERIA/CONDITIONS

The following criteria shall be incorporated into the alignment selection and design process for the

Orange County Corridor. Compliance with these criteria, in addition to the specific criteria listed below

for each conceptual alternative, shall demonstrate compliance with the MSHCP.

! In all of the potential alternatives, the proposed facility shall be a six-lane roadway (three lanes

each direction).

! For any portion of the selected alignment that impacts Public/Quasi-Public Lands, replacement

of equivalent conservation lands shall be required. Such replacement lands shall be in addition

to Additional Reserve Lands.

! For any portion of the selected alignment that may enter the Cleveland National Forest and the

existing Orange County Central and Coastal and Southern Subregion NCCP areas, tunneling

shall be maximized to the greatest extent Feasible to avoid impacts to sensitive Habitats and

species and to avoid fragmentation of conservation areas identified in the Central and Coastal

Subregion NCCP. Actual tunnel length shall vary, depending on location, but may be a total of

approximately seven to twelve miles. Tunnel sections shall consist of two to three bored, or

mined, tunnels.

! Tunnel sections shall not daylight in the National Forest. Ventilation shafts may be required, but

these shafts would be constructed to minimize impacts to the National Forest. Existing truck

trails may be utilized for construction, where possible to minimize impacts. Helicopter use shall

be maximized to bring in construction equipment to reduce the need for construction of access

roads in the National Forest, but it may be necessary to provide all-weather surfacing on the

roadways due to life safety issues regarding the emergency access shafts. Tunnel monitoring

facilities shall be located outside the National Forest.

! For Alternatives A through D, the analysis for consistency with the MSHCP shall also include

an analysis of effects of the facility on the Orange County Central and Coastal Subregion NCCP.

The alignment and design features of the facility must demonstrate consistency with the NCCP,

and must fully mitigate any direct impacts that may result from the facility within the NCCP

planning area. Habitat fragmentation shall be a primary consideration of the consistency



FINAL MSHCP 7-50

analysis. Fragmentation shall be avoided through the use of tunnels. Where tunnel sections

daylight, limited impacts to existing reserve edges, and/or to the North Ranch Policy Plan Area

may be accommodated through specific project mitigation.

! For Alternatives E and F, coverage under the MSHCP would be conditional upon approval by

the Wildlife Agencies of an NCCP Plan for Southern Subregion Orange County that includes

consideration of these alignments. The Southern Subregion NCCP must address all cumulative

and growth-inducing impacts of the facility within the NCCP planning area. Demonstration that

the Southern Subregion NCCP adequately addresses impacts to species covered under the plan,

and their Habitats, shall satisfy this condition. Coverage of Alternatives E and F also assumes

that access to the existing Ortega Highway would be restricted primarily to USFS and local

traffic.

SPECIFIC CRITERIA/CONSISTENCY ANALYSIS CONSIDERATIONS FOR

EACH CONCEPTUAL ALTERNATIVE

The following criteria are based on information contained in the individual Species Accounts (Appendix

B, MSHCP Volume II) and on the discussion of Cores and Linkages contained in Section 3.2.3 of this

document. Those sections should be referenced for guidance in determining consistency.

Alternatives A and B

! The alignment/design of the facility shall provide for and maintain connection(s) from Prado

Basin and the Santa Ana River to Chino Hills State Park outside the Plan Area.

! The alignment/design of the facility shall maintain upland linkage area for bobcat and mountain

lion.

! The alignment/design of the facility shall maintain Core and Linkage Habitat for coast range

newt and western pond turtle in the Santa Ana River area.

! If construction affects land within Existing Core A, the analysis submitted to the Wildlife

Agencies shall include consideration of the following species: Santa Ana sucker, arroyo chub,

western pond turtle, Cooper's hawk, tricolored blackbird, burrowing owl, American bittern, cactus



FINAL MSHCP 7-51

wren, northern harrier, western yellow-billed cuckoo, yellow warbler, white-tailed kite,

southwestern willow flycatcher, California horned lark, peregrine falcon, yellow-breasted chat,

loggerhead shrike, black-crowned night heron, osprey, double-crested cormorant, downy

woodpecker, white-faced ibis, tree swallow, least Bell's vireo, bobcat, mountain lion, and Santa

Ana River woollystar.

! If construction affects lands within Proposed Constrained Linkage 1, the analysis submitted to

the Wildlife Agencies shall include consideration of the following species: Cooper's hawk,

coastal California gnatcatcher, bobcat, and mountain lion.


the Wildlife Agencies shall include consideration of the following species: coast range newt,

western pond turtle, bobcat, and mountain lion.

Alternatives C and D

! The alignment/design of the facility shall avoid, to the maximum extent Feasible, impacts to

existing wetlands in Temescal Wash with a focus on Conservation of existing riparian, woodland,

coastal sage scrub, alluvial fan scrub and open water Habitats.


upland Habitat adjacent to Temescal Wash that is intended to augment existing upland

Conservation in the Lake Mathews/ Estelle Mountain Reserve areas and provide for contiguous

connection of upland habitat blocks from the existing reserve to Temescal Wash. Conservation

and impact avoidance shall focus on blocks of existing upland Habitat east of Temescal Wash

connecting to the Lake Mathews/Estelle Mountain Reserve.

! The alignment/design of the facility shall avoid, to the maximum extent Feasible, Habitat for

least Bell's vireo and southwestern willow flycatcher along Temescal Wash.

! The alignment/design of the facility shall avoid, to the maximum extent Feasible, clay soils

supporting covered plant species known to occur in the Temescal Area Plan including Munz's

onion, Palmer's grapplinghook, small-flowered morning glory, long-spined spine flower,

small-flowered mircroseris, and many-stemmed dudleya.



FINAL MSHCP 7-52

! The alignment/design of the facility shall avoid, to the maximum extent Feasible, floodplain areas

supporting covered plant species known to occur in the Temescal Area Plan including peninsular

spine flower, smooth tarplant and Coulter's matilija poppy.

! The alignment/design of the facility shall provide for and maintain a continuous Linkage along

Temescal Wash from the southern boundary of the Temescal Area Plan to the Santa Ana River.

It is recognized that the connection from the northern boundary of the Criteria Area along

Temescal Wash to the Santa Ana River generally consists of a concrete channel. This channel

shall remain in its existing condition with implementation of the MSHCP Plan.

! The alignment/design of the facility shall maintain Core and Linkage Habitat for bobcat and

mountain lion.

! The alignment/design of the facility shall maintain linkage area for Stephens' kangaroo rat along

Temescal Wash.

! If construction affects lands within Existing Core B, the analysis submitted to the Wildlife

Agencies shall include consideration of the following species: Cooper's hawk, Southern

California rufous-crowned sparrow, Bell's sage sparrow, golden eagle, turkey vulture, yellow

warbler, mountain quail, downy woodpecker, purple martin, California spotted owl, tree swallow,

Jaeger's milk-vetch, Palmer's grapplinghook, prostrate spine flower, graceful tarplant, and

small-flowered microseris.

! If construction affects lands within Proposed Extension of Existing Core 2, the analysis submitted

to the Wildlife Agencies shall include consideration of the following species: Cooper's hawk,

Southern California rufous-crowned sparrow, Bell's sage sparrow, yellow warbler, white-tailed

kite, southwestern willow flycatcher, yellow-breasted chat, loggerhead shrike, downy

woodpecker, coastal California gnatcatcher, least Bell's vireo, Stephens' kangaroo rat, bobcat,

mountain lion, Munz's onion, long-spined spine flower, and many stemmed dudleya.


the Wildlife Agencies shall include consideration of the following species: Cooper's hawk,

coastal California gnatcatcher, bobcat, and mountain lion.



FINAL MSHCP 7-53

Alternatives E and F

! The alignment/design of the facility shall provide for connection between Santa Ana Mountains,

Temescal Wash and the foothills north of Lake Elsinore (Estelle Mountain, Sedco Hills); existing

connections appear to be at Indian Canyon, Horsethief Canyon, and open upland areas southwest

of Alberhill.

! The alignment/design of the facility shall avoid, to the maximum extent Feasible, wetlands

including Temescal Wash, Collier Marsh, Alberhill Creek, Lake Elsinore and the floodplain east

of Lake Elsinore (including marsh Habitats) and maintain water quality.


supporting many-stemmed dudleya and Munz's onion.


foraging Habitat for raptors, providing a sage scrub-grassland ecotone.

! The alignment/design of the facility shall maintain Core Areas for bobcat and mountain lion east

of I-15.

! The alignment/design of the facility shall maintain Core and Linkage Habitat for Stephens'

kangaroo rat east of I-15.

! The alignment/design of the facility shall maintain Core and Linkage Habitat for Quino

checkerspot butterfly.

! The alignment/design of the facility shall maintain connection to mountains to provide

movement opportunities for mountain quail.


Habitats for coastal California gnatcatcher and other coastal sage scrub and chaparral species.

! The alignment/design of the facility shall provide for northwest-southeast connection along the

hills between Estelle Mountain and Sedco Hills, primarily for coastal California gnatcatchers, but

also other sage scrub species.



FINAL MSHCP 7-54

! The alignment/design of the facility shall avoid, to the maximum extent Feasible, alkali soils

supporting covered plant species such as San Diego ambrosia, vernal barley and Coulter's

goldfields.


supporting covered plant species such as Munz's onion, many-stemmed dudleya, small-flowered

morning glory and Palmer's grapplinghook.

! The alignment/design of the facility shall avoid, to the maximum extent Feasible, wetlands

including Temescal Wash.

! The alignment/design of the facility shall maintain upland Habitats in Alberhill and provide

connection north to Estelle Mountain, North Peak, and BLM Lands.

! The alignment/design of the facility shall avoid, to the maximum extent Feasible, Engelmann oak

woodlands.


foraging Habitat for raptors, providing a sage scrub-grassland ecotone.

! The alignment/design of the facility shall maintain Core Areas for Riverside fairy shrimp.

! The alignment/design of the facility shall avoid, to the maximum extent Feasible,

Travers-Willow-Domino soil series.


grassland Habitat for mountain plover.


breeding Habitat for northern harrier.

! The alignment/design of the facility shall maintain Core and Linkage Habitat for western pond

turtle.

! If construction affects lands within Existing Core B, the analysis submitted to the Wildlife

Agencies shall include consideration of the following species: Cooper's hawk, southern



FINAL MSHCP 7-55

California rufous-crowned sparrow, Bell's sage sparrow, golden eagle, turkey vulture, yellow

warbler, mountain quail, downy woodpecker, purple martin, California spotted owl, tree swallow,

Jaeger's milk-vetch, Palmer's grapplinghook, prostrate spine flower, graceful tarplant, and

small-flowered microseris.

! If construction affects lands within Proposed Extension of Existing Core 2, the analysis submitted

to the Wildlife Agencies shall include consideration of the following species: Cooper's hawk,

Southern California rufous-crowned sparrow, Bell's sage sparrow, yellow warbler, white-tailed

kite, southwestern willow flycatcher, yellow-breasted chat, loggerhead shrike, downy

woodpecker, coastal California gnatcatcher, least Bell's vireo, Stephens' kangaroo rat, bobcat,

mountain lion, Munz's onion, long-spined spine flower, and many stemmed dudleya.

! If construction affects lands within Proposed Core 1, the analysis submitted to the Wildlife

Agencies shall include consideration of the following species: American bittern, mountain

plover, southwestern willow flycatcher, black-crowned night heron, osprey, double-crested

cormorant, white-faced ibis, and least Bell's vireo.

! If construction affects lands within Proposed Linkage 1, the analysis submitted to the Wildlife

Agencies shall include consideration of the following species: Cooper's hawk, Bell's sage

sparrow, loggerhead shrike, mountain quail, coastal California gnatcatcher, Stephens' kangaroo

rat, bobcat, and mountain lion.

! If construction affects lands within Proposed Linkage 2, the analysis submitted to the Wildlife

Agencies shall include consideration of the following species: American bittern, mountain

plover, southwestern willow flycatcher, black-crowned night heron, osprey, double-crested

cormorant, white-faced ibis, and least Bell's vireo.

7.3.6 State Park Facilities

' Laborde Canyon Off-Highway Vehicle Park/State Vehicle Recreation

Area

An Off- Highway Vehicle Park/State Vehicle Recreation Area (SVRA) may be constructed within

Sections 12, 13, 24 T3S.R2W and Sections 18, 19 and 20 T3S.R1W and access developed to the site



FINAL MSHCP 7-56

through sections 20, 21, 28, 29, 30, 31 and 32 T3SR1W. The SVRA may utilize up to 1,200 acres within

the Criteria Area including the active riding area, access roads, parking areas and other ancillary facilities.

In addition, the SVRA may utilize up to 500 acres outside the Criteria Area in Sections 7 and 8 T3S.R1W

for access, staging and support facilities. The siting of the facilities must comply with the terms of the

MSHCP. The development of the SVRA is also required to comply with the following:

! Permanent protection of a .75 mile wide Linkage /Live-In Habitat area westerly of the

SVRA location linking the south half of Section 25 T3S.R2W with Section 11

T3S.R2W;

! Prior to or concurrent with the construction of any facilities, 3,000 acres in the vicinity

of, but excluding the properties generally know as the Laborde Properties, must be

permanently conserved as part of the Additional Reserve Lands;

! The lands conserved as part of the Linkage/Live-In Habitat area may be used to fulfill the

SVRA Additional Reserve Lands requirement;

! For each 100 acres of direct utilization over 600 acres within the Criteria Area, an

additional 500 acres in the above described area must be permanently conserved.

! For each 100 acres of direct utilization outside the Criteria Area, an additional 500 acres

in the above described area must also be permanently conserved.

! Lands acquired and permanently conserved to preclude the encroachment of other uses

on the SVRA may be used to meet the Additional Reserve Lands requirement if it is

demonstrated that they have long-term viability for biological resources and the Wildlife

Agencies concur that they achieve the goals of the MSHCP; and

! In addition to and concurrent with providing for the Additional Reserve Lands,

management and monitoring of the Additional Reserve Lands shall be provided by either:

1) Establishing an endowment with CDFG that is adequate to fund one (1) position

for the management of the Additional Reserve Lands associated with the SVRA

and one (1) position for the MSHCP Monitoring Program; or

2) Transferring to CDFG and permanently funding two (2) positions to carry out the

management and monitoring activities in Item 1 above; or



FINAL MSHCP 7-57

3) Dedicating and funding two (2) DPR positions to carry out the management and

monitoring in Item 2 above.

The management and monitoring obligations in Items 1-3 are based on the 3,000 acres of Additional

Reserve Lands and would be increased as the number of acres of Additional Reserve Lands increased

above 3,000 acres.

' Other State Park Facilities

Existing State Park facilities within the MSHCP Conservation Area include the Lake Perris State

Recreation Area, Chino Hills State Park, Mount San Jacinto State Park, San Timoteo State Park and

Anza-Borrego State Park. The following is a description of existing and future activities and acreages

(including brush management areas) within these State Park facilities that are Covered Activities under

the MSHCP. Recreational activities allowed within the campgrounds and day use areas include hiking,

horseback riding, bicycling, camping, picnicking, swimming, boating and hunting (at Lake Perris SRA).

Lake Perris State Recreation Area

Existing visitor use facilities are primarily located along the north shore of the lake and on the south shore

in the Bernasconi Pass area. The main administrative facility is located below the dam. Existing use

areas consist of approximately 220 acres of campgrounds, 120 acres of parking areas, 200 acres of day

use areas, 10 acres of administrative uses, 5 acres of water treatment and storage facilities, a 5-acre

museum, 54 acres of roads and 10 acres of trails. Future uses/expansions of existing uses are anticipated

to include a 2-acre visitor center, 15 additional acres of parking, a 15-acre swim lagoon, 1-acre campfire

center, 7 additional acres of campgrounds, 1 additional acre of trails/bridges, and 4 additional acres of

roads.

Chino Hills State Park

Existing improvements within portions of the Chino Hills State Park that are within the MSHCP Plan

Area are limited to two acres of existing roads. Future improvements will include two acres of parking,

and one acre of campgrounds.



FINAL MSHCP 7-58

Mount San Jacinto State Park and State Wilderness

This park facility includes 20 acres of campgrounds, five acres of parking areas, 10 acres of day use areas,

one acre of administrative facilities, one acre of water facilities, 15 acres of roads and nine acres of trails.

Future improvements will include a two-acre visitor center, five additional acres of parking, 15 additional

acres of campgrounds, two additional acres of trails, and two additional acres of roads.

San Timoteo Park

Land is currently being acquired to establish a State Park. Existing improvements to the land include one

acre of administrative facilities and eight acres of roads. Future improvements include a two-acre visitor

center, five acres of parking areas, 15 acres of campgrounds, two acres of trails, and two additional acres

of roads.

Anza-Borrego State Park

Within the MSHCP Plan Area this facility has five acres of administrative uses, 18 acres of roads, and

five acres of trails. No future uses are proposed.

7.3.7 Flood Control Facilities

Within the Criteria Area, flood control facilities (improvements and new construction) that are undertaken

by a Permittee are Covered Activities. Maintenance of existing flood control facilities within

Public/Quasi Public Lands or the Criteria Area that is subject to an MOU or agreement with CDFG for

such activities would be covered pursuant to those MOUs or agreements. Table 7-14 contains a list of

flood control facilities that have been identified as Covered Activities within the Criteria Area. It should

be noted that some of the County Flood Control District lands have been included in the Public/Quasi-

Public Lands database. Flood control activities within Public/Quasi-Public Lands are also Covered

Activities pursuant to this section. As discussed in Section 7.1, facilities that are located outside of the

Criteria Area are also Covered Activities.



FINAL MSHCP 7-59

TABLE 7-14

POTENTIAL FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS

WITHIN THE MSHCP CRITERIA AREA

PROJECT DESCRIPTION PROJECT LOCATION

Flood control improvements In Prado Basin

Arroyo del Toro Channel Lake Elsinore Outlet Channel to Cabern Avenue

Day Creek Channel Stage 6 Lucretia Street to Limonite Avenue

Gavilan Hills/Smith Road Southwesterly of Smith and Cajalco Roads

Perris Valley Channel Ramona Expressway to San Jacinto River

Warm Springs Channel Madison Avenue westerly to exiting stage 2 channel near Jefferson Avenue

Murrieta Creek Area MDP- Line A Del Rio Rd to Front St

Murrieta Creek Area MDP- Line D Murrieta Creek to Madison Avenue

The locations for these facilities is largely dictated by drainage features and topography. Therefore, in

many cases, options for the siting of the facilities are limited. Therefore, implementation is subject to the

construction guidelines as detailed in Section 7.5.3, as well as the Best Management Practices contained

in Appendix C.

' San Jacinto River Flood Control Project

The Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District (“County Flood Control”) intends

to implement flood control measures (including channelization or some other form or forms of engineered

flood control) on the San Jacinto River between the Ramona Expressway and the mouth of Railroad

Canyon (“San Jacinto River Project’). The County Flood Control anticipates the development of a flood

control project for the San Jacinto River which is expected to reduce the flow to approximately 6,000

cubic feet per second at the Ramona Expressway during 100 year flood events. Other Covered Activities

within the vicinity of the San Jacinto River include Ramona Expressway bridge and culvert, Nuevo Road

bridge, San Jacinto Avenue crossing, I-215 bridge and levee, Case Road bridge, Burlington Northern



FINAL MSHCP 7-60

Santa Fe Railroad bridge, Goetz Road bridge, Ethanac Road bridge, Perris Valley Storm Drain Channel

and Romoland Channel.

The following criteria shall apply to the San Jacinto River Project.

1. Conserve land (“Mitigation Lands”) and provides hydrology for the continued survival of the

following Covered Species: San Jacinto Valley crownscale, Davidson’s saltscale, thread-

leaved brodiaea, smooth tarplant, vernal barley, Coulter’s goldfields, spreading navarretia,

and Wright’s trichocoronis. Mitigation Lands may include acreage located outside the

Lakeview/Nuevo and Mead Valley Area Plans if the Wildlife Agencies determine that such

acreage provides the same or greater Conservation value and acreage to the MSHCP

Conservation Area.

2. Conserve the two thread-leaved brodiaea populations located downstream of I-215 at Case

Road and Railroad Canyon. One of these populations may be transplanted to a suitable

receiver site, in accordance with a mitigation and monitoring program that includes success

criteria and requirements to ensure that the population has been established.

3. Establish a minimum 1,000-foot wide multi-species Linkage between the Ramona

Expressway and the th of Railroad Canyon, which includes the San Jacinto River channel and

other land acquired for the Corridor. This Linkage shall be within those Mitigation Lands

located adjacent to the San Jacinto River channel. The Linkage width may be reduced with

the concurrence of the Wildlife Agencies: (1) to accommodate existing facilities and

operations at the Perris Valley Airport; (2) to accommodate Covered Activities; or (3) if a

reduced width elsewhere would provide adequate Linkage.

The District and the Wildlife Agencies anticipate that development of the San Jacinto River Project may

involve adjustments to the Cell Criteria or Area Plan assumptions set forth in other sections of the

MSHCP which may be implemented through Criteria Refinements or Minor Amendments, as set forth

in Section 6.0 of this document. If a Minor Amendment is needed, it shall be submitted to the Wildlife

Agencies for review and concurrence. If the Wildlife Agencies concur with the minor amendment or if

they fail to respond within a 60-day period, the project may be approved by the County Flood Control.



FINAL MSHCP 7-61

7.3.8 Waste Management Facilities

The following Table 7-15 provides a list of existing County Waste Management facility sites.

TABLE 7-15. WASTE MANAGEMENT FACILITIES

DESCRIPTION CURRENT STATUS

LANDFILLS

El Sobrante Active (per El Sobrante HCP)

Badlands Active

Lamb Canyon Active

Double Butte Inactive

Idyllwild Inactive

Old Idyllwild Burn Site Inactive

Crestmore Inactive

East County Line Inactive

Anza Inactive

Beaumont Inactive

Bundy Canyon Inactive

Corona Inactive

Belltown Inactive

Elsinore Inactive

Hemet Inactive

Highgrove Inactive

Homeland Inactive

Lakeview Inactive

Mead Valley Inactive

Menifee Inactive

Mira Loma Inactive

Pedley Inactive

Temecula Inactive

Valle Vista Inactive

West Riverside Inactive

TRANSFER STATIONS

Anza Active

Idyllwild Active

Robert A. Nelson Active



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The locations of these facilities are shown on Figure 7-2, Existing Waste Management Facilities.

Facilities located outside the Criteria Area are covered as outlined in Section 7.1. Operations,

maintenance and expansion activities at existing active waste management facilities within the Criteria

Area and Public/Quasi-Public Lands will be Covered Activities if performed within the existing

boundaries (ownership or lease area) of these facilities. Coverage for these activities is subject to

satisfaction of all obligations identified in Section 13.6 of the Implementing Agreement. Although El

Sobrante Landfill may be located within the MSHCP Conservation Area, activities at El Sobrante Landfill

will be dictated by its approved HCP. Landfill operations and maintenance activities will be carried out

in a manner consistent with regulatory authorizations and/or permits. Covered Activities also include

development of waste related activities within the existing disturbed use areas at inactive landfill sites.

County Waste shall maintain maps of such existing disturbed use areas. Waste related activities include

energy production (such as gas-to-energy operations), transfer and recycling facilities and state-mandated

maintenance activities.

7.3.9 Future Facilities

Future facilities are facilities that are necessary to support planned Development. Certain future facilities

have been preliminarily identified by the agencies responsible for their construction, operation and

maintenance, while others have not been or cannot be identified and/or located at present. Future

facilities that are carried out by a Permittee, Participating Special Entities and/or Third Parties Granted

Take Authorization will be considered Covered Activities. The process for mitigation and/or contribution

to Reserve Assembly for future facilities is described in Section 6.1.6.

There are three general categories of future facilities that may need to be located within either the Criteria

Area, due to the fact that such facilities are linear, or involve engineering constraints that make avoidance

of Criteria Areas not Feasible. Such constraints may also require location of these facilities within

Public/Quasi-Public Lands. If such is the case, all of the conditions described in this section for coverage

of future facilities apply, with the addition of a requirement that impacts to Habitats within existing

Public/Quasi-Public Lands shall be compensated by purchase and dedication into the MSHCP

Conservation Area of land that is in addition to the Additional Reserve Lands.



FINAL MSHCP 7-63



FINAL MSHCP 7-64

The three categories include:

! Water/Wastewater Facilities

! Electrical Utility Facilities

! Natural Gas Facilities

The following is a discussion of all the reported known future facilities within the Criteria Area for each

of the four categories.

Water/Wastewater Facilities

Water and wastewater facilities generally include by but are not limited to pipelines, pump stations, lift

stations, force mains, reservoirs, wastewater treatment plants, filtration plants and appurtenant facilities.

Electric Utilities

There are several potential future subtransmission projects planned by electric utility purveyors that may

need to be located within the Criteria Area. These include new or upgraded/replacement transmission

lines, and electrical generation facilities that require specific locations (e.g., water, and wind power

facilities).

Natural Gas Facilities

Activities related to gas facilities will largely be comprised of operation and maintenance at the of gas

utility purveyors’ existing and planned facilities and pipelines. The following are examples of activities

that may be conducted to install, test and maintain pipeline:

! ROW repair, including grading, blocking and dragging

! below-grade pipe and coating inspections

! leak excavations

! installation or replacement of anodes

! placement of cathodic protection units

! repair of large pipeline washouts

! road improvements



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LOCATING FUTURE FACILITIES

For facilities proposed within the Criteria Area where the area proposed for the facilities has not yet been

assembled into the MSHCP Conservation Area, the facilities will be subject to the Criteria contained in

Section 3 of this document. If the facilities are determined to meet the Criteria, construction of the

facilities will proceed as a Covered Activity within the Criteria Area. If the facilities were determined

not to be consistent with the Criteria, the facilities may still proceed as a Covered Activity within the

Criteria Area, provided that either the location and/or characteristics of the facilities are modified to meet

the Criteria, and/or the Criteria Area is amended through the Criteria Refinement Process identified in

Section 6.5 of this document.

' Facilities Siting Criteria

In addition to meeting the requirements addressed in Section 6.1.6 and 6.6.2 E(2) of this document, future

facilities will be located in the least environmentally sensitive Feasible location, and use existing roads,

trails and other disturbed areas to the greatest extent Feasible. Facilities will be routed through developed

or developing areas where Feasible. If no other routing is Feasible, alignments will follow previously

existing roads, easements, rights of way, and disturbed areas, minimizing habitat fragmentation.

In addition to the Facilities Siting Criteria, construction activities for future facilities within the Criteria

Area will proceed in accordance with the BMPs contained in Appendix C of this document.

7.4 ALLOWABLE USES IN MSHCP CONSERVATION AREA

7.4.1 Compatible Uses

The following uses are considered to be compatible with the overall conservation goals and objectives

of the MSHCP and are covered within the MSHCP Conservation Area:



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' Reserve Management, Monitoring and Scientific Research Activities

Certain activities associated with management on New Reserve Lands or Public Quasi Public Lands may

result in Incidental Take of Covered Species Adequately Conserved (e.g., fuel modification, fire

management, weed control, access control, habitat enhancement). Moreover, some activities undertaken

during monitoring (e.g., capture, relocation to prevent injury or death trapping, handling, enhancement

of propagation, use of recorded vocalizations, marking) likely will result in the non-incidental take, or

take for scientific purposes, of Covered Species Adequately Conserved. Take for scientific purposes of

listed species needs to be authorized under FESA and CESA.

Take of Covered Species Adequately Conserved resulting from management activities is authorized under

the MSHCP provided that:

(1) Such take occurs during activities specifically described in the General Management Measures,

Adaptive Management Plan, or Annual Work Plans approved by the Wildlife Agencies

representatives on the RMOC; and

(2) Such take occurs during activities conducted by the agents or employees of the FWS, CDFG,

RCA, or any person acting under the direct guidance or authority of these entities.

Take of Covered Species Adequately Conserved resulting from monitoring activities or for scientific

purposes is authorized under the MSHCP provided that:

(1) Such take occurs during activities specifically described in the Monitoring Annual Work Plans

approved by the Wildlife Agencies representatives on the RMOC;

(2) The person(s) undertaking such activities successfully completed the training program(s)

designed by the Monitoring Program Administrator and approved by the Wildlife Agencies

representatives on the RMOC to ensure consistent data collection, uniform implementation of

protocols, handling procedures, and appropriate experience with the subject Covered Species

Adequately Conserved or similar species;

(3) The person(s) undertaking such activities carry out their duties in conformance with the protocols

and procedures specified in the training; and



FINAL MSHCP 7-67

(4) The names and certification of training for the person(s) are provided to the RMOC and on file

at the RCA.

These provisions are consistent with the FWS policy as described in the FWS “Habitat Conservation

Planning Handbook” (USFWS, 1996). In addition, the FESA Section 10(a)(1)(B) and Fish and Game

Code Section 2835 Permits issued in accordance with the MSHCP authorize Take resulting from

management and monitoring as stated above only on duly established New Reserve Lands. Take

resulting from management activities directed by the RMOC on non-federal Public/Quasi Public Lands

is authorized if the owner or manager of the Public/Quasi-Public lands have entered into a management

agreement with the Wildlife Agencies, and the RCA for cooperation in habitat conservation and

management, as identified in Section 18.0 of the IA. Take resulting from monitoring activities directed

by the RMOC on non-federal Public/Quasi Public Lands is authorized if the owner or manager of the

Public/Quasi-Public lands have granted access to the monitoring team and record of such permission is

on file at the RCA. Monitoring and management activities need to be otherwise lawful and such

appropriate authorizations, as necessary, may need to be obtained from Federal or State agencies.

' Emergency, Safety and Police Services

Local, state and federal law enforcement entities will be allowed access to the MSHCP Conservation

Area as necessary to enforce the law. Medical, rescue, fire fighting operations, and other emergency

service providers will be allowed access to the MSHCP Conservation Area to carry out operations

necessary for the health, safety and welfare of the public. Local law enforcement agencies and other

entities such as the National Guard or Immigration and Naturalization Service operating within the

MSHCP Conservation Area are subject to existing state and federal laws. The MSHCP will not create

additional permit requirements for these entities beyond those of existing state and federal laws.

' Emergency Repairs

Public infrastructure facilities and utilities are currently located in areas anticipated to be included within

the MSHCP Conservation Area and may be constructed in the future in the MSHCP Conservation Area

in accordance with the Covered Activities described in this section. From time to time, emergency repairs

may be required to these facilities as necessary for the health, safety and welfare of the public. Such

activities carried out by Plan Participants will be covered within the MSHCP Conservation Area. The



FINAL MSHCP 7-68

following procedures will be employed for emergency repairs that occur outside the boundaries of

existing cleared areas:

! The Plan Participant(s) initiating the emergency repair will notify designated RCA staff that a

repair is necessary; after-the-fact notification will occur within 72 hours for emergency repairs

that must be carried out immediately for the protection of public health and safety.

! Immediately upon notification, RCA staff will conduct a site visit with emergency repair staff to

assess the situation and determine if the repair may affect MSHCP resources; recommendations

will be made regarding methods for implementing the emergency repair while minimizing

environmental impacts, including any necessary post-repair restoration efforts resulting from

actual repair activities; sensitive areas may be flagged in the field to assist in providing direction

for repair crews.

! If necessary, RCA staff will conduct onsite monitoring during the repair.

! Upon completion of the repair, RCA staff will assess and document onsite conditions and include

such documentation in the administrative record of the MSHCP; if warranted, revegetation plans

will be prepared for areas disturbed by the repair and RCA staff will oversee implementation of

such plans.

7.4.2 Conditionally Compatible Uses

The following uses are considered conditionally compatible with the overall conservation goals and

objectives of the MSHCP and are covered within the MSHCP Conservation Area subject to the

guidelines and criteria incorporated in this section.

Public Access and Recreation

' Introduction

Although the main goal of the MSHCP Conservation Area is to protect biological resources, another

primary objective is to provide recreational and educational opportunities within the MSHCP



FINAL MSHCP 7-69

Conservation Area, while providing adequate protection for the biological resources. Section 7.3.6

identifies State Park facilities and recreational activities that are covered by the MSHCP. The following

addresses non-State Park recreation and access within the MSHCP Conservation Area. Public access is

a very important part of the MSHCP because it gives the public an opportunity to experience and

appreciate the natural environment that is being protected. The MSHCP Conservation Area will function

as a living laboratory so that visitors can learn about their local environment. By increasing awareness

and appreciation for the natural resources within the MSHCP Conservation Area, local residents and

visitors can learn the importance of and practice environmental stewardship.

First, this section discusses covered public access and recreational activities within the MSHCP

Conservation Area. Next, anticipated impacts resulting from these public access activities are quantified

and discussed. Finally, this section outlines the guidelines that will regulate the covered public access uses

to provide sufficient protection for biological resources within the MSHCP Conservation Area.

' Covered Public Access Activities

The covered public access uses within the MSHCP Conservation Area will be comprised of trails,

facilities, and passive recreational activities. This section describes those facilities and quantifies the

anticipated impacts within the MSHCP Conservation Area for construction of those facilities.

The primary public access component within the MSHCP Conservation Area will be trails. There are two

types of trails that are expected within the MSHCP Conservation Area. The first type is existing

community trails, which are primarily used by equestrian users (see Figure 7-3). No impacts will be

covered and no improvements will be allowed on any of these existing community trails under the

MSHCP. The second type of trail is existing adopted regional trails and future proposed regional trails

(see Figure 7-3). Covered uses on these existing and proposed regional trails will include hiking,

mountain biking, and equestrian use. Construction of and improvements to these trails will be covered

under the MSHCP.

In addition to these trails, three other types of public access facilities will be located within the MSHCP

Conservation Area. This includes fourteen trailheads, five interpretive centers, and four maintenance

facilities. Trailheads are access points to trails and resource areas for day use activities and can be

selectively specialized to accommodate different types of trail users. Within the MSHCP Conservation

Area, trailheads will serve as access points for mountain biking, and equestrian use as well as hiking uses.

Interpretive centers will be environmentally and culturally oriented facilities that help to interpret and



FINAL MSHCP 7-70



FINAL MSHCP 7-71

explain natural, historic, and cultural resources of the region. They can include a K-12 oriented

classroom, laboratory facilities, meeting rooms and permanent displays. Maintenance facilities serve as

stations for rangers to coordinate maintenance activities.

In order to quantify the anticipated impacts within the MSHCP Conservation Area for the new regional

trails and facilities described above, the following method was used. First, maps were prepared showing

the approximate locations of proposed trails and facilities (see Figure 7-4). Then assumptions were made

regarding trail widths and facility sizes (see Table 7-16). A disturbance width of 20 feet was assumed

for the existing adopted and future proposed regional trails. Although a 20 foot disturbance width was

assumed, the actual width of these trails will be determined by County regulations and will range between

10 and 20 feet. For the acreage of impact from the other public access facilities, twenty acres for the

interpretive centers, five acres for trailheads, and ten acres for the maintenance facilities was assumed.

TABLE 7-16. ASSUMPTIONS FOR COVERED TRAILS

AND FACILITIES WITHIN THE MSHCP CONSERVATION AREA

TYPE OF FACILITY

SIZE OF DISTURBANCE

(PER FACILITY) NUMBER OF PROPOSED FACILITIES

Regional Trails 20 feet

Interpretive Center 20 acres 5

Trailhead 5 acres 14

Ranger Maintenance Facility 10 acres 4

The trail and facility maps were then intersected with the MSHCP vegetation map and the Criteria Area.

Using the assumptions described above, anticipated impacts within the MSHCP Conservation Area were

quantified. The results of this analysis are presented in Tables 7-17 and 7-18. Results are reported as a

range of acres by Vegetation Community for each public access component to reflect the regional,

landscape level of the analysis and to provide flexibility in the eventual design and construction of

facilities. As discussed later in this section, it is also assumed that design, construction, and operation of

public access facilities will avoid and minimize impacts to MSHCP Conservation Area resources.



FINAL MSHCP 7-72



FINAL MSHCP 7-73

TABLE 7-17. ANTICIPATED IMPACTS FOR COVERED TRAILS


TYPE OF FACILITY RANGE OF ACRES

Regional Trails 810-910

Interpretive Centers 95-120

Trailheads 60-80

Maintenance Facilities 35-45

TOTAL ACRES OF AUTHORIZED TAKE 1,000-1,155

TABLE 7-18. ANTICIPATED IMPACTS FOR COVERED TRAILS


BY VEGETATION COMMUNITYxVEGETATION COMMUNITY RANGE OF ACRES

REGIONAL TRAILS

Agricultural Land 50 – 60

Chaparral 215 – 230

Coastal Sage Scrub 185 – 200

Developed or Disturbed Land 65 – 80

Grassland 145 – 155

Peninsular Juniper Woodland and Scrubs 0 – 10

Riparian Scrub, Woodland, Forest 90 – 100

Riversidean Alluvial Fan Sage Scrub 35 – 45

Woodlands and Forests 25-30

INTERPRETIVE CENTERS


Chaparral 30 – 35

Developed or disturbed land 20 – 25

Grassland 20 – 25

Riparian scrub, woodland, forest 5 – 10

TRAILHEADS


Chaparral 20 – 25

Coastal Sage Scrub 20 – 25

Grassland 10 – 15

MAINTENANCE FACILITIES

Chaparral 35 – 45

TOTAL ACRES OF ANTICIPATED IMPACT 1,000 – 1,155

x Note: Vegetation Community acreages are based on intersecting the generalized public access facilities maps with the generalized MSHCP vegetation map

and are reported to depict the general range of Vegetation Communities anticipated to be affected by construction of public access facilities within the MSHCP

Conservation Area. Actual Vegetation Community acreages will vary based on project-level data at the time facilities are constructed. Facility construction

will occur in accordance with the siting, design, and operations guidelines presented in this section and will minimize impacts to MSHCP Conservation Area

resources and function.



FINAL MSHCP 7-74

In addition to the trails and facilities that directly affect land within the MSHCP Conservation Area ,

passive recreational activities will also be covered within the MSHCP Conservation Area. These include

activities that do not impact land within the MSHCP Conservation Area and cause minimal disturbance

to resources within the MSHCP Conservation Area. Passive recreation includes hiking, bird watching,

photography, and under specified locations identified in the following guidelines, mountain biking,

horseback riding, picnicking, sun bathing, scientific research, swimming, fishing, hunting and boating.

Other activities associated with public access and recreation that will be covered include maintenance-

related activities for adopted and proposed trails, facilities, signs and barriers.

' Guidelines for Public Access and Recreation in the MSHCP

Conservation Area

Excessive or uncontrolled access within the MSHCP Conservation Area can result in habitat degradation

and disruption of breeding and other critical wildlife functions at certain times of the year. In order to

provide sufficient protection for natural and biological resources within the MSHCP Conservation Area,

the following policies and guidelines have been developed to regulate the covered public access activities

described above. These guidelines are separated into two categories: Siting and Design and Operations

and Maintenance.

' Guidelines for the Siting and Design of Trails and Facilities

The construction of trails and facilities will impact biological resources within the MSHCP Conservation

Area. Therefore, the following guidelines address ways to avoid and minimize impacts from the

placement and design of these trails and facilities on the MSHCP Conservation Area’s natural resources.

1. Trails and facilities will be sited and designed to be compatible with resource protection and in

a manner that minimizes impacts to sensitive resources and Habitat types covered by the

MSHCP. All decisions relating to public access will be made in a manner that is most protective

of biological resources.

2. Trails and facilities will be located in the least sensitive areas of the MSHCP Conservation Area

so that they avoid Habitat occupied by species covered by the MSHCP.

3. Prior to design and construction of public access facilities, biological surveys will be conducted

within the study area for the facility including vegetation mapping and species surveys and/or

wetland delineations based on field conditions as recommended by the project biologists. The



FINAL MSHCP 7-75

results of the biological resources investigation will be mapped and documented. The

documentation will include preliminary conclusions and recommendations regarding potential

effects of facility construction on MSHCP Conservation Area resources and methods to avoid

and minimize impacts to MSHCP Conservation Area resources in conjunction with project siting,

design, construction, and operation. The project biologist will work with facility designers during

the design and construction phase to ensure implementation of Feasible recommendations.

4. Recreational activities and the construction of trails and facilities on highly erosive soils will be

avoided.

5. Trails and facilities will be designed to discourage and prevent intrusion into adjacent

environmentally sensitive areas.

6. New trails and facilities will avoid using wildlife crossing points.

7. New trails and facilities will be accessible from existing and planned public roads.

8. New facilities will minimize impacts from lighting.

9. Environmentally sensitive grading techniques, drainage management and vegetation buffers will

be used for trail and facility runoff absorption and filtration.

10. When landscaping is required, only native species will be used. The use of nonnative invasive

plant species will be prohibited.

Trails

11. Whenever possible, trail alignments in the MSHCP Conservation Area will use existing dirt

roads.

12. Trails will be kept along the edges of large sensitive areas of habitat such as meadows and

riparian areas.

13. The type, width, and intensity of trail uses will be consistent with protection of the resources

being traversed.



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14. When determined to be appropriate, trails will be constructed to any prominent features or

viewpoints that are likely to attract hikers in order to prevent off-trail access and extensive

trampling of adjacent Habitat by hikers.

15. Water breaks will be installed on steep trails to prevent accelerated runoff and erosion.

16. Dog-friendly trails will be located in areas of relatively low habitat value or edges.

Interpretive Centers

17. Interpretive centers will be constructed to display and interpret the natural resources. Exhibits will

emphasize the need to conserve natural resources in MSHCP Conservation Area.

18. Interpretive centers will not be separated from the resource area since its purpose is directly

related to explaining the values of the resource. In sensitive Habitat , minimization methods such

as buffers will be used.

Trailheads

19. Trail access points to the MSHCP Conservation Area (e.g., parking lots and staging areas) that

are consistent with resource protection goals will be identified.

20. Entry controls and signage at trailhead sites will be used to convey proper resource usage.

21. In most cases, trailheads will be sited at the edge of the resource area.

Guidelines for Operations and Maintenance

Passive uses can generate noise and litter, trails are vulnerable to erosion and gullying, and vegetation off

trails may be trampled by hikers, mountain bikers and equestrian users. To protect the MSHCP

Conservation Area’s resources during operations and maintenance activities, the following guidelines

have been developed:

1. Passive recreation uses may include:

! bird watching

! boating

! fishing



FINAL MSHCP 7-77

! hiking, equestrian, and mountain bike uses on designated trails

! photography

! picnicking in designated areas

! scientific research

! sun bathing

! swimming

2. The following recreational uses and activities will be prohibited within the MSHCP Conservation

Area:

! camping

! off-road vehicle use

! recreational activities that require construction of new facilities and roads other than those

described above

3. Effects of passive recreational uses shall be addressed in Reserve Management Plans described

in Section 5.2.2.

4. Motorized vehicular access by the public to the MSHCP Conservation Area will be prohibited

except as necessary by emergency personnel or for operations and maintenance activities.

5. Appropriate daily and seasonal limits on trail use will be established. When necessary, trails will

be closed on a temporary basis to minimize disruption of nesting and other wildlife functions for

species covered by the MSHCP, or if public access has resulted in, or is expected to result in,

significant negative impacts to sensitive species. Passive recreational uses will be limited or

restricted in critical wildlife areas during breeding season, as determined appropriate.

6. Public access may be restricted within and adjacent to wetlands, vernal pools, restoration areas,

and sensitive wildlife Habitat (e.g., during the breeding season) at the discretion of the Reserve

Manager.

7. In the event that public access policies and other policies conflict, the conflict will be resolved

in a manner that’s most protective of the biological resources within the MSHCP Conservation

Area.

8. Access to the MSHCP Conservation Area will be controlled through properly maintained fencing

and signs.



FINAL MSHCP 7-78

9. Fencing or other barriers will be used to restrict access to basically sensitive areas when

protection of biologically sensitive resources is required.

10. Public access information packets and guides will be developed for users of the MSHCP

Conservation Area.

11. Education and outreach will be used to increase public awareness and appreciation for Habitat

and wildlife values.

12. The MSHCP Conservation Area will be patrolled on a regular basis in order to ensure that

visitors to the MSHCP Conservation Area stay on trails and observe all other rules and guidelines

established to protect the natural resources on site.

13. Feeding of all wildlife will be prohibited.

14. Firearms will be prohibited from patrol and maintenance sites, except for those used by

authorized law enforcement and security personnel.

Maintenance

15. The trails and other facilities within the MSHCP Conservation Area require proper maintenance

to ensure the protection of biological resources. Trails, facilities, signs and barriers will be

maintained to appropriate conditions to discourage and prevent intrusion into adjacent

environmentally sensitive areas.

Hiking

16. Hikers must always stay on designated trails and must not stray into adjacent areas to prevent

trampling of vegetation and erosion.

Equestrian Use

17. Equestrian use will be limited to designated trails.

18. Following heavy rains, the use of equestrian trails will be prohibited for appropriate periods to

avoid trail damage and impacts to adjacent Habitat.



FINAL MSHCP 7-79

Mountain Biking

19. Mountain bike trails will be limited to areas with low susceptibility to erosion and out of wetlands

and other sensitive areas.

20. If use becomes heavy and problematic, an access control system will be developed and permits

may be required.

21. Mountain bike trails will be constructed wider than foot trails to prevent trail edge disturbance

and on grades no greater than 25 percent.

Litter and Trash Control Measures

22. Litter control measures will be implemented within the MSHCP Conservation Area.

23. Closed garbage cans and recycling bins will be provided at trailheads and access points.

24. Litter and trash will be collected and removed on a regular basis. Garbage cans and recycling bins

will be maintained appropriately.

25. Penalties will be imposed for littering and dumping within the MSHCP Conservation Area.

26. Permanent storage of materials (e.g., hazardous and toxic materials) outside of maintenance

facilities within the MSHCP Conservation Area will be prohibited.

27. Wildlife Corridor undercrossings will be kept free of all debris, trash, and other obstructions.

28. Signs will be posted to prevent and report littering.

Pets

29. Pets will be restrained by leashes at all times.

Signage

Signs can educate, provide direction, explain rules, and promote the sensitive use and enjoyment of

natural areas.



FINAL MSHCP 7-80

30. An adequate number of signs will be provided at appropriate locations to clearly identify public

access to and within the MSHCP Conservation Area.

31. Interpretive signs will be provided to explain the value of the MSHCP Conservation Area’s

natural resources.

7.5 GUIDELINES FOR FACILITIES WITHIN THE CRITERIA

AREA AND PUBLIC/QUASI-PUBLIC LANDS

7.5.1 Guidelines for the Siting and Design of Planned Roads

Within the Criteria Area and Public/Quasi-Public Lands

The following guidelines for planned roadways that are Covered Activities within the Criteria Area and

Public/Quasi-Public Lands provide suggestions to avoid and minimize impacts to sensitive species and

Habitats known to occur in the vicinity of the planned roadway. If there is a dispute over a project’s

consistency with these Guidelines or the Siting Criteria, the dispute resolution process described in

Section 6.2.2 will be employed.

The specific location for the planned roads, bridges and interchanges depicted on Figure 7-1 are not

exact; the ultimate alignment and design will be determined during project level engineering and approval

for the alignment which will include appropriate environmental review pursuant to CEQA . The ultimate

alignment and design of the facility will be subject to the following design, siting and construction

guidelines.

! Planned roads will be located in the least environmentally sensitive location Feasible, including

disturbed and developed areas or areas that have been previously altered. Alignments will follow

existing roads, easements, right-of-ways, and disturbed areas, as appropriate to minimize habitat

fragmentation.

! Planned roads will avoid, to the greatest extent Feasible, impacts to Covered Species and

wetlands. If wetlands avoidance is not possible, then any impacts to wetlands will require

issuance of and mitigation in accordance with a federal 404 and /or state 1600 permit.

! Design of planned roads will consider wildlife movement requirements, as further outlined below

under Guidelines for Construction of Wildlife Corridors.



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! Narrow Endemic Plant Species will be avoided; if avoidance is not Feasible, then mitigation as

described in the Narrow Endemics Plant Policy will be implemented.

! Any construction, maintenance and operation activities that involves clearing of natural

vegetation will be conducted outside the active breeding season (March 1 through June 30).

! Prior to design and construction of transportation facilities, biological surveys will be conducted

within the study area for the facility including vegetation mapping and species surveys and/or

wetland delineations. The appropriate biological surveys to be conducted will be based on field

conditions and recommendations of the project manager in consultation with a qualified biologist.

The results of the biological resources investigations will be mapped and documented. The

documentation will include preliminary conclusions and recommendations regarding potential

effects of facility construction on MSHCP Conservation Area resources and methods to avoid

and minimize impacts to MSHCP Conservation Area resources in conjunction with project siting,

design, construction and operation. The project biologist will work with facility designers during

the design and construction phase to ensure implementation of Feasible recommendations.

7.5.2 Guidelines for Construction of Wildlife Crossings

Pursuant to Section 6.6.2 E(2) of this document, roads that have the potential to result in impediments

to wildlife movement will include both general considerations and specific design guidelines for the

construction of wildlife crossings where appropriate. The following guidelines constitute a basic

framework for wildlife crossing recommendations and are to be applied where there is either known

wildlife movement, and/or in portions of the MSHCP Conservation Area that are assembled to provide

for wildlife movement. For purposes of this discussion: an underpass is any bridge structure under a road

or freeway that may be used by wildlife as a crossing point; an overpass is any bridge structure over a

road or freeway that is only intended for wildlife usage as a crossing point; and, culvert includes enclosed

concrete or metal structures under roads or bridges that may direct wildlife under a road or freeway.

Avian Wildlife

It is not anticipated that most avian wildlife will require specialized wildlife crossing facilities or

measures to ensure movement across potential impediments. However, some species (e.g., California

gnatcatcher, greater roadrunner, California quail) may require assistance to maintain linkages due to

assumed poor flight ability or ground-dwelling aspect. For these species, facilities such as wide road



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undercrossings or naturalized land bridges over roadways/impediments (overpasses), and to a lesser

extent, culverts, may be required to assure movement of the species and resulting genetic flow.

Large Mammalian Wildlife

For large wildlife (e.g., mountain lion, mule deer) and medium-sized wildlife (e.g., bobcat, coyote) some

form of wildlife crossing facilities will be requisite to assure consistent movement and genetic flow

throughout the MSHCP Conservation Area. Though it may seem inappropriate to design a crossing for

both a predatory species (mountain lion) and prey species (mule deer), studies have shown (Foster and

Humphrey 1995) that mountain lions typically use crossings nocturnally, while deer typically use

crossings diurnally. Carnivores typically use underpasses close to major drainages and specifically,

coyotes tend to use older and more open culverts (preferring culverts greater than 1.5 meters tall).

Carnivore use of underpasses are correlated to landscape variables. For ungulates, crossing dimensions

are most important. Ungulates use of underpasses are correlated to structural variables. Road

undercrossings may be used by all species as long as the undercrossing meets certain minimal

dimensions. Mule deer for example, require wider and taller undercrossings than do coyotes and bobcats.

Where initial research seemed to indicate that large carnivores where adverse to using underpasses, it has

been shown recently that they can adapt and use underpasses, even when overpasses are available.

Sometimes, overcrossings may be the preferred method of conveying wildlife, particularly to satisfy the

needs of a variety of species. However, this method may require an inordinate amount of funding which

may detract from other equally important goals and objectives. Overcrossing installation will be well

thought-out prior to implementation and a cost-benefit analysis completed to determine if rare economic

resources are best spent on the venture. Culverts may be used by coyotes, bobcats, and potentially

mountain lions, if they are large enough, straight, and short enough. Regardless of the type of facility

used to convey wildlife, the location of the device will be well researched in order to make the most

beneficial use of ridges, valleys, normal movement routes, or other natural (or manufactured) funneling

mechanisms. Finally, the influence of humans is the most significant factor affecting the effectiveness

of crossings for larger mammals (Clevenger and Waltho 2000). Underpasses designed around

topography, habitat quality, and location will be minimally successful if human activity is not managed.

Therefore, careful management of human uses in critical crossing areas will be employed.

Another consideration for these species includes allowing them to cross over intervening properties within

the Core/Linkage network. Solid, wire, chain-link, or other similar types of fencing will not be

encouraged within the Core/Linkage area. Instead, smooth-wire strand or barb-wire strand, post and rail,

or some other similar method will be employed so that large wildlife is still able to maintain normal

movement routes. Care will be taken when deploying wire-strand fences to keep them tight and to follow



FINAL MSHCP 7-83

strict wire spacing guidelines to reduce the likelihood of mule deer strangulation or entrapment. Where

solid or other similar fencing is deployed, wildlife movement gates or one-way wildlife doors will be

installed to allow wildlife movement.

Small Mammalian, Reptile and Amphibian Wildlife

For smaller terrestrial species, road undercrossings, overcrossings, and culverts may also provide adequate

movement opportunities. However, some small mammals are adverse to using open culverts. These

species are usually prey species which prefer cover. The dimensions of these facilities do not need to be

as robust for the smaller species, however the length of the facilities (particularly culverts) may need to

be reduced to accommodate them. For example, small mammals (vole sized) have been shown to use

culverts as long as 64 meters. Under road crossings and overpasses pose less of a length constraint on

smaller species because of their general wide-open aspect but may pose a greater predation risk. In some

cases, these types of crossings may be large enough to form home ranges for some species. Studies have

shown that increased traffic volume and road width results in greater use of culverts by most small

mammal species, but this is more likely due to the openness of the large roadway and not to necessarily

avoid vehicles. Undercrossings and culverts will be situated to allow use by the primary species or suite

of species’. For example, culverts intended to provide movement access for primarily wetland species

(e.g., pond turtle, garter snakes, toads, frogs) will not be situated great distances from the primary water

source. Although upland connections a short distance from the water body may be appropriate in some

cases. All undercrossings and culverts which are intended to get wildlife usage, will be designed in a

manner which allows a dry crossing under nearly all circumstances. This will include designing an

elevated bench above the normal high water line or providing a textured gentle slope up the side of the

culvert/undercrossing. Barriers to small terrestrial wildlife movement will be encouraged along new and

modified roadways, so that they are guided toward appropriate undercrossings, culverts, and viaducts.

Insects

Insects (i.e., Delhi Sands flower-loving fly, Quino checkerspot butterfly) will require individualized and

specific movement facilities in order to safely convey them across roadways and highways. Intervening

residences within the Core/Linkages will not pose a movement constraint under most circumstances

(unless fencing or ornamental plantings preclude movement), however residences may provide

inhospitable life history conditions.

The location of crossing facilities will be situated to account for known key movement routes while

making the best use of natural topography and other effective movement barriers/funnels. In some cases



FINAL MSHCP 7-84

it may be prudent to plant dense ornamental vegetation in windrows or install tall fencing to “guide” or

funnel Quino checkerspot toward the intended crossing areas and away from potentially disastrous

conflicts with vehicles.

Little to nothing is known about movement requirements for Delhi Sands flower-loving fly, but it is

reasonable to assume that similar considerations will apply to it.

Specific Initial Guidelines for Wildlife Movement Design Considerations

within the Criteria Area

The following guidelines are provided for road construction and widening projects within the Criteria

Area. These guidelines will be considered as applicable, in circumstances where wildlife movement

considerations are noted in the Criteria. Where multiple species movement considerations apply,

techniques to combine movement requirements shall be pursued.

! Assess and address wildlife crossing needs by entire road or cluster of roads affecting a particular

movement constraint location, not by small segments.

! At locations near wildlife Corridors, construct 3-foot walls with an 18-inch lip projecting into the

adjacent open space which direct small wildlife toward culverts, undercrossings, and

overcrossings.

! A mixture of large crossing structures spaced at greater intervals, and smaller culverts spaced a

more frequent intervals will be considered to accommodate a wide variety of species.

! Regular installation of small culverts for reptile, amphibian, and small mammal species, will be

installed where a roadway or highway travels along a wetland/upland boundary. These will

include grating at the roadbed to allow natural light and ambient moisture.

! Place crossing facilities at known travel routes, natural pinch points, or other topographically

appropriate locations. Minimally, there should be at least one large mammal crossing every 1.5

kilometers.

! Small and medium sized mammal crossings should be placed at least every 300 meters and small

and medium sized mammal crossings should be varied in size to accommodate a variety of

mammal species.



FINAL MSHCP 7-85

! Because it has been shown that one of the main deterrents for culvert/overpass/underpass use is

human presence, the following measures should be incorporated: 1) trail systems should not lead

to these crossing points where possible, in particular, overpasses and other important focused

crossing points should never include trail systems; 2) Proper fencing should be installed to

discourage human intrusion; 3) and, all newly installed large mammal culverts, overpasses, and

underpasses, should include a built-in lockable box within each wall to facilitate monitoring

activities. These boxes should be at least 1-foot square, include a removable door, and be pre-

wired for electricity (solar, battery, or alternating current). This will provide for the least

intrusive, most secure, most flexible, and most cost effective way to monitor wildlife usage of

the various crossings, while minimizing human impact. Still photography or video cameras may

be installed in these boxes and may be transferred between sites as required.

! Openings in the concrete “K”-rail barriers should be installed at regular intervals in order to allow

small wildlife to cross or escape roadways.

! Berms should be installed between the culvert/underpass/overpass entrances or grate/skylight

locations and traffic in order to reduce noise and light impacts and increase crossing effectiveness.

! Install solid fencing or dense tall vegetation windrows of an appropriate height adjacent to

roadways and highways within the Quino checkerspot Core/Linkage areas which will funnel them

toward appropriate crossing locations.

! Manipulating vegetation patterns and trails will be explored when trying to guide wildlife to

crossing locations. In some instances it may be appropriate to cut new trails through dense

chaparral to guide deer and mountain lions toward crossing facilities.

! Maintain an appropriate openness ratio of at least 0.6 (calculated in meters as [opening width X

height/length of crossing]) and height for crossings intended for use by mule deer. A minimum

height of 3 to 4 meters should be maintained for mule deer specific crossings.

! Do not add artificial lighting to the center of the crossing structure. These devices have not

shown to be effective and may deter wildlife during nocturnal situations. Natural light from

skylights or grating may be appropriate in particularly long structures, but their use will be limited

due to the potential for adverse noise effects. Tree and shrub buffers around crossing entrances,

sky lights, and grating provide good visual relief/protection and have some sound attenuation

benefits.



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! Crossing facilities will be vegetated as naturally as possible to mimic the surrounding natural

crossing area. In some instances, vegetation may need to be tailored to match the needs of the

focused species.

! Use natural objects, such as stumps, rocks, and other natural debris within the crossing facility

to create cover for wildlife and to encourage the use of crossings.

! 1.0 to 1.5 meter culverts should be installed to support medium sized mammals (e.g., coyote,

raccoon).

! Smaller, 0.5 to 1.0 meter culverts should be installed for small mammals, reptiles, and

amphibians. These smaller structures are preferred by mice, weasels, and other small wildlife.

! Vegetative cover near the entrances to culverts should be installed to increase their effectiveness

for carnivores and smaller wildlife.

! Dirt, rock, or concrete benches should be installed on at least one side of the large mammal

crossing facility in order to allow wildlife to cross during most storm event circumstances.

! Wildlife overpasses should be at least 50 meters wide at the ends, but may narrow to 8 meters in

the middle. Overpasses should be designed to blend as naturally into the landscape as possible

and take advantage of natural crossing points as previously discussed. The overpass should be

covered with soil and vegetation as appropriate for the focused species, and include fencing and

berms to protect wildlife from noise and falls.

! Install welded wire fencing of an appropriate height, with three strand wire at the top, adjacent

to roadways and highways, to guide large wildlife to appropriate crossing locations. 2.4 meter

fence must be used to reduce road mortalities. These fences may need to also have sections

installed 1.5 meters below the ground surface in order to reduce coyote dig-out and may need to

have extra sections attached to the top at 45 to 90 degree angles in order to reduce mountain lion

jump-over.

! In order to reduce end-runs around fences, continue fences at least 0.8 kilometers beyond the

critical area, or at an appropriate location that is unsuitable for wildlife usage (e.g., structure, steep

hillside, urban area).



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! Install one-way wildlife doors on the roadway/highway side of the fences, at one kilometer

intervals, to allow trapped wildlife to escape back into the MSHCP Conservation Area.

! Where roads cross the fence, Texas gates or cattle gates may need to be installed to prevent

wildlife from crossing through the fence and onto busy roads or freeways.

! Jump-outs and one-way gates must be installed with frequency in order to allow trapped wildlife

to safely exit the road system.

7.5.3 Construction Guidelines

! Plans for water pollution and erosion control will be prepared for all Discretionary Projects

involving the movement of earth in excess of 50 cubic yards. The plans will describe sediment

and hazardous materials control, dewatering or diversion structures, fueling and equipment

management practices, use of plant material for erosion control. Plans will be reviewed and

approved by the County of Riverside and participating jurisdiction prior to construction.

! Timing of construction activities will consider seasonal requirements for breeding birds and

migratory non-resident species. Habitat clearing will be avoided during species active breeding

season defined as March 1 to June 30.

! Sediment and erosion control measures will be implemented until such time soils are determined

to be successfully stabilized.

! Short-term stream diversions will be accomplished by use of sand bags or other methods that will

result in minimal instream impacts. Short-term diversions will consider effects on wildlife.

! Silt fencing or other sediment trapping materials will be installed at the downstream end of

construction activities to minimize the transport of sediments off-site.

! Settling ponds where sediment is collected will be cleaned in a manner that prevents sediment

from re-entering the stream or damaging/disturbing adjacent areas. Sediment from settling ponds

will be removed to a location where sediment cannot re-enter the stream or surrounding drainage

area. Care will be exercised during removal of silt fencing to minimize release of debris or

sediment into streams.



FINAL MSHCP 7-88

! No erodible materials will be deposited into water courses. Brush, loose soils, or other debris

material will not be stockpiled within stream channels or on adjacent banks.

! The footprint of disturbance will be minimized to the maximum extent Feasible. Access to sites

will occur on pre-existing access routes to the greatest extent possible.

! Equipment storage, fueling and staging areas will be sited on non-sensitive upland Habitat types

with minimal risk of direct discharge into riparian areas or other sensitive Habitat types.

! The limits of disturbance, including the upstream, downstream and lateral extents, will be clearly

defined and marked in the field. Monitoring personnel will review the limits of disturbance prior

to initiation of construction activities.

! During construction, the placement of equipment within the stream or on adjacent banks or

adjacent upland Habitats occupied by Covered Species that are outside of the project footprint

will be avoided.

! Exotic species removed during construction will be properly handled to prevent sprouting or

regrowth.

! Training of construction personnel will be provided.

! Ongoing monitoring and reporting will occur for the duration of the construction activity to

ensure implementation of best management practices.

! When work is conducted during the fire season (as identified by the Riverside County Fire

Department) adjacent to coastal sage scrub or chaparral vegetation, appropriate fire-fighting

equipment (e.g., extinguishers, shovels, water tankers) shall be available on the site during all

phases of project construction to help minimize the chance of human-caused wildfires. Shields,

protective mats, and/or other fire preventative methods shall be used during grinding, welding,

and other spark-inducing activities. Personnel trained in fire hazards, preventative actions, and

responses to fires shall advise contractors regarding fire risk from all construction-related

activities.

! Active construction areas shall be watered regularly to control dust and minimize impacts to

adjacent vegetation.



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! All equipment maintenance, staging, and dispensing of fuel, oil, coolant, or any other toxic

substances shall occur only in designated areas within the proposed grading limits of the project

site. These designated areas shall be clearly marked and located in such a manner as to contain

run-off.

! Waste, dirt, rubble, or trash shall not be deposited in the Conservation Area or on native habitat.



FINAL MSHCP 7-90

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