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City Planning Department

Preserve Management and Reporting

Photo of Willowy Monardella

Willowy mondarella

The MSCP Plan provides a framework for evaluating land uses for compatibility with the preserve and presents guidelines for preserve management and reporting. Existing legal land uses within and adjacent to the preserve will be allowed to continue.

Guidelines for Land Uses within the Preserve

The MSCP provides for public recreation and education within the preserve, while conserving biological resources and ensuring that private property rights are respected. Riding and hiking trails and other passive uses are allowed in portions of the preserve as specified in subarea plans. Guidelines are provided for agriculture, urban development, public facilities, mineral extraction, and other uses; however, subarea plans define permitted uses and methods for review and permitting of public and private development within and adjacent to the preserve.

Guidelines for Preserve Management Activities

Each take authorization holder will prepare a habitat management plan (or plans) as part of its subarea plan, or as part of implementing its subarea plan, and will be responsible for management and biological monitoring of its identified public lands, lands obtained as mitigation through fee title or easements, and land acquired for habitat conservation with regional or local funds. Likewise, the federal and state agencies will manage and monitor their present land holdings, as well as those they acquire on behalf of the MSCP. The wildlife agencies will also assume primary responsibility for coordinating the biological monitoring program, described in a separate Biological Monitoring Plan. Private landowners who are third party beneficiaries will be responsible for habitat management of preserve lands they choose to retain in private ownership consistent with the subarea plan and conditions of development permits. No additional fees will be charged to landowners for biological monitoring. General guidelines are provided for fire management, restoration, predator and exotic species control and other management activities.

Reporting on MSCP Plan Implementation

Tracking MSCP implementation involves two independent processes:

  • annual accounting of the acreage, type and location of habitat conserved and destroyed (taken) by permitted land uses and other activities; and,
  • biological monitoring to determine if the preserve system is meeting conservation goals for covered species.
Photo of Workers at Vernal Pool

Endangered San Diego fairy shrimp are found only in vernal pools

Each take authorization holder will provide an annual accounting report for the calendar year and submit it to the wildlife agencies and public by February 15. Annual meetings will be held with the wildlife agencies to review subarea plan implementation and to coordinate activities. Every three years, the following will be prepared: 1) an MSCP status report, prepared by the jurisdictions, and accompanied by public hearings; 2) a biological monitoring report prepared by the wildlife agencies; and 3) a report on management activities and priorities prepared by preserve managers.

More information about the MSCP Plan Summary