Wildlife Agencies, Water Authority Sign 55-year Habitat Conservation Agreement

A new agreement aimed at protecting endangered species while streamlining the infrastructure permitting process has been signed between state and federal wildlife agencies and the San Diego County Water Authority.

The Natural Community Conservation Plan / Habitat Conservation Plan (NCCP/HCP) meets the requirements of the state’s Natural Community Conservation Planning Act and the federal Endangered Species Acts. It protects 63 plant and animal species and their habitats that may be adversely affected by the construction, operation, repair and maintenance of current and future water authority facilities.

The comprehensive NCCP/HCP conservation strategy spans roughly 992,000 acres where covered activities could potentially occur in San Diego County and a small portion of south-central Riverside County.

The water authority already has assembled 705 acres of preserve land to compensate for future impacts and the NCCP/HCP contains provisions for adding more preserve lands.

“The big benefit for our ratepayers is that this plan will save time and money as we build and operate current and future projects,” said Ken Weinberg, director of water resources for the San Diego County Water Authority. “This plan precludes the need to obtain individual federal or state endangered species permits for each of our activities or projects. It also simplifies future compliance with state and federal endangered species regulations."

Learn more about the agreement.