Home > About Land Use Policy > Special Projects > Regional Conservation Strategy

Regional Conservation Strategy

This project was discontinued on March 25, 2008.

The objective of this project was to establish a long-term regional conservation strategy (RCS) to improve protection for the California tiger salamander (CTS) and potentially other threatened or endangered species within its habitat range, while simultaneously improving the land development process for landowners within the CTS range in northern Santa Barbara County. Implementation of the plan or strategy would enable the protection of stakeholders’ (public and private) land use interests, provide predictability and streamlined processes in land use permitting within the CTS range, and provide long-term protection for covered species and their habitat.

The Regional Conservation Strategy was initiated by the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors on March 28, 2006. An advisory committee, the Conservation Steering Committee (CSC), was formed by the Board of Supervisors in April 2007 to advise staff in the development and implementation of the Regional Conservation Strategy draft plan. The CSC represented the various stakeholder interests in the project, including ranchers, farmers, developers, regulatory agencies, and environmental scientists and conservationists. Between April 2007 and February 2008, the CSC brought differing perspectives to the table and engaged in productive and cooperative discussions regarding endangered species regulation and the various impacts the CTS listing has had on a variety of activities. As a result of this process, a wealth of information has been assembled related to endangered species regulation and CTS issues that will assist property owners in their interactions with Federal and State regulators. Information is provided below on the following topics:

Biology of CTS and other protected species that occur within their range
The Endangered Species Act
Habitat conservation planning
Land use within the CTS range
The status of agriculture within the CTS range
Land use changes within the City of Santa Maria
Conservation measures, mitigation strategies and best management practices
Case study of covered activities included in other jurisdictions
Design principles applicable to establishing preserves for mitigation
Information regarding mitigation banking

On March 25, 2008 the Board of Supervisors voted to discontinue this project due to financial constraints and the significant cost required to prepare and implement a regional conservation strategy.

Contacts:

Joy Hufschmid, Deputy Director: Jhufsch@co.santa-barbara.ca.us

Conservation Strategy Committee Meeting Minutes and additional materials:

Meeting Date	Agenda & Minutes	Audio Minutes	Additional Materials
Sept 28, 2006	Agenda Minutes	None Available
October 25, 2006	Agenda Minutes	None Available
November 29, 2006	Agenda Minutes	None Available
January 24, 2007	Agenda Minutes	None Available
March 28, 2007	Agenda Minutes	None Available
April 25, 2007	Agenda Minutes	None Available	CSC Project Goals CSC Consensus Decision Making Definition CSC Ground Rules/ Terms of Engagement
May 23, 2007	Agenda Minutes	Meeting Audio	Project Biologist Larry Hunt's Presentation on Biological Resources Presentation (pdf version) Communication Plan for the Regional Conservation Strategy:
June 27, 2007	Agenda Minutes	Meeting Audio	Powerpoint Presentation: Overview of the Relevant Parts of the Endangered Species Act Powerpoint Presentation: Overview of the Habitat Conservation Plan Additional Handouts: Habitat Conservation Plan Frequently Asked Questions (authored by Fish and Wildlife) Table of Contents to the HCP Template: A document that gives a general outline as to all the components that are included in HCPs. Fish and Wildlife's Regional Summary Report of Habitat Conservation Plans: Lists the HCPs that are being developed or have been implemented in the California and Nevada Region. Generalized HCP Tasks: (authored by Fish and Wildlife Service) Lists the steps taken to complete an HCP and those in the accompanying environmental review process. Stakeholder Benefits Chart: (authored by the South Sacremento HCP Staff) RCS Overview Chart Fish and Wildlife Review Process Chart
July (Cancelled)
August 22, 2007	Agenda Minutes	Meeting Audio Part I Part II Part III	Powerpoint Presentation: Overview of Land Use in the RCS Project Area Powerpoint Presentation: City of Santa Maria: Development Areas, Project Areas, and Policy Constraints Presentation: Agriculture in Santa Barbara County in the RCS Project Area Additional Handouts: Chart of Allowed Land Uses within Agricultural Zones Habitat Conservation Plan Template: A guiding document provided by US Fish and Wildlife Service that outlines components and strucutre RCS Overview Chart RCS Draft Meeting Schedule Chart Section 6 Endangered Species Grants: Informational sheet provided by USFWS Conservation Grants for Private Landowners: A list of the types of grants and eligibility requirements available to landowners
September 26, 2007	Agenda Minutes	Meeting Audio Part I Part II Part III	Powerpoint Presentation: US Fish and Wildlife's Presentation on Listed Species in Santa Barbara County San Diego MSCP Agriculture Case Study: This handout provides an example of agricultural activities covered under the San Diego Multiple Species Conservation Plan and the corresponding mitigation measures that are required. Additional Handouts: "Where From Here": Expanded outline for Agenda item #5. Outlines dicussion topics and critical questions that will define more in depth discussion at later meetings. Safe Harbor Agreements: USFWS brochure on landowner agreements that allow the improvement of habitat in exchange for incidental take coverage. Zoning and Land Use Designations and Statistics wthin the CTS Range: Data, charts, and maps indicating these statistics. (A follow up of additional information requested at the last meeting)
October 24, 2007	Agenda Minutes	Meeting Audio	Powerpoint Presentation: Regional Habitat Conservation Plan Case Studies An Examination of Covered Activities: Summarizes the key components, major findings, and conclusions drawn from five major plans. Also includes a possible approach for Santa Barbara;s conservation plan based ont hese conclusions. Additional Handouts: Covered Activity Case Study Report: Many regional conservation plans were reviewed to examine trends and gain perspective as to how the Santa Barbara strategy should proceed in assembling its list of covered activities. This report is an investigation of five specific plans and summarizes the conclusions drawn from them. Revised Species Table: Includes eight species currently being considered for inclusion in the conservation strategy. CTS Range Map with Occurence Records for Selected Species: Based on the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) data and produced by USFWS.
November 28, 2007	Agenda Minutes	Meeting Audio Part I Part II Part III	Powerpoint Presentation: Overview of the Conservation Program: Examines mitigation strategies including land acquisition for preserves and best management practices Additional Handouts: An Examination of Conservation Programs with a Focus on Habitat Preserves: A report containing information and tools that other jursidictions have utilized in their conservation plans. Stock Pond Management Plan: Provided by L. Hunt. This document outlines potential best management practices for use in agriculture and rangeland. Agricultural Land Use Conversion: A report consisting of data and analysis that describes the conversion of different land uses in Santa Barbara County in recent years. Stakeholder Goals, Concerns, and Desired Outcomes for the RCS: A description of each stakeholder community's expectations for the plan.
February 20, 2008	Agenda