Contact: Ken Graff
Regional Conservation Authority
Badlands purchase preserves land needed for habitat plan.
A 714-acre hub that provides habitat for wildlife and helps link corridors for dozens of species will be permanently preserved as the result of a purchase tied to western Riverside County’s habitat plan. The land helps meet the goals
of the Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP) and was acquired with $1.7 million from the Riverside County Transportation Commission and the Western Riverside County Regional Conservation Authority. The property is located
north of Highway 60 and east of Redlands Boulevard in the rugged badlands area east of Moreno Valley. Robin Lowe, Vice Mayor of Hemet and the Chairman of both the Western Riverside County Regional Conservation Authority and the Riverside County Transportation Commission, believes the acquisition illustrates cooperation among public agencies to assure sound planning in Riverside County. "This is a critical first step in protecting the future of Riverside County," Lowe said.
"We are acting to protect the environment and critical habitat while working to meet our transportation needs."
State and federal regulatory agencies have endorsed the MSHCP’s more global approach to conservation, which fulfills environmental laws requiring that habitat land and species be protected. The plan’s streamlined environmental review
provides faster approval for road and mass-transit projects, as well as other public facilities vital to the region’s
economy. “This property is a building block in a plan that helps us protect and preserve our county’s heritage,” said
Marion Ashley, chairman of the Riverside County Board of Supervisors. “Through conservation, future generations will
be able to see for themselves the wildlife and landscape that we all cherish.”
The plan’s proposed 500,000-acre reserve system protects habitat for 146 species and is being assembled using
federal, state and local funds, as well as development-impact fees. The Riverside County Transportation Commission
contributed $1.27 million toward the purchase in the badlands area as part of a commitment to acquire open space to
offset the effects from future transportation and corridor projects in Riverside County.
Dozens of species live on the badlands property, forage there or use it as a link to wildlife corridors that provide
access to larger ranges. The property offers a vital connection between the badlands and Box Springs Reserve within the
City of Riverside. While conserving a large habitat block in the badlands, the purchase also protects habitat or corridors
for bobcats, mountain lions. It helps link the Stephens' Kangaroo Rat to the San Jacinto Wildlife area and is contiguous
to state parks land in the San Timoteo reserve area. Raptors such as the golden eagle, Cooper's hawk, and red-tailed hawk
forage on the property, which also is suitable habitat for deer.
Species that live on or near the property, or could find it suitable habitat, include:
Bell's sage sparrow, Orange-throated whiptail, Cactus wren, Rufous-crowned sparrow, Coastal western whiptail,
San Bernardino kangaroo rat, Cooper's hawk, San Diego pocket mouse, Coyote, Snake cholla, Desert woodrat, Southern
California black walnut, Loggerhead shrike, Turkey vulture, Los Angeles pocket mouse, Vaux's swift, Northern harrier,
Vernal barley, Nevin's barberry, and Wilson's warbler.
The property consists of approximately 714 acres and continues the efforts of the RCA to develop a
reserve system within Western Riverside County.
Address:
Western Riverside County
Regional Conservation Authority
4080 Lemon Street, Twelfth floor
Riverside, CA 92501
Normal Business Hours:
Monday to Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm
