Frequently Asked Questions
Scroll through the questions and answers below or using the following links:
Questions About the MSHCP
Questions About RCA
Questions About the RCA Website or Viewing Documents
Questions About the MSHCP
Question: How does the MSHCP affect the Individual Property Owner?
Answer: The RCA has created a brochure "Understanding the Western Riverside County Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP) A Guide for the Individual Property Owner" that outlines the possible impact of the MSHCP on a property owner if they live in a single family home, want to build an new single family home on a existing parcel or if they would like to subdivide their property. The tri-fold Brochure is available on this website or at the Public Information Counters at many of the Cities.
Question: Just how large of an area does the MSHCP cover within Western Riverside County?
Answer: The Western Riverside County MSHCP covers an area larger than the States of Rhode Island and Delaware. Covering an area of 1967 square miles it is also larger than 32 of the Counties within the State of California. Map of California Counties
Click here to download a small map indicating the size of the MSHCP in Western Riverside County compared to the Counties in California.
Question: Why was the MSHCP developed for Western Riverside County?
Answer: The Western Riverside County MSHCP is the largest conservation plan in the nation. The MSHCP was one of the results of a comprehensive effort to shape Riverside County’s future, balancing the rapid growth the County has experienced, the challenges of traffic congestion, and the listing of native species of plants and animals as threatened or endangered.
The Riverside County Integrated Plan consisted of in depth environmental studies, transportation studies, and extensive public outreach and developed a vision for Riverside County’s future that now guides development, provides for economic growth, solves transportation problems, and protects the environment.
Question: How much land is designated for natural reserves under the MSHCP?
Answer: The MSHCP sets a goal of 500,000 acres of land set aside for preservation out of a total of 1.26 million acres covered by the plan.
Question: How much land has been acquired or set aside to date?
Answer: Fortunately, about 77% or 387,000 acres was already public or quasi-public land when RCA was formed in 2004. This land forms the core of the habitat conservation plan. RCA’s work focuses on the remaining 153,000 acres needed to fulfill the plan’s requirements and is expected to take at least 25 years. To date, more than 25% of the remaining goal of 153,000 acres has been acquired, about 38,101 acres.
Question: What species of plants and animals are protected?
Answer: One hundred forty-six species of plants and animals are protected a full list is available in Volume 4, Section 2.3.4 of the MSHCP.
Questions About RCA
Question: What does RCA do?
Answer: RCA acquires, administers, operates, and maintains land and facilities for ecosystem conservation and habitat reserves for rare, threatened, and endangered species listed in the MSHCP.
Question: Who are the members of RCA?
Answer: All of the cities in Western Riverside County within the MSHCP Boundary and the County of Riverside are members of RCA.
Question: How is RCA governed?
Answer: RCA is governed by a Board of Directors. Each city government appoints a member. The County of Riverside is represented by all five members of the Board of Supervisors. An Executive Committee of seven members oversees the administrative functions of RCA.
Question: What is the location of the RCA offices and how do I get there?
Answer:
The RCA offices are located at:
Riverside Centre Building
3403 10th Street, Suite 320
Riverside, CA 92501
Get a map
Directions
From the 91 Freeway eastbound:
Exit 14th Street
Turn left on 14th
Turn right on Lime Street, which is the second street
Turn left on 10th Street (Loading Zone is on right)
To parking garage:
Turn right on Lemon Street
Parking garage entrance is on right, close to corner of 10th and Lemon
Take a ticket and park in visitor's parking
Please note that we are no longer able to validate parking
From the I-215 southbound or 91 Freeway westbound, near 60 Freeway:
Exit Mission Inn Avenue
Turn right on Mission Inn Avenue
Turn left on Lime Street, which is the first light
Turn right on 10th Street, 3 blocks down. (Loading Zone is on right)
To parking garage:
Turn right on Lemon Street, which is the first street
Parking garage entrance is on right, close to corner of 10th and Lemon
Take a ticket and park in visitor's parking
Please note that we are no longer able to validate parking
Note: You may see "Security Bank" signs on top of the building and at street level from Lime Street
Question: What is the RCA contact information?
Answer:
Address:
Western Riverside County Regional Conservation Authority
Riverside Centre Building
3403 10th Street, Suite 320
Riverside, CA 92501
Phone (951) 955-9700
Fax (951) 955-8873
Question: What are the RCA business hours?
Answer:
Business Hours:
Monday to Thursday: 7:00 am to 5:30 pm
Closed Friday
Questions About the Website or Viewing Documents:
Question: Why do some MSHCP Documents not open and cannot be viewed correctly with Adobe Reader within a web browser?
Answer: PDF Documents have been tested and developed using Adobe versions 5.0 and 7.0. However, some documents seem to not display correctly within Adobe 6.0 Reader. If this occurs we recommend that you upgrade your viewer to the latest version of Adobe Reader.
This software is free and can be downloaded by clicking the icon below.
Question: Why is it that when you open a PDF Document all you get is a blank screen and the browser indicates it has completed loading?
Answer: This situation occurs when Adobe Reader has not been properly installed on your computer. We recommend that you download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader and re-install it on your local system.
If you have identified a problem please email the RCA Webmaster we will attempt to assist you with any problems or questions.
