It takes a range of Permittees – along with Partner Agencies – to implement the Western Riverside County MSHCP, a 500,000-acre habitat reserve to protect, restore, and maintain habitats for the conservation of 146 species. Collaboration with permittees expedites construction of needed infrastructure, particularly transportation, and provides greater certainty in the development process.

The Permittees include the 18 western Riverside County cities and eight other agencies including the County of Riverside, Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, Riverside County Transportation Commission, Western Riverside County Regional Conservation Authority, California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), and the California Department of Parks and Recreation.

Permittees are responsible for processing permits, collecting fees, and implementing the MSHCP goals. Permits granted to private development and public infrastructure projects allow the MSHCP to provide coverage under the U.S. and California Endangered Species Acts. Without permits and accountability of the Permittees, delivery of the MSHCP would be in jeopardy and would create uncertainty and increase these project costs. RCA works closely with Permittee staff to determine if certain projects conform to and further the goals of the MSHCP.