The RCHCA is working to provide managed public access to habitat areas in order to counter illegal trespass and misuse

 

The Riverside County Habitat Conservation Agency (RCHCA) is a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) responsible for administering the Stephens Kangaroo Rat Habitat Conservation Plan (SKR HCP) that was adopted in March 1996.  The RCHCA is comprised of the Cities of Corona, Hemet, Lake Elsinore, Menifee, Moreno Valley, Murrieta, Perris, Riverside, Temecula, Wildomar, and the County of Riverside.  Through a Memorandum of Understanding, RCHCA activities are administered by the WRCOG.  The RCHCA has established a regional system of eight core reserves for SKR conservation and the ecosystem upon which SKR depends.  The core reserves encompass over 40,000 acres, including 12,000 acres of SKR-occupied habitat.

 

The RCHCA Board of Directors recently authorized staff to solicit bids for developing a public access plan for one of the reserve areas, referred to as the Steele Peak Reserve.  The Reserve consists of approximately 1,250 acres of conserved open space within an unincorporated area outside the City of Perris.  The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) owns roughly 1,000 acres within the Reserve and offers limited public use on designated open routes.  Unfortunately, the area has become considerably degraded because of overuse and illegal dumping.  The RCHCA owns the remaining 250 acres and currently offers no public access, which is also detrimental because of public resentment at being locked out, creating the opportunity for illegal trespassing and uses that further degrade these conserved lands.   The RCHCA believes that public access opportunities that allow for managed visitation and education on its lands can lessen - and maybe eliminate - the pattern of illegal and detrimental public access that is currently occurring.

 

The project planning area was defined in part by existing opportunities to enhance broader regional trail connectivity.  Specifically, establishing a recreational trail alignment connecting RCHCA lands with existing BLM open routes can expand the area's recreation potential.  The region features an interesting topography of steep mountains and confined canyons interspersed with historical mining features left over from the gold mining era.  The vegetation features large swaths of sage scrub intermixed with flowers in the lower valleys.  The higher slopes give way to rugged rocky outcrops covered in chaparral vegetation.  The user experience would range from a relatively natural experience in more developed rural areas to a sense of complete isolation in some of the deeper valleys.

 

The RCHCA intends to develop a public access plan that is compatible with the Reserve's mission of promoting conservation for rare species, specifically the SKR.  The Reserve was originally founded under the SKR HCP and exists for the long term preservation of the species.  In addition, the area is considered one of the core Reserves under the Western Riverside County Multiple Species Habitat Plan that intends to protect an additional 145 species.  Therefore, the public access plan will consider surrounding land uses and be consistent with all applicable agreements, habitat conservation plans, and community plans.  Working collaboratively, the project team will develop a set of project goals and objectives to guide their approach.  The plan's intent is to create an atmosphere of compatible uses beneficial to the Reserve and to the surrounding community while simultaneously minimizing or eliminating illegal uses.  The plan will focus on trails, facilities and uses.  Trails will be delineated to avoid unnecessary impacts to habitat, sensitive areas, and steep slopes susceptible to erosion.  The trails will make use of existing roads where possible and minimize any new construction to keep costs in check.  Facilities, such as restrooms, trash cans, parking, interpretive kiosks and signs will be identified through the planning efforts.  Through the planning process, compatible uses that follow the Reserve's guiding principles will be defined.  Uses under consideration are hiking, biking, equestrian, photography, and other low impact activities. 

Once a public access plan is developed, future implementation would depend on funding availability.  Cost sharing with other public agencies may be an option and any opportunities for partnerships will be explored.   The partnerships may collaborate on funding mechanisms consisting of both public and private sources.  The partnership team may consider a phased approach to trail development in order to keep costs in check.