long range plan, inland empire natural resources conservation

8/2/2019 Long Range Plan, Inland Empire Natural Resources Conservation

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In l a nd E m p i r e

R e s o u rc e C o n s e r v a t i o n D i s t r i c t

L o n g R a n g e P l a n2 0 1 0 - 2 0 1 5


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T a b l e o f C o n t e n t sI. Introduction 1

II. Mission Statement 2

III. History 2

West End History 3

East End History 3

IV. Boundaries and Map o District 4

V. District Administration 5

VI. District Characteristics 6

VII. Inland Empire RCD Goals 7

VIII. Natural Resource Issues- Inland Empire Region 8

Landuse Trends 8

Prime Farmland-Soils 9

Water Conservation and Quality 11

Forest Health 12

Wildlie Habitat 13

Climate 14

Air Quality 15

IX. IERCD Priority Resource Issues 16

Water Conservation and Quality 16

Habitat Preservation 17

Forest Health 18

Invasive Plant Eradication 19

Air Quality 20

Urban and Business Conservation Needs 21

Conservation Education 22Public Relations and Inormation 23

Environmental Education Center 24

Works Cited 25


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I . I n t r o d u c t i o nThe Inland Empire Resource Conservation District is organized under the provisions o Division

IX o the Caliornia Public Resources Code. The primary responsibility o the Inland EmpireResource Conservation District (hereinater reerred to as District) is to provide the means by

which the state may cooperate with the United States and with resource conservation districts

organized pursuant to this division in securing the adoption in this state o conservation

practices, including, but not limited to, arm, range, open space, urban development, wildlie,

recreation, watershed, water quality, and woodland, best adapted to save the basic resources,

soil, water, and air o the state rom unreasonable and economically preventable waste and

destruction (PRC Code, Division 9.1). The District also has the authority, with the consent o the

owner, to construct on privately or publicly-owned lands, necessary works or the prevention

and control o soil erosion and the enhancement o soil stabilization. This allows the District tobe an efective liaison between ederal government and private landowners.

On July 1, 2009 the Inland Empire Resource Conservation Districts Board o Directors and staf

conducted a one-day strategic planning session. The initiative or the session was based upon

a need or staf and Board Members to ormulate ideas and goals or the District, creating a

distinctive plan that will result in the IERCDs Long Range Plan or 2010-2015. The planning

session was a success; creating the oundation or this document while developing a common

vision or the Inland Empire RCD.

This Long Range Plan is intended to address the ull range o conservation and related resource

issues that occur within the IERCDs sphere o inuence while also providing a document that

denes the priorities and goals o the District. This plan is intended to establish the District as

a pivotal contributor in the protection, enhancement and restoration o the natural resources

within District boundaries and is intended as a tool to encourage District growth while

broadening the scope o programs. It is intended to analyze and provide direction or a ve-

year period while ensuring the annual work plans coincide with these goals. The actions and

goals contained herein reect new, existing and proposed District projects.

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The purpose o the Inland Empire Resource Conservation District is to promotethe understanding that the quality o the environment determines the quality o

lie. In cooperation with landowners, local, state and ederal agencies, the

agricultural community, environmental and community groups, we will promote

good stewardship o our soil, water and other natural resources. We will provide

strong education programs that will encourage todays youth to accept the

responsibility o conserving our natural resources or tomorrows generations.

I I . M i s s i o n S t a t e m e n t

I I I . H i s t o r ySoil Conservation Districts were established nationwide as a result o the Dust Bowl in the

1930s. Due to improper arming techniques and drought, which posed a serious threat toagriculture, landowners needed technical assistance to properly care or and maintain theirland. Consequently, Congress passed the Soil Conservation Act o 1935 with the assistance o

the United States Department o Agriculture and initiated the ormation o Soil ConservationDistricts, the orerunner o todays resource conservation districts.

In Caliornia, in order to ulll their mission under the law, resource conservation districtswere organized under the provisions o Division IX o the Caliornia Public Resources Code. Indrating Division IX, the legislature ound that in order to adequately conserve soil and related

natural resources, there was a need to expand the scope o the Soil Conservation Districts,thereby changing their name to Resource Conservation Districts.

As o July 1, 2005 the Inland Empire West Resource Conservation District and the East ValleyResource Conservation District consolidated in an efort to reduce overhead, improve nanciastrength, as well as improve resource planning and project coordination. The consolidation

o the two resource conservation districts is consistent with the Caliornia State Legislaturesgoal that, where practical, the number o governmental units should be reduced. Prior to theconsolidation, the two districts worked independently o each other.


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West End HistoryThe Inland Empire West RCD was ormed in 1970 through the consolidation o threesoil conservation districts (SCD). The three districts were the Mira Loma SCD (1941), the

Mountain View SCD ( 1941), and the West End SCD (1951). At the time o the consolidation,the District became known as the West End Soil Conservation District. In 1972, statelegislative action changed the name o soil conservation districts to resource conservationdistricts. In 1990 the District changed its name to Inland Empire West RCD to better describe

the geographical area served by the District. The Inland Empire West Resource ConservationDistrict service area was comprised o 370,000 acres o public and private land.

East End HistoryConservation Districts came into existence in the East Valley on March 9, 1943. Theelectorate o Yucaipa Valley and Oak Glen voted or the ormation o the Yucaipa Valley

Soil Conservation District. This was ollowed by the organization o the San Gorgonio SoilConservation District, which o cially ormed April 17, 1944. The District grew even morewith the development o the Redlands-Highland Soil Conservation District ollowing an

election held on December 6, 1949. These three districts operated independently or twentyyears, culminating in consolidation to the Redlands-Highland-Yucaipa Soil ConservationDistrict on April 20, 1970. With the passage o additional legislation in 1972, the district

experienced urther change when soil conservation districts were converted to resourceconservation districts, allowing them to participate in the conservation o all naturalresources, not just soil. Nine years later, on May 10, 1982, a consolidation o the San Gorgonio

and Redlands-Highland-Yucaipa districts created the East Valley Resource ConservationDistrict which was comprised o 453,390 acres o public and private land.

The Inland Empire ResourceConservation District maintainsa mutual agreement with the US

Department o Agriculture NaturalResources Conservation Service(NRCS) which allows the NRCS

Conservationists to be stationedwithin the Inland Empire ResourceConservation District. This partnership

lends the district the expertise andand help o these Conservationists incarrying on a program o soil, water

and related resource conservation.


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HISTORIC SAN TIMOTEO CREEK, REDLANDS


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Long Range Plan

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I V . B o u n d a r i e s

The Inland Empire RCD covers approximately 1,286 square miles, 823,390 acres o public and

private land, and includes the cities and unincorporated communities o:

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Chino

Chino Hills

Fontana

Montclair

Ontario

Upland

Rialto

Rancho Cucamonga

Colton (portions)

San Bernardino

Banning

Beaumont

Big Bear

Cabazon

Cherry Valley

Highland

Loma Linda

Mentone

Redlands

Yucaipa

Oak Glen

Forest Falls

Angelus Oaks

Barton Flats

Del Rosa

Bren Mar

Moon Ridge

Fawnskin


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V . D i s t r i c t A d m i n i s t r a t i o n

The Inland Empire Resource Conservation District is governed by seven local landowners

who are appointed as Directors by the San Bernardino County Board o Supervisors. It is theresponsibility o these Directors to represent their peers and set conservation policy.

The Inland Empire Resource Conservation District ofers area residents an organized means

to carry out programs or the conservation o soil, water and other natural resources. This in

cludes preventing soil erosion, controlling oodwater, reducing sediment damages, improv

ing air quality, conserving open space, promoting water use e ciency as well as educating

the districts constituents on these pertinent conservation issues. The District also advises

and assists individuals, groups and public agencies. Participation in district programs is en-

couraged and voluntary.

With the exception o the Districts mitigation program services, the programs ofered by

Inland Empire Resource Conservation District are ree, and the district does not discriminate

because o race, color, sexual orientation or national origin.

The District o ce is located at 25864-K Business Center Drive, Redlands CA, 92374. The tele

phone number is (909)799-7407. Business hours are 6:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through

Thursday.

The administration o the

District is conducted by a

District Manager, appoint-

ed by and responsible to

the Board o Directors.

The District Manager is

also accountable or the

scal and administrative

activities o the District.

The Board o Directors

meets on the second

Wednesday o each month

at the District o ce at

11:30 a.m.

Inland Empire Resource Conservation Distr

Long Range Pl

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V I . D i s t r i c t C h a r a c t e r i s t i c s

The District service area plays host to numerous local and regional recreational parks, open

space, natural parks, playgrounds, lakes, shooting ranges, ski areas and game hunting opera-tions. The ollowing is a list o open space recreational areas located within IERCDs district

boundaries.

Educational Areas:

Big Bear Discovery Center

Barton Flats Visitor Center

Chino Creek Wetlands andEducational Park

Highland Environmental Education

Center

Wildlands Conservancy

Open Space Parks

Aurantia Park

Thurman Flats

Yucaipa Regional Park

Beryl Park

Glen Helen Regional ParkCucamonga Guasti Regional Park

Asistencia Park

San Timoteo Canyon

Caroline Park

Bogart Park

Craton Hills

ark

Historical Areas

Bear Valley Dam

Historic Santa Ana River Bridge

Yucaipa Adobe

Oak Glen School House

Yorba Slaughter Adobe

Nature Preserves

Baldwin Lake Ecological

Preserve

Staneld Marsh Wildlie Preserve

Mary Vagle Nature CenterJurupa Cultural Center

North Etiwanda Preserve

Prado Basin Regional Area

PrForest

San Bernardino

National Forest


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V I I I . N a t u r a l R e s o u r c e s I s s u e s

I n l a n d E m p i r e R e g i o n

The Inland Empire is the largest region o Southern Caliornia. It is generally considered to

be the area between the southern coastal areas o Orange County, Los Angeles, and Palm

Springs, and other desert cities. Inland Empire contains over 50 cities in which the boundar-

ies encompass roughly hal o these cities, covering the Northern hal o the Inland Empire.

The ollowing inormation ofers a brie summary o the natural resources present within the

Inland Empire Region.

Land Use Trends

The District service area is very diverse and comprised o multiple land uses including orest-land/open space, urban, industrial and armland. Forest, woodlands and open space land

uses are incorporated mostly within the San Bernardino National Forest, Caliornia State

Parks and permanent open space areas or natural parks within the cities. Overall, open space

areas and agriculture acreages have decreased due to an increase in urban development.

Population growth within the district is increasing at a rapid rate, more so in the unincorpo-

rated areas o the counties.

The inux o people to the Inland Empire can be attributed to the afordability o housing.

Residents will continue to choose Inland Empire communities or the cost o living aford-ability. It is anticipated that the Inland Empire will draw one million new residents by 2015.

(Johnson, Reed and Hayes, iii)

The ollowing inormation is an approximation o land use characteristics within IERCD dis-

trict boundaries:

Desert ~5%

Urban ~30%

Forest ~39%

Rural/Open Space ~24%

Agricultural/Urban

Transition ~2%


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2008, according to DLRPs Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Programs (FMMP) Caliornia

Farmland Conversion Report. More agricultural land continues to be converted to other uses

more than anywhere else in the state.

According to the FMMP, 11,173 acresincluding 5,569 acres o prime armlandwere re-

moved rom agriculture use in Riverside County in the 2006-08 mapping cycle. Meanwhile,

the county gained 15,139 acres o urban land, well above the biennial average o 12,432

acres between 1984 and 2006. Homes, gol courses, commercial and community acilities

constituted the new urban uses. Land idling continued to be common in the county; nearly

5,500 acres were removed rom irrigated agricultural categories to grazing uses. Water avail-

ability and agricultural market conditions drove the allowing.

In San Bernardino County, 6,781 acresincluding 2,957 acres o prime armlandwere re-

moved rom agricultural use. New urban land totaled 7,005 acres between 2006 and 2008, asignicant decrease rom the countys historic biennial average o 9,030 acres. Fontana, San

Bernardino, Ontario, and other south county cities experienced the completion o residential

developments, warehouse complexes, parks, and gol courses.

As o 2008, there were 23,497 irrigated acres remaining in San Bernardino County, only about

38 percent o what had existed when FMMP mapping began in 1984. In Riverside County,

there were 204,722 acres o irrigated land in 2008, about 67 percent o the 1984 total.

The FMMPs latest maps o the Inland Empire detail land conversion within a series o catego-ries, rom prime armland (land with the best physical characteristics to sustain long-term

production o agricultural crops) to urban and built-up land (land occupied by structures at

a density o at least one unit per 1.5 acres). Land-use change is determined using a combi-

nation o sources, including analysis o aerial imagery, a computer mapping system, public

review, and eld reconnaissance.

As o 2008, there were 23,497 irrigated acres remaining in San Bernardino County, only about

38 percent o what had existed when FMMP mapping began in 1984. In Riverside County,

there were 204,722 acres o irrigated land in 2008, about 67 percent o the 1984 total.

Water Conservation and QualitySouthern Caliornia has a naturally dry climate relying on water rom the heavier precipitated

areas such as Northern Caliornia. The reliance on water is not only climate induced but

also population driven. The Inland Empire alone, due to its population size, requires large

amount o water. Water is diverted, stored, and then transerred rom the water-rich north to

the more arid central and southern sections o the state through the State Water Project, the


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Central Valley Project, and the Los Angeles Aqueduct.

With low rainall and intermittent streamow, groundwater resources have been heav-

ily used. This has led to declining water tables. Water is collected rom large ground water

basins or aquiers ed by annual rainall, mountain streams and snow melt. Ground water

ows southerly towards the Santa Ana River and is held by various geologic ormations

and aults beore entering the Santa Ana River system. Supplemental water is purchased

rom the MWD o Southern Caliornias Caliornia Aqueduct and Colorado River projects.

(OWOW,2009)

To ensure the communities within Inland Empire RCD districts have an adequate supply o

water, several sources are used: imported water, groundwater basins, surace water, recycled

water, and water conservation. Inland Empire RCD is located in the upper watershed o the

Santa Ana, which allows or more groundwater storage than the lower portion o the water-

shed. The local groundwater supply is the major source o water or the region.

In order to meet the growing water challenges in Caliornia, state lawmakers developed the

2009 Comprehensive Water Package which includes major steps toward ensuring a reliable

water supply or uture generations. The Water Package includes our Senate Bills to carry

out this goal.

Senate Bill No. 1 establishes a ramework to restore and enhance the Delta ecosystem while

also providing a more reliable water supply. This is relative to the Inland Empire region be-cause Southern Caliornia relies on water rom the Delta. I measures are made to decrease

water apportions then stringent water conservation measures will be required or residents

within District boundaries.

Senate Bill No. 6 requires local agencies to monitor the elevation o their groundwater ba-

sins to help better manage the resource during drought and standard precipitation years by

implementing a monitoring program with the assistance o the Department o Water Re-

sources.

Senate Bill No. 7 creates a ramework or uture planning and actions by urban and agricul-

tural water suppliers to reduce Caliornias water use. This bill requires the agricultural water

management plans and also requires urban water agencies to reduce statewide per capita

water consumption 20% by 2020.

Senate Bill No. 8 improves the accounting o the location and amounts o water being divert-

ed by ensuring the reporting requirements or the diversions are recorded properly.


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Forest HealthThe District is comprised o approximately 850,000 acres. Thirty-nine percent o the Districts

Northern portions are within the San Bernardino National Forest. This national orest serves

as an example o southern Caliornias outdoor recreation destination, as well as providingvaluable watershed protection.

IERCD recognizes the need or proper orest care or public saety and habitat restoration

purposes. Currently there is an overstocked orest, in part due to the development o re-

suppression policies to protect people

who have moved into the orest environ-

ment. Fire is a natural part o the orest

health lie cycle. However, due to orest

overgrowth and urban sprawl along theoothills; re hazards become a great con-

cern or the District.

It is essential or agencies and individual

landowners to collaborate to protect com-

munities to reduce the potential impacts

rom re on the landscape, and to restore

healthy, resilient orests capable o sus-

taining re and other ecological distur-

bances without substantial impacts to

communities and property. Forest health

restoration will also contribute to the

maintenance and improvement o habitat

or Threatened, Endangered and Sensitive

species.

The orest overgrowth has caused a veritable chain reaction o orest health issues. The live

and dead materials in the Forest, in addition to the dense stands o green vegetation pose a

serious re threat. Vegetation begins to compete or limited moisture and nutrients which in

turn exacerbates the drought conditions. Once the drought conditions increase, the levels o

insects and disease occurrences increase as well. Local, state and ederal agencies have suc-

cessully removed hundreds o acres o dead or dying trees rom private land in the afected

communities in order to reduce the threat o wildre. Additional eforts are under way to

restore orest health.


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Wildlie HabitatThe Inland Empire RCD is host to a wide variety o wildlie species. The ollowing wildlie

snapshot description o the Inland Empire region is an excerpt rom the Caliornia Depart-

ment o Fish and Games Inland Region overview:

Moving inland, the predominant hillside and bluf communities are coastal sage scrub and chap-

arral. Southern Caliornias coastal sage scrub is composed o a mix o drought-resistant shrubs

and orbs ound no place else in the country, commonly including Caliornia sagebrush, bush mon-

keyower, buckwheat species, and black, purple, or white sage. Chaparral plant communities, also

drought tolerant, are characterized by a greater component o woody species, including chamise,

manzanitas, Caliornia lilac, and scrub oaks. Inhabitants o sage scrub and chaparral communi-

ties include the coast horned lizard, rosy boa, Caliornia gnatcatcher, San Diego cactus wren, and

Quino checkerspot buttery. Isolated grasslands and vernal pool habitats are interspersed in the

coastal landscape and support unique and endemic species such as Stephens kangaroo rat and

airy shrimp species. Low- to mid-elevation uplands oten eature oak woodlands, including En-

gelmann oak. Higher-elevation mountainous areas are dominated by conierous orests, including

Jefrey pine, ponderosa pine, big-cone Douglas r, and white r, and support sensitive species such

as the San Bernardino ying squirrel and long-eared and long-legged myotis bats.

Pine orests occur along high-elevation stream reaches, and mountain drainages host mountain

yellow-legged rog, Caliornia red-legged rog, Santa Ana sucker, and Santa Ana speckled dace

Lower-elevation river reaches

support riparian vegetation

species, including cottonwood,

willow, sycamore, and coast

live oak, which provide habitat

or such riparian bird species

as the least Bells vireo, south-

western willow ycatcher,

Swainsons thrush, and yellow

warbler, as well as the arroyo

toad. In urbanized coastal ar-eas, many sections o the re-

gions river corridors are chan-

nelized with concrete.

The region is recognized as

one o the worlds hotspots

o biological diversity and is

home to a total o 476 verte-


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least Bells vireo


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brate animal species, approximately 38 percent o all the vertebrate species ound in Caliornia.

It is also distinguished by the tremendous population growth and urbanization that have trans-

ormed the landscape since the 1940s. This intersection o biological resources and urbanization

has made the South Coast and Inland region the most-threatened biologically diverse area in

the continental U.S. (USGS 2003). More than 150 species o vertebrate animals and 200 species o

plants are either listed as protected or considered sensitive by wildlie agencies and conservation

groups (Hunter, 1999).

Other harms acing the Inland Empire region are the loss o wildlie habitat and the need

or wildlie corridors between open space and National Forest areas and the enhancement

o existing recreation areas. As development pressure increase, conicts arise between de-

velopers and the regulatory agencies in order to establish a balance between urbanization

and open space areas. The increasing number o proponents o public and private develop-

ments has been required to obtain Take permits rom Wildlie Agencies or impacts to en-dangered, threatened, and rare species and their Habitats. (MSHCP 6/17/03) The Multi Spe-

cies Habitat Conservation Plan ocuses on the conservation o species and their associated

habitats in Western Riverside County. This Plan is one o several large, multi-jurisdictional

habitat-planning eforts in Southern Caliornia with the overall goal o maintaining biological

and ecological diversity within a rapidly urbanizing region. San Bernardino County has not

developed a multi-species habitat plan.

ClimateThe Inland Empire RCD is classied as a Mediterranean climate which consists o wet wintersand extremely dry summers. Some areas in the District experience a mild or extreme version

o the Mediterranean climate. For example, Big Bears elevation is 6,755 eet. This commu-

nity experiences an average o 21.15 inches o rainall per year whereas the city o Ontario

experiences 14.7 inches o rainall a year.

The District boundaries have portions o San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. The area is

surrounded by mountain ranges and hills on all sides, with only a ew natural passes to Los

Angeles and Orange County to the West, San Diego County to the South and the Caliornia

border to the Northeast. The mountain range ollows the northern portion o the District

with vertical elevation o over 10,000 eet in at least our places. The most notable peak

within the District is San Gorgonio and San Bernardino Peaks. These peaks are ormed rom

tectonic activity o the Pacic and North American plates.

This elevation variance creates various climates that range rom desert to alpine. The Inland

Empire climate is a driving actor that entice residents to the area.


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Air QualityA combination o industrial activity increased mechanized transportation and backyard

incinerators became the source or extreme air pollution issues in the Los Angeles basin in

the early 1900. These pollution sources in combination with the bowl-like basin that South-ern Caliornia possess has attributed to poor air quality issues in the region. Winds originate

rom the west and blow most o that pollution into San Bernardino and Riverside counties in

the aternoon, leaving residents o the inland valleys to experience a majority o the burden

that is associated with smog.

Due to air quality concerns Air Pollution Control Districts were established throughout the

Southland. The Riverside and San Bernardino Counties was established in 1957, later to

merge with the other three agencies to orm the South Coast Air Quality Management Dis-

trict (AQMD).

Air quality regulations enorced by the AQMD made great strides but ozone levels continued

to by high, attributed to the rise in automobile use. Catalytic converters were introduced

in 1975, helping to reduce pollution in the Southland, in addition to providing cleaner gas

to consumers. The AQMD along with many other agencies continue to work together and

make great strides to reduce air pollution in the Inland Empire.


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IX. Inland Empire RCD Priority Resource Issues

Water Conservation and QualityIn recent years especially, the need or water conservation has come to the oreront o im-portant resource issues or the conservation district. A ederal court has curtailed water

deliveries rom northern Caliornia due to environmental actors in the Sacramento-San

Joaquin Delta. And, ater a record dry spring that dramatically curtailed snow runof rom

the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Governor Schwarzenegger declared an o cial statewide

drought on June 4, 2008. Some agencies will struggle to comply with new regulations.

Consequently, the Inland Empire Resource Conservation District seeks to promote water

conservation practices in the district through education and outreach programs. The district

currently teaches school age children about water use e ciency and conducts outreach pro-

grams to various community groups.

Priority

The district will continue its current water use e ciency campaign while introducing new

programs that elicit collaboration with the multitude o entities that are required to imple-

ment water-use e ciency programs and projects.

Additionally, staf will quantiy the amount o water conserved rom the removal o invasive

species in the watershed. These removal eforts contribute to the promotion o water quan-

tity and quality. Directors would also like to see programs that promote and assist landown-ers and business owners in converting tur style landscapes to drought tolerant landscapes.

Action

Collaborate with water districts and other local, state or ederal agencies on im-

plementing water use e ciency and conservation programs within the district

Conduct water conservation programs to the general public

Implement on-the-ground water conservation projects within the district to

substantially decrease the amount o water used by Inland Empire residents

Quantiy the amount o water saved by the removal o non-native plant speciesand the use o natives in re-vegetation projects.

Goal

IERCD will decrease the amount o acre-eet o water used by residents in the Inland Empire

with a successul water-use e ciency outreach campaign, invasive plant removal program

and native plant species introduction program.


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Habitat PreservationAs the population within the districts boundaries increases, loss o natural habitat and open

space is occurring rapidly. Land ormerly used or agriculture is being converted to hard

structures causing unprotected open spaces to disappear. Thereore, open space and habitatpreservation is a high priority or IERCD.

The IERCD currently has a mitigation program that preserves habitat through the acceptance

o conservation easements rom developers in the district. Since open space preservation is

a high priority, IERCD strives to increase the number o mitigations and easements held by

the district and explore options to make these parcels contiguous. Directors would also like

to see staf develop unding ideas and strategies or the development o a land bank to be

used in conjunction with the mitigation program.

Priority

It is a priority o the Inland Empire Resource Conservation District to preserve open space

and habitat within the boundaries o the Inland Empire RCD through land purchase and con-

servation easements. This priority will be accomplished with continual coordination with

the regulatory agencies assigned to dene mitigation requirements to developers.

Actions

Review and comment on Environmental Impact Reports and potential develop-

ment projects in the District

Gather and identiy biological inormation o environmentally sensitive areas

and species to determine priority conservation areas

Seek to increase open space by accepting mitigation and easements rom devel

opers and to seek continuity and avoid ragmented projects that are more o a

detriment to ecosystem health

Educate district constituents using mitigation sites or demonstration purposes.

Develop partnerships with other agencies that share the same goal o preserv-

ing open space and habitat

Goal

IERCD will maintain and/or increase lands that have habitat value and are contiguous in or-

der to maximize open space within district boundaries.


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Forest HealthApproximately 39% o the IERCD is orest land. Forest health projects will move to the ore-

ront o IERCDs natural resource projects. Specically, directors would like to increase the

number o acres that are treated or uel modication to increase the chances o preventingwildre while increasing wildlie habitat. Fire is a natural part o the coastal sage scrub, scrub,

oak woodland, savanna and chaparral plant communities; however due to urban sprawl in

these communities, re and re load management are o great concern.

In the past, the IERCD has worked with the Natural Resources Conservation Service to pro-

mote the Southern Caliornia Watershed Recovery Project, and its Emergency Watershed

Protection Program (EWP), to remove dead and dying trees and reduce the threat o wildre

in the mountain communities. Through the years o unding and support o the program,

much o the risk o the dead and dying trees in the mountain areas o the district has been

alleviated due to the removal efort. However, emphasis still remains on educating home and

landowners on proper uel load modication techniques to protect their homes and prop-

erty.

Priority

It is a priority o the District to assist with uel modication programs and continue to edu-

cate the public about the importance o healthy orest land. IERCD will promote orest

health through partnership programs that encourage uel load modication.

Actions

Inventory o work previously done versus work needed

Explore new partnerships and preserve old partnerships that will promote orest

health within the district

Seek out ways to assist landowners within the district with uel load modica-

tion through technical assistance and unding

Educate and provide inormation to the public about orest sustainability in

Southern Caliornia

Goal

IERCD will work with CalFire, USFS, re sae councils and other agencies to conduct orest

sustainability projects.


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Invasive Plant EradicationInvasive species are recognized as a key component o native species endangerment and

their removal is oten a necessary conservation strategy. Removal o invasive plant species

in the district has been a large ocus o IERCD in years past. IERCD has removed over 1,000acres oArundo, Tree o heaven, Castor bean and Tamarisk. Over the last ew years, staf has

developed guidelines that efectively maintain the removal o the targeted species.

Priority

It is a priority o the District to protect the natural riparian habitat along the 130-mile Santa

Ana mainstem and its tributaries by the removal o invasive, non-native plants. It is also a pri-

ority o the district to conduct native plant restoration on previously removed sites, thereby

improving the recruitment success o the native landscape. In addition, IERCD will also con-

tinue to support and participate in the Santa Ana Watershed Association as a partner agency

Actions

Support a watershed-wide approach in the removal o invasives species and na-

tive habitat restoration

Support the Santa Ana Watershed Association and participate as a member

agency in the management o the Santa Ana River Watershed

Continue to build partnerships with local, County, State and Federal agencies

that will better enable the District to successully cooperate with the removal

program

Encourage the development o a watershed-wide education program that will

enable landowners to partner in the long range monitoring and education

program that discourages the use o invasive plants

Implement a Geographical Inormation Systems (GIS) database that evaluates

invasive plant removal projects

Actively participate in new invasive plant removal projects in the Santa Ana

River mainstem and its tributaries within the District boundaries

Solicit and develop unding possibilities to support previously removed acre-

ages to ensure complete eradication.

Goal

Remove invasive plant species that contribute negatively to the ecosystem health o the

Santa Ana Watershed.


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Air QualityAir quality has diminished since the 1920s due to soil erosion caused by agriculture and ol-

lowed by manuacturing and automobile emissions generated rom the area and west rom

the Los Angeles basin. Automobile and manuacturing emissions rom the Los Angeles basinare carried by prevailing winds and become trapped in the area by the mountainous terrain.

Particulate Matter 10 (PM10) is ne dust particles rom wind generated by soil disturbance

and other manuacturing or operations that produce dust.

Priority

IERCD would like to implement projects in the next ve years that improve air quality in

the district. This can be achieved by working in conjunction with the South Coast Air Qual-

ity Management District. Air quality improvement is listed among the top natural resource

issues o concern or IERCD. The district will seek involvement in projects that promote air

quality improvements in collaboration with local agencies.

Actions

Seek out grants and partnerships with the South Coast AQMD to nd ways to im

prove air quality

Educate children and adults about ways they can improve air quality in their

communities

Quantiy the number o trees planted by children participating in the Trees

Please program

Participate with San Bernardino County Second District Supervisor on the 1,000

tree planting project

Develop programs that encourage residents to carpool and use alternate orms

o transportation to reduce reliance on ossil uels

Goal

Partner with the South Coasts AQMD to improve air quality within the district boundaries,

improving the health o the districts constituents and the scenic beauty o the area.

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Urban & Business Conservation NeedsInland Empire is one o the astest growing regions in the United States. Much o the de-

velopment consists o heavy and light industrial buildings. Businesses and urban dwellers

within the district boundaries have a huge potential or afecting natural resources and con-servation eforts. The swell o urbanization is expected to increase within the lie o this Long

Range Plan. The result o this expanse will be the loss o agricultural lands and open space,

causing an increased dependence on natural resources.

Priority

IERCD recognizes that businesses may not have the time or resources to implement con-

servation measures within their environment. As a public agency it is a priority o IERCD to

ensure urban residents and business owners have the inormation and resources they need

to practice conservation measures.

Actions

Establish a baseline or the current number o businesses and urban clients

IERCD has served

Establish a strategy or conducting a survey o targeted urban and business

audiences or conservation needs

Develop and or rene programs to meet identied needs

Encourage business recycling programs

Goal

IERCD will assist urban residents and business owners toward incorporating conservation

practices within their community.


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Conservation EducationEducation is a critical element o the conservation efort at

the local, state and national levels. Educating youth ensures

that the sustainability o our natural resources will improve

with each generation as environmental education is dis-

persed throughout the community.

Inland Empire RCD has developed a substantial education

program that ofers an extensive range o resource conser-

vation programs or school children and the community.

Each year the demand or IERCDs education programs in-

creases. This substantiates the success o the programs and

growing awareness o natural resource conservation.

Priority

It is a priority o the District to ulll the need or conserva-

tion awareness among landowners and the general popu-

lation residing within District boundaries. Caliornians,

particularly the youth, have a basic need to assimilate inormation and develop knowledge,

skills and enthusiasm toward the conservation o natural resources.

Actions

Assist teachers with environmental education curriculum and resources that

coincide with the Caliornia State Standards or teaching

Integrate educational programs into elementary and secondary classrooms, and

other community groups such as YMCA, YWCA , CAPS and Boys and Girls Clubs

Improve IERCD programs technologically in order to compete with the current

Inormation Age

Create materials that enable a multilingual approach to education

Improve and expand the database which includes all conservation education

contacts

Encourage and enable participation o students in environmental competitionssponsored by the IERCD and other agencies

Apply or grants to expand and increase the number o students reached

Goal

IERCD will develop programs that are efective and interactive to ensure the District is the

leader in natural resource conservation within its district boundaries.


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Public Relations and InormationIERCD realizes the need to increase natural resource conservation awareness by providing

inormation to the general public via internet, news media, local newspapers and magazines.

Actions

Increase public awareness o the economic and ecological benets o resource

conservation through technology based advertising

Provide inormation to the news media, local newspapers and trade magazines,

and make use o public service announcement

Maintain a district website that is at the oreront o technology and meets the

needs o the constituents

Continue to improve district brochures and outreach materials.

Phase out hard copy newsletter and transition to e-newsletters that reach constituents more efectively and without paper waste

Host special topic workshops and sponsor tours, demonstrations and meetings

on conservation topics or general and proessional audiences

Create a calling card concept

Maintain a positive posture and solid reputation, not only within the district,

but also throughout the state and nation

Goal

IERCD will utilize multi-media sources to advertise District services. The advertisements will

increase the District exposure resulting in new partnerships and projects.


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Environmental Education CenterThe Inland Empire Resource Conservation Districts boundaries cover portions o Riverside

and San Bernardino County. The boundaries total approximately 800,000 acres. An Environ-

mental Education Center would allow the District to conduct hands-on education programsand propagate native plants or restoration projects.

Actions

Investigate and pursue all possibilities toward the location and development o

the Inland Empire Environmental Education Center

Create an inventory o possible locations and potential partners

Embrace partnerships with other agencies willing to assist with the completion

o the project

Seek unding that allows or land purchase and capital improvementsGoal

Inland Empire RCD will construct an Environmental Education Center to provide community

members with a acility that ofers hands-on approaches to learning about the natural envi-

ronment.


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Works Cited

Johnson, Hans P, Reed, Deborah and Hayes, Joseph M. The Inland Empire in 2015. PPIC.org.

Public Policy Institute o Caliornia, 2008. Web. 30, November 2009.

Drysdale, Don, Carrie Reinsimar. Report Details Inland Empire Land Use Change. State o

Caliornia, Department o Conservation. Web. November 2009

Riverside County Integrated Project. Multi Species Habitat Conservation Plan. Web 17,

June 2003

Caliornia Department o Fish and Game. Caliornia Wildlie, Conservation Challenges http://

www.dg.ca.gov/wildlie/WAP/region-coast_south.html

South Coast Air Quality Management District. The Southlands War on Smog

Fity Years o Progress Toward Clean Air. Web. May 1997.

DLRPs Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program (FMMP), Caliornia Farmland Conversion

Report. Web. 2006-2008.

One Water One Watershed, 2009 Santa Ana Integrated Watershed Plan.

The Caliornia Department o Water Resources 2009 Comprehensive Water Package. Web.

November 2009.


Long Range Plan

2010-2015

long range plan, inland empire natural resources conservation

Documents