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Open Space and Habitat

Land use and transportation decisions made now will have an impact on the quality and quantity of open space resources available in the future. These lands provide important health benefits to the region's residents, while improving the region's air and water quality. The RCP will lay out a visionary, regionwide approach to coordinate and facilitate the preservation of open space in our region. The RCP's goals, outcomes, and policies will be developed in consultation with SCAG's Open Space Working Group, task forces and committee members and represent a vision of sustainability for our natural lands, community open space, and agricultural lands.

Working Documents

• Preliminary Draft Open Space and Habitat Chapter (Updated November 1, 2007) ( .pdf )
• Phase A Report ( 4.5 MB .pdf )
• Memo: SCAG Policies Pertaining to Open Space and Habitat Planning ( .pdf )
• An Ecosystem Approach to Regional Habitat Management ( .pdf )

Past Projects

• Presentation: Using Process-function Ecology to Urbanize Habitat Conservation Planning ( .ppt )
• 1996 Regional Comprehensive Plan and Guide (RCPG) Open Space Chapter ( .pdf )

Learn More

Links

Policy Resources

• U.S. Department of Fish and Game
• California Department of Fish and Game
• California Environmental Protection Agency
• Federal Highways' SAFETEA-LU

Urban Forestry

• Center for Urban Forest Research

Native Vegetation

• California Native Plants Society
• Growing Native California
• California Environmental Protection Agency

Water Quality and Conservation

• California Urban Water Conservation Council
• California Stormwater Quality Association
• California Urban Water Conservation Council, Water Saver Home
• Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Water-wise Landscaping
• U.S. EPA, Los Angeles River Watershed Profile

Habitat and Conservation Planning

• California Department of Fish and Game: Natural Community Conservation Planning
• Coachella Valley Multiple-species Habitat Conservation Plan
• Riverside County Integrated Plan, Conservation
• Riverside County Multiple-species Habitat Conservation Plan

Fire Wise Landscape Management

• American Forests California Wildfire Releaf

Environmental Organizations

• Low Impact Development Center
• TreePeople
• Trust for Public Lands
• The Nature Conservancy

Research Institutions

• University of California Santa Barbara, Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, Class of 2005 Project Update, Designing Road Crossings for Safe Wildlife Passage: Ventura County Wildlife Corridor Planning Guidelines ( .pdf )
• University of Southern California, Green Visions Plan

Past Events

Agricultural Land Workshop
February 13, 2007

• Agricultural Lands Workshop
• 1996 - 2004 Farmland
• Agricultural Lands (from 2004 RTP EIR)
• Farmland Protection Policies & Programs: SCAG Region

Community Open Space Workshop
November 6, 2006

• Workshop Agenda
• Regional Open Space Program
• Project Overview
• Existing Land Uses (2005)
• MAP: Existing Open Space, Recreation, and Agricultural Land Uses (2005)
• Case Studies
• Case Studies Methodology
• Case Studies Summary Table

RCP Chapters

• Air Quality
• Economy
• Energy
• Finance
• Land Use and Housing
• Open Space and Habitat
• Security and Emergency Preparedness
• Solid Waste
• Transportation
• Water

Next Meeting

The next Open Space Working Group meeting is to be determined.

Contact

If you have any questions or comments, please contact Jessica Kirchner at (213) 236-1983 or email kirchner@scag.ca.gov

Past Meeting Agendas, Minutes, & Presentations

• September 11, 2007
  • Presentation: Mitigating Impacts to Wildlife Movement in Ventura County
• July 10, 2007
• May 8, 2007
• March 13, 2007
• January 9, 2007
• November 14, 2006
• October 10, 2006
• September 12, 2006
• July 11, 2006