The Upper Santa Ana Wash Habitat Conservation Plan and Final EIS/SEIR will be published Friday in the Federal Register, signifying a major step toward implementation. The 4,500-acreWash Planwas developed over many years by a local Wash Plan Task Force made up of the cities of Highland and Redlands; the SBVWCD, East Valley Water District, San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District; CEMEX, Robertson’s Ready Mix; the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and California Department of Fish and Wildlife. It represents a unique collaboration between government, business and environmental interests to expand sensitive habitat areas and water storage, while establishing appropriate areas for mining operations that provide essential construction aggregate and jobs to the region. Read More
The District's plans to expand habitat for the endangered San Bernardino kangaroo rat will require permits and some relocation and monitoring of the species by experienced biologists familiar with the wide-eyed rodent. Biologist Mikael Romich has been working with the District to establish a program that will enable the SBKR to thrive in its new environment once necessary state and federal permits are secured and the plan is put into action. Read More
The San Bernardino Valley Water Conservation District captured and recharged some 4.2 billion gallons of recent March rains into the region’s natural groundwater aquifers, which store significant amounts of water for use in times of severe drought. That increase in precipitation, following a dry January and February, helped lessen concerns about drought. impacts for the region in 2020. Read More
