House Approves Rep. Calvert Amendment Establishing the Western Riverside County Wildlife Refuge

Today, the House of Representatives approved an amendment offered by Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-42) to H.R. 3684 establishing the Western Riverside County Wildlife Refuge. The amendment mirrors legislation, H.R. 972, previously introduced by Rep. Calvert to establish the refuge. The amendment was cosponsored by Rep. Mark Takano (CA-41).

"The adoption of this amendment moves us one step closer to the creation of the Western Riverside County Wildlife Refuge," said Rep. Calvert. "Riverside County has already taken proactive steps to balance our transportation needs with meeting our conservation commitments. By establishing the Western Riverside County Wildlife Refuge we can build upon those actions and better manage those conserved lands. I will continue to work with my House and Senate colleagues to get this important legislation across the finish line and signed into law.

In total, 500,000 acres are required for the wildlife preserve under the MSHCP terms. 350,000 of those acres are existing National Forest system land from Cleveland and San Bernardino National Forests and other state and federal land which has reserve value. The remaining 150,000 acres are to be acquired, one-third, by the state and federal governments, and two-thirds from private landowners through the WRCRCA. However, the federal government is far from meeting its goal. Enactment of H.R. 972 will enable the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to fulfill its obligation as a partner in the MSHCP.

The Western Riverside County Regional Conservation Authority (RCA) oversees the Western Riverside County Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP), which went into effect in 2004. The MSHCP is a 500,000-acre wildlife preserve that provides habitat for 146 species of plants and animals. Establishing this land as a wildlife refuge will ensure public access and enhanced recreation opportunities for the entire region.

WRCRCA supports the consolidation of the current checkerboard conservation lands into a Wildlife Refuge creating a framework for the federal government to meet its obligations under the MSHCP Implementing agreement. This amendment would:

• Establish the boundary for a new wildlife refuge;
• Allow for the immediate inclusion of non-federal conservation lands that have already been acquired to meet the terms of the MSHCP;
• Provide certainty for development of the transportation infrastructure required to meet the future needs of southern California;
• Create new public access and enhance recreation for the entire region; and
• Create a mechanism for federal agencies to inventory lands within the Refuge boundary established by this legislation to determine their suitability for inclusion.