Rep. Calvert Introduces Bill to Establish Western Riverside County Wildlife Refuge

Today, Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-42) introduced legislation (H.R. 2956) establishing the Western Riverside County Wildlife Refuge. Rep. Mark Takano (CA-41) and Rep. Pete Aguilar (CA-31) are original cosponsors of the bill.

"The creation of the Western Riverside County Wildlife Refuge will allow our region to continue its ongoing commitment towards balancing natural resource conservation and future development," said Rep. Calvert. "Setting aside land reserved for our wildlife is a challenge that must be met through the contributions of a variety of stakeholders. Establishing the Western Riverside County Wildlife Refuge will also enable us to build new roads and critical transportation infrastructure necessary for our region's future by mitigating for impacts to species."

"I support Rep. Calvert's Wildlife Refuge Bill to establish boundaries for a new wildlife refuge and protect existing wildlife in Western Riverside County by investing in projects designed to minimize the impact that new developments have on precious species," said Rep. Takano. "It's our responsibility to ensure that our region maintains a thoughtful conservation plan for generations to come."

"As our region's economy and population continue to grow, it's important to ensure wildlife conservation efforts remain a top priority," said Rep. Aguilar. "Creating the Western Riverside County Wildlife Refuge as this bill does would represent a significant step toward preserving Southern California's unique wildlife and plant species while providing new opportunities for investment in our region's infrastructure."

The Western Riverside County Regional Conservation Authority (WRCRCA) oversees the Western Riverside County Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP), which went into effect in 2004. The MSHCP is a 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.

"We applaud Congressman Calvert for advancing the federal government's contributions to the MSHCP in order to balance new development, expedite transportation improvements and protect wildlife in western Riverside County," said WRCRCA Chairman Jonathan Ingram. "This legislation creates a sustainable path forward and marks a critical step toward assembling the largest conservation plan in the nation."

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. The federal government and the state are required to acquire one-third of the necessary land for this wildlife preserve, but the feds have not yet met their goal. Enactment of H.R. 2956 will enable the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to fulfill its obligation as a partner in the MSHCP.

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 legislation 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.

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