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What you need to know to retain SDHC as your open space habitat manager.
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As the owner of a mitigated property needed to be managed by a long-term habitat manager, you may be wondering what steps you should take to retain the services of SDHC as your open space habitat manager. SDHC does have selection criteria when considering mitigation property for management. Primarily, SDHC wants a potential property to be ecologically viable with quality habitat that adds value to regional conservation efforts. If the property is too disturbed, too small, or surrounded by development, SDHC may decline management of that property. We consider:
Answering ‘yes’ to the following questions makes a site more desirable for SDHC to manage.
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Management Plan
Prior to contacting SDHC about managing your property, we request that you first have a finalized, or near finalized, Habitat Management Plan (HMP), Long-Term Management Plan (LTMP), Preserve Management Plan (PMP), Resource Management Plan (RMP) or similarly-named plan in place so that SDHC can accurately assess the management needs of the property.
Estimate for Long-term Management (ELM)
Once finalized, SDHC will use the HMP or similar document to derive the cost estimate for long-term management which will be presented in an Estimate for Long-term Management (ELM). The purpose of the ELM is to identify the tasks and costs associated with the long-term management and maintenance of the property and to calculate the endowment to fund those duties. The ELM includes Initial and Capital Tasks and Costs as well as long-term Ongoing Tasks and Costs associated with managing the property and sensitive resources contained within the property in perpetuity. The cost to prepare the ELM depends on the complexity of the project, project phasing, or proposed funding. Contact SDHC for the cost to prepare an ELM for your property.
Endowment
The information contained within the ELM is then used to determine the one-time endowment required to ensure the property will be managed in perpetuity. Total financial requirements include the initial costs, the endowment, and the emergency and legal defense fund to assist with unforeseen catastrophic events or to defend legal challenge to the land. The San Diego Foundation manages all of SDHC's endowment funds.
Operating Agreement
Once the ELM has been completed and the endowment has been determined, SDHC will draft an Operating Agreement (OA) which is a contract between SDHC and you (the landowner) establishing SDHC as the long-term land manager for the property. Once the OA has been signed by all parties, SDHC has conducted a site inspection to determine that the site is in appropriate condition for transfer (e.g. garbage has been removed, boundary staked, invasive plants removed, restoration completed), and the total payments have been funded, SDHC may begin active management of your property.
When considering SDHC as your open space manager, there are a few additional things you should consider.
Site Access
SDHC will require the land owner to establish and grant permanent access to parking at one or more access points (dependent upon site size) from the nearest public road to the property site so that SDHC staff can properly perform management responsibilities in perpetuity, including such tasks as removing invasive plants, trash, and other large items.
Conservation Easement or Restrictive Covenant
During preparation of the OA, SDHC will also be considering any conservation easement or restrictive covenant that has been placed on the property. SDHC can also help in the preparation of a conservation easement or restrictive covenant if one has not yet been prepared. If you desire, SDHC may be the grantee to a conservation easement.
CDFW Authorization to Hold Mitigation Land
SDHC is approved by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to hold and manage mitigation lands within Region 5 (South Coast Region) and Region 6 (Inland Deserts Region) pursuant to Government Code Sections 65965-65968.
Statement of Qualifications
Our Statement of Qualifications is available here.
For more specific details regarding management of your property, please feel free to contact: Don Scoles, Executive Director
Prior to contacting SDHC about managing your property, we request that you first have a finalized, or near finalized, Habitat Management Plan (HMP), Long-Term Management Plan (LTMP), Preserve Management Plan (PMP), Resource Management Plan (RMP) or similarly-named plan in place so that SDHC can accurately assess the management needs of the property.
Estimate for Long-term Management (ELM)
Once finalized, SDHC will use the HMP or similar document to derive the cost estimate for long-term management which will be presented in an Estimate for Long-term Management (ELM). The purpose of the ELM is to identify the tasks and costs associated with the long-term management and maintenance of the property and to calculate the endowment to fund those duties. The ELM includes Initial and Capital Tasks and Costs as well as long-term Ongoing Tasks and Costs associated with managing the property and sensitive resources contained within the property in perpetuity. The cost to prepare the ELM depends on the complexity of the project, project phasing, or proposed funding. Contact SDHC for the cost to prepare an ELM for your property.
Endowment
The information contained within the ELM is then used to determine the one-time endowment required to ensure the property will be managed in perpetuity. Total financial requirements include the initial costs, the endowment, and the emergency and legal defense fund to assist with unforeseen catastrophic events or to defend legal challenge to the land. The San Diego Foundation manages all of SDHC's endowment funds.
Operating Agreement
Once the ELM has been completed and the endowment has been determined, SDHC will draft an Operating Agreement (OA) which is a contract between SDHC and you (the landowner) establishing SDHC as the long-term land manager for the property. Once the OA has been signed by all parties, SDHC has conducted a site inspection to determine that the site is in appropriate condition for transfer (e.g. garbage has been removed, boundary staked, invasive plants removed, restoration completed), and the total payments have been funded, SDHC may begin active management of your property.
When considering SDHC as your open space manager, there are a few additional things you should consider.
Site Access
SDHC will require the land owner to establish and grant permanent access to parking at one or more access points (dependent upon site size) from the nearest public road to the property site so that SDHC staff can properly perform management responsibilities in perpetuity, including such tasks as removing invasive plants, trash, and other large items.
Conservation Easement or Restrictive Covenant
During preparation of the OA, SDHC will also be considering any conservation easement or restrictive covenant that has been placed on the property. SDHC can also help in the preparation of a conservation easement or restrictive covenant if one has not yet been prepared. If you desire, SDHC may be the grantee to a conservation easement.
CDFW Authorization to Hold Mitigation Land
SDHC is approved by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to hold and manage mitigation lands within Region 5 (South Coast Region) and Region 6 (Inland Deserts Region) pursuant to Government Code Sections 65965-65968.
Statement of Qualifications
Our Statement of Qualifications is available here.
For more specific details regarding management of your property, please feel free to contact: Don Scoles, Executive Director
San Diego Habitat Conservancy
Phone: (619) 365-4839
SDHC@sdhabitat.org
Phone: (619) 365-4839
SDHC@sdhabitat.org