The LCR MSCP has adopted a habitat-based approach to the conservation of covered species. Habitat creation involves the direct construction of habitat that results in new sites that presently do not support habitat. The Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) requires the creation of over 8,100 acres of various land cover types to provide habitat for targeted LCR MSCP covered species.  The vegetation and habitat program consists of monitoring the appropriate habitat creation sites to learn how the appropriate plant species and land cover types develop into habitat.

Four land cover types are integrated in the LCR MSCP and include: cottonwood-willow, honey mesquite, marsh, and backwater. A fifth land cover will be included as a buffer zone around the habitat creation sites and include more upland species or agricultural land cover types.

The vegetation and habitat monitoring program captures the parameters needed to ensure a healthy sustainable environment for the covered species into the future. The data from this monitoring program will be used to assist with the future management of each conservation area.

Updated January 7, 2020