About The Natomas Basin Conservancy

About the Natomas Basin Conservancy

The NBHCP applies to the 53,537-acre interior of the Natomas Basin, located in the northern portion of Sacramento County and the southern portion of Sutter County. The Basin contains incorporated and unincorporated areas within the jurisdiction of the City of Sacramento, Sacramento County and Sutter County.

The purpose of the NBHCP is to promote biological conservation along with economic development and the continuation of agriculture within the Natomas Basin. The NBHCP establishes a multi-species conservation program to mitigate the expected loss of habitat values and incidental take of protected species that would result from urban development, operation of irrigation and drainage systems, and rice farming. The goal of the NBHCP is to preserve, restore, and enhance habitat values found in the Natomas Basin while allowing urban development to proceed according to local land use plans.

The NBHCP is a supporting document for federal Section 10(a)(1)(B) and State Section 2081 permit applications. Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the federal Endangered Species Act allows incidental take of endangered or threatened species subject to its permit requirements. Similarly, State Section 2081 of the California Fish and Game Code allows the California Department of Fish and Game to enter into management agreements that allows activities which may otherwise result in habitat loss or take of individuals of a state listed species.

Conservancy Mission

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The mission of The Natomas Basin Conservancy is to promote biological conservation along with economic development and the continuation of agriculture in the Natomas Basin. The Habitat Conservation Plan establishes a multi-species conservation program to mitigate the expected loss of habitat values and take of protected species that would result from urban development, operation irrigation and drainage systems, and rice farming. The goal of the Habitat Conservation Plan is to preserve, restore, and enhance habitat values in the Natomas Basin while allowing urban development to proceed according to local land use plans.

What We Do

The NBHCP, adopted in November 1997 and revised in 2003, was designed to promote biological conservation along with economic development and continuation of agriculture in the 53,341-acre Natomas Basin, located in portions of northern Sacramento and southern Sutter Counties. The NBHCP was also prepared to satisfy a condition of an U.S. Army Corp of Engineers permit, with the program implementation under the direction of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, California Department of Fish and Game, and the City of Sacramento.

The NBHCP established a multi-species conservation program to mitigate the expected loss of habitat values and incidental take of protected species that would result from urban development, operation of irrigation and drainage systems, and rice farming. To meet the mitigation goals of the NBHCP, a mitigation fee is paid to the Conservancy by developers of projects when they apply for building permits. The Conservancy then uses the mitigation fees to acquire, restore, and manage mitigation lands to provide habitat for protected species and maintain agriculture in the Basin. Since the program inception, the Conservancy has acquired approximately 30 mitigation properties totaling over 4,500 acres.

Mission

(Why the Conservancy exists)

The Conservancy acquires and manages land for the purpose of meeting the objectives of the Natomas Basin Habitat Conservation Plan.

Vision

(Presents an image of what success will look like)

The Conservancy envisions implementing the NBHCP in a manner that successfully meets the Plan’s biological goals, makes efficient use of fee payer funding, and facilitates permit holder activities covered under the Plan over the long term.

Goal & Objectives

(How the Conservancy will achieve its mission and vision)

GOAL

The Conservancy will maintain itself as an effective organization, and will at all times be capable of serving as the Natomas Basin Habitat conservation Plan’s plan operator.

OBJECTIVES

  1. Apply principles of sound science in the creation and management of habitat reserves.
  2. Review and focus on the NBHCP long-term finance model to ensure the Conservancy is financially capable of fully performing its plan operator responsibilities.
  3. Seek opportunities to help insure the long-term persistence of species covered under the NBHCP.