The Santa Clara Valley Habitat Agencyleads the implementation of the Santa Clara Valley Habitat Plan (Habitat Plan). The Habitat Plan is a 50-year regional plan to protect endangered species and natural resources while allowing for future development in Santa Clara County. In 2013 the Habitat Plan was adopted by all local participating agencies and permits were issued from the US Fish and Wildlife Service and California Department of Fish and Wildlife. It is both a habitat conservation plan and natural community conservation plan, or HCP/NCCP. This planning document:
Helps private and public entities plan and conduct projects and activities in ways that lessen impacts on natural resources, including specific threatened and endangered species.
Identifies regional lands—called reserves—to be preserved or restored to benefit those species.
Describes how reserves will be managed and monitored to ensure that they benefit those species.
In providing a long-term, coordinated program for habitat restoration and conservation, the Habitat Plan aims to enhance the viability of threatened and endangered species throughout the Santa Clara Valley. The Habitat Agency implements the Habitat Plan and reports compliance to the Wildlife Agencies.
Does your project require a Lake or Streambed Alteration Agreement (1600 permit) from CDFW?
Click here to learn about how projects covered by the Habitat Plan also meet most or all mitigation requirements for a LSAA/1600 permit.