RCA staff outlines MSHCP reserve‑design fundamentals, notes decades‑long assembly timeline

Harry Sandoval, Regional Conservation Deputy Director for the RCA, gave an overview Feb. 2 of the reserve‑design principles that underpin the Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP).

Sandoval described six primary reserve components—existing cores, proposed cores, extensions of existing cores, linkages, constrained linkages and noncontiguous habitat blocks—and said the MSHCP covers 146 species. He emphasized that reserve design balances size, shape, connectivity and habitat diversity: "Larger reserves function better than smaller ones," Sandoval said, adding that linkages are vital to gene flow and help populations resist localized extinction events.

Sandoval acknowledged the plan's cell‑criteria were developed at a high mapping scale decades ago and said assembly of a full reserve system may take upward of 40 years. Board members asked about neighboring agencies' reserve footprints and whether criteria cells warrant revisiting; staff said the SIOP amendment will examine potential changes and that modern mapping can improve site‑level accuracy.

Directors and staff thanked Sandoval and conservation partners for the presentation and emphasized the value of continuing reserve assembly work to protect habitat while allowing managed development.