$3.99 million state grant funds design of I‑15 Rainbow Canyon wildlife crossing; RCA to support project

The RCA heard an update April 6 on a proposed wildlife crossing over Interstate 15 near the Riverside–San Diego County line and a state grant that will fund design and permitting work.

Harry Sandoval, Regional Conservation Deputy Director, said the proposed Rainbow Canyon crossing would reconnect habitats between the Santa Ana Mountains and Palomar Mountains and improve movement for mountain lions and other species. "To enhance connectivity between the Santa Ana Mountains and the Peninsular Ranges to the South and the East, a partnership between the Temecula Anza Elsinore Murrieta Resource Conservation District and The Nature Conservancy are leading an effort to design and eventually build a wildlife crossing over Interstate 15," Sandoval said.

Sandoval told the board the California Wildlife Conservation Board awarded a $3,988,000 grant on Feb. 26 to Team RCD and The Nature Conservancy to fund design and permitting. He said the current alignment is north of the county line and that San Diego County is not in the project footprint. "The current alignment... it's all north of the county line," he said when asked about jurisdictional boundaries.

RCA staff said the authority will continue to support the effort by participating on an advisory committee and by acquiring and protecting habitat that would benefit from the crossing. Board members asked whether the crossing would reduce vehicle‑wildlife collisions and Sandoval said it likely would, while noting further design and environmental review remain to be completed.

What happens next: Team RCD and The Nature Conservancy will use the WCB grant for design and permitting, RCA will join partners on an advisory committee and staff will continue coordination and land acquisition to support the crossing.