Conservation Team Participates in the Multiple Species Conservation Program Annual Workshop

12/18/24

On November 22, 2024, the Multiple Species Conservation Program (MSCP) Annual Workshop was hosted by the County’s Department of Parks and Recreation at the Lakeside Community Center at Lakeside County Park. This event brought together local, state, and federal partners to share achievements from the previous year in habitat protection, restoration, management, and monitoring efforts across San Diego.

The workshop featured a tabling session where attendees could interact with representatives from various jurisdictions and agencies involved in regional species and habitat conservation. Additionally, there were two presentation sessions: one focused on local jurisdictions and the other on the various agencies in the region.

Presenters from local jurisdictions included representatives from the County, City of San Diego, and City of Chula Vista. Their presentations highlighted achievements from 2023, including new land acquisitions, progress towards reaching preserve acreage goals, and future projects.

Presentation at the Lakeside Community CenterPresentation at the Lakeside Community Center (Photo credit: County staff)

Presenters from the agencies included representative from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, California Department of Fish & Wildlife, San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), and San Diego Management & Monitoring Program (SDMMP). These presentations covered topics, such as the roles of federal and state agencies in MSCP efforts, the importance of coordination among partners, and species-specific surveys and results.

The County’s Department of Parks and Recreation, along with County’s Planning & Development Services, oversee the County’s MSCP South County Subarea Plan, which was adopted in 1997. This plan protects and connects valuable biological habitats in the southwestern unincorporated areas while allowing development to occur in less sensitive areas. The goal is to establish a 98,379-acre Preserve that supports 85 plant and animal species covered by the plan. As of December 31, 2023, a total of 411 acres were added to the preserve in 2023. You can find more details in the 2023 MSCP South County Subarea Plan Annual Report.

The County is currently preparing the 2024 MSCP South County Subarea Plan Annual Report, which is anticipated to go to the Board of Supervisors in Summer 2025. For more information or to subscribe to updates about the MSCP, visit the MSCP website.

Lakeside County Park (Photo Credit: County staff)

Variegated dudleya, MSCP Covered Species (Photo Credit: County staff)