South Sacramento Habitat Conservation Plan

Project Summary

Sacramento County led local efforts to adopt the South Sacramento Habitat Conservation Plan (SSHCP or Plan). The SSHCP encompasses a 317,000 acre area in south Sacramento County and streamlines federal and state permitting for development and infrastructure projects while conserving habitat. An interconnected regional preserve system of over 36,000 acres – roughly 1.2 times the total size of San Francisco - will be created over the next 50 years to protect twenty-eight plant and wildlife species and their natural habitats. The Plan is the first in the nation to include Clean Water Act (CWA) permits issued by the Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and Endangered Species Act (ESA) permits issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Instead of permitting through several separate state and federal agencies, most actions in the Plan area can be permitted through the County Office of Planning and Environmental Review.

The Plan Area is located in the southern portion of Sacramento County. It is divided into two components: inside and outside the Urban Development Area (UDA). All proposed urbanization and some preserves will occur inside the UDA. Most preservation will occur outside of the UDA and help to protect agricultural lands as well as habitat.

SSHCP Covered Activities may be carried out by the Permittee Agencies or by Third Party Project Proponents. The Conservation Strategy and process for Covered Activity project authorization is described in the SSHCP and associated permits. In all cases, language in the permit(s) prevail when different than the SSHCP. The Plan will be made consistent with the permit conditions and language.

The County of Sacramento, newly-formed South Sacramento Conservation Agency, and our partners are currently engaged in a collaborative effort with state and federal regulatory agencies to implement the South Sacramento Habitat Conservation Plan.