RCIS Baylands Project - Sonoma County Transportation Authority

North Bay Baylands RCIS

Metropolitan Transportation Commission, Caltrans, San Francisco Estuary Partnership, Sonoma County Transportation Authority, and Environmental Science Associates are working in partnership to develop a Regional Conservation Investment Strategy (RCIS) for the San Pablo Bay (North Bay) Baylands region. The goal of this project is to prepare a document that can be used by a diverse set of stakeholders to guide more strategic and successful conservation activities in the region.

To receive project updates, send an email to info@baylandsrcis.org with your name, mailing address, and email address.

WHAT IS AN RCIS?

An RCIS is:

A guide to conservation investment in a region. An RCIS identifies regional goals, objectives, priorities, and actions for the conservation and recovery of species and habitats in a defined region.
A voluntary, non-regulatory, and non-binding assessment. An RCIS provides recommendations and guidelines to user groups, but it is not a regulatory permit and does not require entities to perform actions.
Rooted in the best available science. An RCIS considers currently existing landscape values and accounts for changes that could occur because of land conversion, climatic changes, or future investments in a region.

Download the RCIS Fact Sheet Visit CDFW’s RCIS Program Page View CDFW’s RCIS FAQs Download the RCIS Area Map

A public meeting was held on October 19th to provide information and solicit comments for the development of the North Bay Baylands Regional Conservation Investment Strategy.

RCIS Public Meeting – Wednesday, October 19th, 5:30-6:30PM

A recording of the October 19th RCIS Public Meeting can be viewed above or at the following link: 10.19.22 Public Meeting Recording

WHY DEVELOP AN RCIS?

The intent of an RCIS is to provide higher-quality conservation outcomes through regional planning. Implementation of the priorities and actions identified in the RCIS should aid in species recovery and habitat preservation, enhancement, and restoration.

An approved RCIS also activates a new tool, a Mitigation Credit Agreement, that can be used to secure mitigation in advance of project impacts. This can accelerate project delivery and reduce the time that ecosystem functions and values are lost between when a project impact occurs and when mitigation is fulfilled.

WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM THE RCIS?

Conservation organizations, land trusts, and resource managers: To identify high value areas for conservation; implement actions that best support desired conservation outcomes; gain support for grant applications.
Transportation agencies, infrastructure/development project proponents: To site projects to reduce impacts to high value resources thereby improving permitting processes; design more resilient and habitat-compatible infrastructure; identify best options for successful mitigation implementation.
Land use authorities, municipalities, and governments: To improve project siting and outcomes (as noted for project proponents above); prepare more comprehensive, ecologically sensitive General Plans and Master Plans.
Mitigation sponsors: To identify the best locations for siting mitigation banks or for developing Mitigation Credit Agreements; inform actions that lead to higher success of mitigation projects.
Regulatory agencies: To improve project approval and permitting processes when project design and mitigation proposals are aligned with the RCIS’s conservation strategy.
Local communities: To achieve improved ecological health and associated public health benefits; obtain more conservation value for community investments; engage with a holistic vision for the region’s future.

WHAT WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE NORTH BAY BAYLANDS RCIS?

The content of the North Bay Baylands RCIS will be developed through a collaborative process with project partners, stakeholders, and the public. More information will be provided on this website when it is available. In general, the RCIS is expected to include conservation strategies for 10-15 sensitive wildlife or plant species and 4-6 conservation elements, such as sensitive vegetation communities or important habitat connectivity corridors.

HOW CAN YOU GET INVOLVED?

The Project Team is planning a robust engagement process to integrate feedback from a diverse collection of stakeholders and the public. More information about the public outreach process will be forthcoming. If you would like to be included on our mailing list for updates, please send an email to info@baylandsrcis.org with your name, mailing address, and email information.

PROJECT PROPONENTS AND SPONSORS

The North Bay Baylands Regional Conservation Investment Strategy is proposed by Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) with Caltrans as the state sponsoring agency. San Francisco Estuary Partnership (SFEP), Sonoma County Transportation Authority, and Environmental Science Associates, along with MTC and Caltrans, are part of the Project Team. Funding is provided by MTC and SFEP. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife manages the RCIS Program and will be the authorizing agency.

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