City of los angeles general plan

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CITY OF LOS ANGELES CONSERVATION ELEMENT

Adopted September 2001

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the general public, via the Internet. GIS already is providing

invaluable information to agencies for land use planning, development

projects and CEQA analysis. The exhibits that are a part of this

element were generated from the city's GIS data base.

Natural Community Conservation Act (NCCA). Following complaints by

developers and property owners that protection of identified species

unduly delayed projects and constituted a taking of their land, the

state enacted the Natural Community Conservation Act of 1991 (Fish and

Game Code Chapter 10, Division 3, Sections 2800 et seq.). The NCCA is

administered by the Department of Fish and Game (DFG). Its goal is to

identify and secure habitat areas for protection of biodiversity.

Habitat areas are identified by the DFG and plans are prepared for

habitat protection. The pilot program for southern California is the

coastal sage scrub habitat area, including the Palos Verdes Peninsula,

the only site near Los Angeles city. The coastal sage scrub is the home

of the California gnatcatcher and approximately 100 other potentially

threatened or endangered species. 

When a development project is proposed, a determination is made

concerning the potential impacts of the project on biodiversity and the

best means of avoiding or mitigating them. The NCCA allows local, state

or federal agencies to enter into agreements with public and private

entities to implement a "natural community conservation plan" (NCCP),

e.g., habitat and species protection within a specified geographic

area. Participation in an NCCP does not exempt a development project

from CEQA. Mitigation measures pursuant to CEQA may, as an alternative,

include participation in an NCCP in order to reduce the burden for on-

site mitigation. As far as can be ascertained, no projects within the

City of Los Angeles are utilizing the NCCA.

Conclusion. The city has an important role in preserving, protecting,

enhancing, creating and monitoring habitats to ensure the maintenance

of the rich local biodiversity. Its primary means are acquisition,

management of publicly owned sites, permit processing, data collection,

regulatory authority and cooperative efforts with other entities.

Continuing issues:

N

 Loss or degradation of the last remaining SEAs.

N

 Loss or severing of habitats, habitat corridors and migratory bird

stopover sites that are essential for the healthy propagation and

maintenance of native and migratory species.

Habitats/ecological areas objective, policies, programs (see also

Endangered Species, Fisheries, Ocean and Wetlands sections):

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CITY OF LOS ANGELES CONSERVATION ELEMENT

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Objective: preserve, protect, restore and enhance natural plant and

wildlife diversity, habitats, corridors and linkages so as to enable

the healthy propagation and survival of native species, especially

those species that are endangered, sensitive, threatened or species of

special concern.

Policy 1: continue to identify significant habitat areas, corridors and

buffers and to take measures to protect, enhance and/or restore them.

Program 1: development permit environmental review and other

applicable processes that identify and/or require evaluation,

avoidance, minimization and mitigation of potential significant

impacts on natural habitats, corridors and linkages.

Responsibility: departments of *Building and Safety and

*City Planning, *lead agencies responsible for city

development project implementation and *agencies that own or

manage properties.

Program 2: community plan land use classification of significant

habitats in categories that will encourage their retention.

Responsibility: *Department of City Planning. 

Policy 2: continue to protect, restore and/or enhance habitat areas,

linkages and corridor segments, to the greatest extent practical,

within city owned or managed sites.

Program: City property management.

 

Responsibility: *city agencies that own or manage lands

and/or are responsible for project implementation.

Policy 3: continue to work cooperatively with other agencies and

entities in protecting local habitats and endangered, threatened,

sensitive and rare species.

Program: property acquisition and providing support or assistance

to other public and private entities in acquiring habitat areas

and corridors and for habitat recovery efforts for species

protection and recreational uses.

Responsibility: *Mayor, *City Council (and City Legislative

Analyst), *Department of Recreation and Parks.

Policy 4: continue to support legislation that encourages and

facilitates protection of local native plant and animal habitats.

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CITY OF LOS ANGELES CONSERVATION ELEMENT

Adopted September 2001

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Program: City legislative program.

Responsibility: *Mayor and *City Council (and City

Legislative Analyst).

For related information see:

N

 Endangered Species Section;

N

 Fisheries Section;

N

 Habitats/Scenic Lands Outside the City Section;

N

 Ocean Section; and

N

 "Open Space Element," Los Angeles City General Plan (under

preparation).

SECTION 13: HABITATS AND SCENIC AREAS OUTSIDE THE CITY

The city, by virtue of its facility and utility sites outside city

boundaries, has a habitat stewardship role beyond its borders. Its land

holdings and its facility and land agreements include park, recreation,

airport, dam, power transmission rights-of-way, power plant, aqueduct

and other facilities, systems and sites. Most of the lands and

facilities are under the ownership or management of the Department of

Water and Power (DWP). The remainder are owned or managed by the

airports department, or other city agencies. 

The city's environmental stewardship has occasionally been challenged.

Challenges recently have resulted in commitments to protect, restore

and/or enhance four significant habitat and scenic areas: the Grand

Canyon-Colorado River Plateau, Owens Valley, Owens Lake and Mono Lake.

The four cases and related commitments are summarized below.

Grand Canyon-Colorado River Plateau. One of the nation's most important

open space resource areas is the Colorado River Plateau, which includes

the Grand Canyon and Glen Canyon. In recent decades there has been

national concern about increased visibility pollution which sometimes

obliterates views of vistas and nearby landmarks. Over a century ago

the haze was due largely to wind swept dust and lightning caused forest

fires. Recent studies identified a variety of sources, including sulfur

dioxide emitted from coal fired generating stations. Sulfur dioxide

combines with moisture to form tiny, visible sulfate particles that

discolor the air, contributing to the haze. Polluted air is sucked into

Grand Canyon by cold air, which drains from the high plateaus and

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