Riverpark Mitigation Bank
Project Spotlight: Restoring a Valley in High-Growth Riverside County
Floodplain restoration project returns rare vernal pools and wetland super blooms to Southern California
The Riverpark Mitigation Bank is located in the valley below the Perris Reservoir — the southern terminus of the California State Water Project that moves water all the way from the Bay Delta. EIP’s work here has restored nearly 1,000 acres of floodplain habitat. This important ecological resource permanently protects several species of endangered plants and rare vernal pools on the historic floodplain of the San Jacinto River.
EIP worked with the local experts on site hydrology, soils, and plants, and developed a plan to fill in a large ditch that had been cut to drain the area in the 1930s. The new grading of the site allows that channel and adjacent lands to revert to a more natural condition over time.
The mitigation bank site is also located in one of the priority areas designated by the Western Riverside County Multi-Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP) — the largest such conservation planning area in the United States. The goal of the MSHCP is to protect and restore habitat for 146 listed species in Riverside County, one of the fastest growing areas of the county. EIP worked with the county to allow its Regional Conservation Authority to hold the conservation easement on the mitigation bank land, along with an endowment for monitoring the property over time. The San Diego Habitat Conservancy will provide long-term management of the bank.
Once used as a dumping ground for old tires and trash, the newly restored landscape has been planted with locally sourced seed and will become a wide-open vista of wildflowers each springtime for years to come.
Our Partners
With deep relationships among local stakeholders, McCollum & Sweetwater is a trusted partner to EIP’s national team, bringing us their knowledge and experience in the conservation of sensitive habitats.
As one of our trusted partners at Riverpark Mitigation Bank, Helix Environmental Planning displayed advanced knowledge of the project and technically advanced solutions to match. The sharp and innovative team also provides cultural archaeological resources, and are able to provide near instantaneous data that drives our decision making.
Through our collaboration at Riverpark Mitigation Bank, Hanford Applied Restoration & Conservation has proven a truly exceptional restoration specialist and partner, investing time and energy to be involved in the process. Hanford ARC’s ability to see construction and regulatory efficiencies helps us avoid redundancies and achieve substantial projects savings.
As a California law firm that specializes in representing natural resource development companies, Mitchell Chadwick’s keen attorneys helped EIP navigate numerous challenges over the course of our work at Lookout Slough. The team understands EIP’s goals for sustainable restoration, allowing them to help us anticipate issues before they arise.
River Focus Inc. is a trusted advisor to EIP in our efforts at Riverpark Mitigation Bank, bringing to the table its vast knowledge of water resource engineering to advance the project with minimal roadblocks.