RCIS Program Lessons Learned
Understand the value
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An RCIS is a vision for how habitat and species conservation in a region could be implemented.
It is completely voluntary, does not impose new regulations, does not promote development, and may not conflict with current regulatory requirements.
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An RCIS can provide a pathway to navigating the intersection of voluntary conservation actions and regulatory requirements. These benefits can be for both conservation and mitigation goals.
Multiple benefits are revealed through the development of an RCIS including:
- Understanding a region’s mitigation credit needs
- Integration of multi-benefit outcomes into focal conservation element actions
- Incorporation of nature-based solutions to land use decisions
- Including conservation in urban community land use decisions and planning
Mitigation credit agreements can contribute to multiple organizational goals. As a result, the benefits derived from interested parties will be very different and may cover conservation, development, and project delivery.
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The value of an RCIS to proponent organizations may differ. Motivations for supporting development of an RCIS may initially include mitigation needs for planned project impacts or habitat conservation goals. The end value and structure identified throughout the process of developing the RCIS and engaging interested parties, technical working groups, and development partners.
The ability of RCISs to streamline the mitigation processes under current regulatory frameworks is a major selling point for project proponents.
Tips for Development
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Start with a clear idea of what success would look like.
- What areas have been protected, concerved or enhanced with this work?
- How has the community responded and embraced this work?
- How has the infrastructure work been improved by the fact that an RCIS was created?
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It is important to engage interested parties, regional land use authorities, and CDFW early and often.
- This includes determining who is included in technical working groups, and ensuring that a balance of scientific advisors and potential users of an RCIS are included.
Engage with federal agencies (e.g., USFWS, USACE), CDFW, other state agencies, and local county and city agencies to have specific language or terminology included in actions that align with their priorities and/or ordinances so that they can approve future MCAs.
- This addresses the interaction between the voluntary nature of the RCIS and the regulatory approvals necessary for MCAs, and provides for a streamlined pathway to regulatory compliance.
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Think about implementation early. This includes what the regional species and habitat mitigation needs mitigation are, how a user will experience the document, and what the conservation vision of the project proponent is.
Take advantage of the opportunity to identify umbrella species and group by habitat when selecting focal conservation element.
Understanding how potential users would engage with the document may have big impacts on what conservation elements to include, how the document is structured, and specific actions that area included.
Consider if any additional, non-CDFW required components may enhance implementation. For example, start planning for ADA compliance early in the document development.
Funding & Implementation
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Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) grant funding lowers the funding barrier to develop an RCIS. WCB uses implementation of RCIS actions as added points for conservation grant funding.
Conservation funders (public and private) value the RCIS program and want to use as implementation pathways for mitigation and conservation.
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Project proponents in a variety of sectors (e.g., conservation, water, transportation, housing, equity) can use the value provided by an RCIS. It is important to have understanding from outreach to them that can inform the broader RCIS conservation vision.
The implementation plan influences the development of the RCIS. Have an idea of how it will be implemented and include as part of RCIS action language.
Utilize terminology in CDFW guidelines. This will help communicate that the RCIS strategy is developed with regulations in mind.