Frequently Asked
Questions

A Regional Conservation Investment Strategy (RCIS) is a science-based, nonbinding, voluntary conservation strategy that identifies at-risk natural resources and species, and potential actions to protect them. Once an RCIS goes into effect, it is approved for 10 years with an option to renew.

It is important to note that an RCIS does not create, modify, or impose regulatory requirements or standards. To that end, an RCIS does not regulate land use, establish land use designations, or affect the land use authority of a public agency.

Participation in the San Joaquin Valley RCIS is voluntary. Resource District (RD) 2092 and its partners intend for the San Joaquin Valley RCIS to serve as an optional tool for landowners and local agencies to help plan for and address any adverse impacts of anticipated land use changes in the region.

The RCIS is currently being developed with guidance from a Steering Committee of local stakeholders. Residents can provide input during public meetings and public comment periods. For information on public meetings and comment periods, visit our News and Updates page.

Once the RCIS is approved, landowners within the RCIS region will be able to participate in the implementation of the RCIS by developing conservation and mitigation projects, implementing best management practices on working lands, or aligning the RCIS with other strategic regional planning. Contact us if you are interested in participating in the San Joaquin Valley RCIS!

Community members can benefit directly and indirectly from projects implemented under the RCIS (e.g., through mitigation payments, or through recreational benefits received as a result of the development of a county park). The San Joaquin Valley RCIS will not directly impact community members unless they voluntarily choose to lead or participate in projects or management strategies.

For landowners, the greatest impact of the San Joaquin Valley RCIS is that it offers an opportunity to implement conservation or mitigation projects or best management practices on some or all of their property. Projects contribute toward regional goals and can provide benefits to landowners.

For landowners interested in taking action, the RCIS serves to: (1) provide guidance on what actions would be most beneficial for local species, and (2) facilitate the delivery of funding in support of participating landowners. Such funding can be public (e.g., through state grants) or private (e.g., via mitigation payments).

There are two overarching categories of projects that can be developed under an RCIS: conservation projects and mitigation projects (also known as Mitigation Credit Agreements, or “MCAs”). Both conservation and mitigation projects can be permanent or temporary. Definitions of the two kinds of projects are outlined below.

Conservation projects are those that are funded by local, state, or federal grants that support species. For landowners, aligning conservation projects with the RCIS can make one more competitive in receiving grant awards.

Mitigation projects, which should also align with the RCIS, are those projects designed to offset impacts to species elsewhere in the RCIS region. These projects are defined by “credits” that can be sold to entities who need mitigation to fulfill their regulatory permits. For landowners, an RCIS facilitates the process of developing mitigation projects on some or all of their property. To learn more about mitigation projects, visit the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) RCIS Program website or contact us with any questions about conservation or mitigation projects.

The RCIS can help landowners understand what types of conservation or mitigation projects might be feasible on their land. Landowners should consider the following factors, which will inform the type of funding available:

• How much land am I willing to commit to this project?
• Am I interested in a temporary or permanent project?
• How complex is the project I am willing to undertake?

Contact us if you are interested in developing a conservation or mitigation project.

There are many ways to get involved in the San Joaquin Valley RCIS, from providing input into the draft RCIS at public meetings and during public comment periods, to joining the RCIS Steering Committee. Contact us to learn about the various opportunities through which you can participate in the development and implementation of the San Joaquin Valley RCIS.