Where does the money come from to operate the HCP?
Each home or commercial building built under the HCP agreement pays a yearly assessment for habitat restoration. In the original plan, the amount of money needed to conserve the habitat was badly underestimated, so the plan is under-funded. New homes built under the new HCP Amendment would pay substantially more each year, so the funding would increase. In addition, the developer would put $4 million into an HCP trust fund. Interest from the fund would be spent on the yearly management costs. • What is habitat restoration? The HCP defines restored habitat as “areas where both invasive species control and replanting of native species is conducted.” Although it doesn’t define habitat restoration, it defines habitat enhancement as “manipulation of habitat in conserved areas to reverse the effects of previous disturbance, control exotic species, retain natural diversity, and maximize the value to endangered species.” • Why does SBMW object to HCPs? An overwhelming majority of Endangered Sp
