Endangered Habitats League

Since 1991, the Endangered Habitats League has worked on and promoted Californias Natural Communities Conservation Plan. EHL works with local and state advisory groups, reviews and analyzes technical documents, appears in legal proceedings, comments on and/or initiates relevant scientific studies for regional climate action and land use programs. In 2023, EHL worked to maintain the integrity of Riverside and San Diego County general and multiple species conservation plans, and with the Orange County Transportation Corridor Agency on its efforts. EHL serves on the Tejon Ranch Conservancy Board of Directors and on advisory committees for San Diego and Orange Counties, in the former to adopt a new North County habitat plan and in the latter to direct Measure M funding to create connectivity between NCCP regions. In San Bernardino County, in 2023, EHL continued work to preserve vital habitat for the endangered San Bernardino Kangaroo Rat and restore the Santa Ana River. In 2023, we continued efforts to reduce whale entanglements in fishing gear.

In 2006, EHL established the Endangered Habitats Conservancy for the purpose of holding land and conservation easements and managing them for their habitat values. The Conservancy has undertaken extensive habitat restoration programs along the San Diego River and elsewhere, primarily in San Diego County. In 2007, the first acquisition of 314 acres of coastal sage scrub habitat was completed, forming a southern extension of the Crestridge Ecological Preserve. Work continued on acquisition of a two-mile stretch of river basin for habitat restoration and park uses with additional purchases in 2008 and 2009 for a cumulative investment of more than 10,000,000. In 2013, EHL completed the transfer of ownership and management of these lands to EHC. In 2023, EHL continued facilitating the purchase of additional conservation property through a grant for transaction costs and a short term loan of 150,000, to be repaid in 2024..

EHL takes an active role in cross-border protection of habitats common to Baja California and southern California. EHL partners with Terra Peninsular and Jardin Botanico de San Qiintin, Baja-based non-profits which protect habitat in Baja California through land purchases and conservation agreements with land owners, and through education progeams for local residents. In 2007 and again in 2012, EHL assisted with important transactions that protected key coastal properties. In 2023, EHL continued assistance to Terra Peninsular for the stewardship of these lands, the undertaking of supporting scientific studies, and, in particular, by protecting legal rights to an essential habitat element in the preserve.