Friends Of Harbor Beaches And Park Inc
PROGRAMS
Green Vision Coalition & Map
It is difficult to chart out a course without a plan of action. Friends of Harbors, Beaches and Parks (FHBP) developed its plan in a very illustrative way -- the creation of the Green Vision Map. In early 2000, FHBP asked various conservation organizations to add their project (lands threatened with development) to a map. Ultimately this map became the vision for how we wanted to see Orange County in the future. It focused development on the interior areas instead of at the wildland-urban interface. This map and the ever-growing Coalition behind the effort has seen incredible success in the creation of a regional advanced mitigation program for Orange County's freeway projects, a statewide conservation conference, and more. The glue that keeps this coalition bound together and working for additional funding sources (like Park Bond [Prop. 68]). Without our leadership--the map, the coalition, and the resolve--wouldn't exist.
What our Coalition and FHBP hopes to see is that with a united voice and a plan (the Green Vision Map) improved conservation opportunities not only exist, but can also be implemented regionally. Our coalition members have gone from sometimes "rough around the edges" to highly sophisticated as it relates to land use planning. The goal ultimately would be to conserve the threatened properties on the Green Vision Map and ensure future developments avoid important preserve areas. It is absolutely necessary to keep the Map up to date so each year, FHBP funds the update of its geographic information systems (GIS) database.
Orange County Transportation Authority's Environmental Mitigation Program
Known as M2, Renewed Measure M was approved by voters in November 2006. It includes $11.8 billion in transportation improvements for the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA). Friends of Harbors, Beaches and Parks (FHBP) led negotiations for and formed the Coalition around the Measure’s conservation program. The Measure included an innovative advanced mitigation program for reducing the impacts of the approved freeway projects. This environmental mitigation program pooled the project impacts and pooled the money to mitigate them so that landscape level conservation would occur throughout Orange County. It was the first time conservation groups (more than 30) aligned interests with OCTA. FHBP Green Vision Coordinator, Melanie Schlotterbeck, has served as the Environmental Oversight Committee’s Vice Chair since 2007, which oversees the program’s expenditures. FHBP keeps the M2 Environmental Coalition informed of all meetings, decisions, and the program's expenditures. Upcoming actions include the creation of a non-wasting endowment, the disposition of the properties to long term land managers, and the creation and recordation of the deed restrictions/conservation easements.
Thirteen voter approved freeway projects throughout Orange County will no longer be mitigated on a project-by-project basis. Through an environmental mitigation program, these projects will use science to substantiate the long-term protection of undeveloped natural lands currently in private ownership. Landowners opt-in to the program to have their property evaluated for its biological values and through a thoughtful evaluation process lands will be acquired and/or restored in perpetuity. Lands protected under this program no longer face the threat of development. This programmatic approach (to transportation and conservation) fundamentally changes how transportation projects are mitigated.
Regional Greenprint and Advance Mitigation Program
A policy adopted by the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) commits the regional planning agency to develop a regional Greenprint (like FHBP's Green Vision Map, but much more sophisticated) and an advance mitigation program (like the OCTA Environmental Mitigation Program). SCAG's elected leadership adopted a framework for the mitigation program and the Greenprint data standards and disclaimer language because FHBP led the 24 month effort to get the these items approved. Next steps include participating in the planning, engagement, and document preparation that drives the next regional transportation plan and creates the mitigation program that funds additional conservation work. We hope to expand our reach and outcomes on this front.
The mitigation program is estimated to generate a $1 billion in conservation funding available across participating counties (up to six Southland counties).
The outcome of this map will be a multi-layered online, publicly accessible geographic information system (digital map) database that allows the user to prioritize items (climate change impacts, sea level rise, biodiversity, riparian/wetland areas, endangered and threatened species, protected lands, zoning, watersheds, high fire hazard areas, high heat areas, etc.) against one another to help make decisions, focus on conservation, mitigation or development goals, and/or understand where the most threatened ecosystems are located.
Campaign Implementation 30 x30
Friends of Harbors, Beaches and Parks’ board contributes to meeting our mission by focusing time and energy on our campaigns. Most of this work involves working closely with Green Vision Coalition members to ensure protection of important lands through acquisition, participating in the planning process, and sometimes using legal action. With an historic initial investment in conservation and climate resilience, FHBP is focused on additional acquisitions that benefit our individual and collective conservation goals. However, we also comment on projects proposed in natural areas and sometimes resort for being a co-petitioner on legal actions when the law has been broken. In 2024, FHBP will ensure Orange County is not left out of the conservation decisions and goals that help protect 30% of California's natural lands and coastal waters by 2030. We will continue to use our Green Vision Map to identify conservation transactions and help fund acquisition projects.
Long term successes that come from this program include the implementation of the Green Vision Map, the successful acquisition and management of important lands, use/application of appropriate land use policies, and (when necessary) filing of or support of legal actions (lawsuits).
Safe Trails Coalition
Audubon California, Friends of Harbors, Beaches and Parks, Laguna Canyon Foundation, Sea and Sage Audubon Society, and Sierra Club founded the Safe Trails Coalition (STC) to preserve access to these diverse landscapes through trail systems that allow people to enjoy these lands while protecting the resources in them. STC supports all trail users who use the existing network of authorized trails, are willing to ensure native plants and wildlife and other natural resources are protected, and agree that all trail users and park visitors are entitled to a safe and enjoyable experience in the wilderness. We are working together to achieve our common goals and ensure the enforcement of existing safety, speed, trespass, and environmental laws. Our current goal is the creation of a historical preservation map which details why and how the park or preserve was protected and what uses are or are not allowed on it.
Long term success of our Safe Trails Coalition will mean that Orange County's special places are both protected from damaging activities and that all trail users will be able to enjoy safe trail experiences. This means there needs to be a prioritization to enforce existing trail rules, which will result in reduced risk/liability for land managers, protected natural resources and improved habitats. Land managers will balance recreational needs with appropriate stewardship through the closure of trails in sensitive areas, the enforcement of trespass, environmental, and other laws, as well as the education of park users and recreational visitors.
CONTACT
Friends Of Harbor Beaches And Park Inc
P.O. Box 9256
Newport Beach, CA 92658
Phone: 949-399-3669