Conservation and Natural Resources Element

Los Angeles County Planning seeks a qualified consultant or team of consultants ("Consultant") for the following services related to the Conservation and Natural Resources Element (CNR Element) Update of the General Plan: 1) Significant Ecological Areas (SEA) Study ("SEA Study") and 2) Environmental Analysis/CEQA Compliance.

Senate Bill 1425 (Stern) requires cities and counties to update their General Plan Open Space Element to address access to open space, climate resiliency, and rewilding opportunities. Assembly Bill 1889 (Friedman) requires the conservation element to consider the effect of development within the jurisdiction on the movement of wildlife and habitat connectivity. The County's General Plan CNR Element serves as the Open Space and Conservation Elements and contains the goals and policies pertaining to the preservation of Significant Ecological Areas (SEA).

The update to the CNR Element will include a SEA Study to track newly listed threatened or endangered species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife and California Department of Fish and Wildlife, resource sensitivities, new science and data, comprehensive climate impacts to our local ecosystems, and development impact on wildlife move and habitat connectivity. The SEA Study will consist of conducting a database/literature review, evaluating existing SEA boundaries for their effectiveness at meeting the goals of the General Plan, conducting field visits for confirmation of boundary evaluations, and developing a SEA Study report.

The Environmental Analysis/CEQA Compliance documentation will evaluate the impacts of the County drafted proposed CNR Element Update, related element updates, and supporting Title 22 (Zoning Code) technical updates in unincorporated Los Angeles County.