Project Updates

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Los Osos is located within an ecosystem that provides unique habitat for four endangered/threatened species: 1. Morro Shoulderband Snail (Helminthoglypta walkeriana) 2. Morro Manzanita (Arctostaphylos morroensis)  3. Morro Bay Kangaroo Rat (Dipodomys heermanni morroensis) 4. Indian Knob Mountainbalm (Eriodictyon altissimum)

The Coastal Commission has raised concerns regarding the impacts of projects on habitat of endangered and threatened species. In addition, project proponents (such as property owners, Department of Public Works, Department of Parks and Recreation, and water purveyors) seeking to make improvements or perform maintenance in Los Osos are currently required to demonstrate that certain species are properly protected, avoided, or otherwise addressed by requesting a site-specific Incidental Take Permit or other approval from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service). The process allows projects to proceed but adds substantial cost, time, and uncertainty to projects; to the point that many private and community projects have been placed on indefinite hold.

To address this issue, on July 27, 2010, the Board authorized the preparation of the Los Osos Habitat Conservation Plan (LOHCP) to address concerns relating to endangered and threatened species with a holistic and balanced strategy. The LOHCP identifies implementation actions and a funding framework that would conserve and protect habitat of such species in the priority conservation areas (areas that hold significant habitat value) and allow for community development to occur in the “infill” areas of Los Osos under specified conditions, including project proponents paying LOHCP mitigation fees.

The LOHCP would streamline compliance with the Endangered Species Act by allowing project proponents to obtain incidental take coverage under the County’s permit by paying preestablished mitigation fees that go toward funding LOHCP implementation and abiding by preestablished conditions of approval, which is expected to reduce overall costs and time and add greater certainty for projects.

To implement the LOHCP and streamline the process, the County would fund and ‘jump start’ accrual of mitigation credits by purchasing and conserving land with high habitat value, performing habitat restoration on existing protected land, and removing invasive plants. Once mitigation credits are accrued, the County would be able to confer Endangered Species Act coverage by issuance of Certificates of Inclusion to project proponents who pay required mitigation fees and agree to abide by the terms of the LOHCP and the County’s incidental take permit. On December 15, 2020, the Board approved as to form the LOHCP for submittal to the Service.

The County began preparing the LOHCP in 2009 and finally received approval from the Service on February 15, 2024, for a 25-year community-wide programmatic Incidental Take Permit (Incidental Take Permit No.: ESPER8245217) that authorizes the County to confer Endangered Species Act coverage to project proponents in accordance with the LOHCP. The Service’s approval includes requirements to establish the LOHCP program within three years.

The Coastal Commission, as part of their public hearing on June 13, 2024, concurred with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in recognizing that requiring project proponents to participate in the LOHCP addresses concerns regarding the impacts of projects on habitat of endangered and threatened species. Accordingly, the Coastal Commission conditioned its certification of the LCP by issuing suggested modifications to require the all development move forward only with mandatory participation in the LOHCP and community-wide incidental taking permit approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or equivalent mitigation.

Project Contacts

Comments and questions regarding the Los Osos Habitat Conservation Plan may be submitted via email to Kip Morais at [email protected]s, or mailed to the following address:

Department of Planning & Building
ATTN: Los Osos HCP/Kip Morais
976 Osos Street, Room 300
San Luis Obispo, CA 93408

Additional questions or inquiries can always be submitted to the Department of Fish and Wildlfe, Ventura Office:

Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office
US Fish and Wildlife Office
2493 Portola Road, Suite B
Ventura, CA 93003

Phone: (805) 644-1766