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FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | FEBRUARY 2022 15 By Len Tavernetti Four Seasons at Beaumont stands out as a premier homeowner association because of its Conservancy. Although our builder did not envision having such a feature, government regulations regarding our dwindling wildlands forced this change. So, the builder made this a key feature of the sales pitch. Two long trails inside the Conservancy were built allowing residents to walk and witness Mother Nature at work. The main feature is the Potrero Creek which winds downhill from the I-10 freeway in two streams, under Potrero Boulevard and through the HOA to Highland Springs Ave. Alongside the creek are eight basins that capture and retain water throughout the summer for wildlife and native flora. Near the windmill is a bioswale that slows rainwater so it will have more time to recharge the water table. There are three government agencies that provide oversight of the Conservancy — the Army Corps of Engineers, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Santa Ana River Water Control Board. Yes, our little Potrero Creek feeds into the mighty Santa Ana River. To represent these agencies, the Inland Empire Resource Conservation District, an environmental agency, provides interface with the HOA. The Conservancy is segregated into the streambed and associated riparian shoulders (banks of the riverbed that support wildlife and vegetation requiring occasional water) and buffer zones. The trails are in the buffer zones that protect the streambed and riparian areas from invasive plant species. One of the responsibilities the HOA will inherit is to remove these invasive plants. We will have to conduct periodic inspections with a licensed biologist to identify and remove the invaders. The Potrero Creek will also require maintenance. Along the banks where rushing water can erode the clay soils, the builder placed rocks to reduce the velocity and damage of runoff. These features, called gabions (small rocks in wire cages) and rip-rap walls (larger rocks), minimize scouring of canyon walls. Prior to the start of home building, an inventory of existing wildlife was conducted. Snakes, lizards, rats, mice, gophers, and rabbits were identified living here. Hawks, doves, ravens, roadrunners, sparrows, and meadowlarks were also in the area. With a continuous supply of water brought about through irrigation, additional wildlife now live here. It is a way station for migrating mammals and birds. Mountain lions and bears have also been seen here. When we assume ownership of the Conservancy, we will have maintenance costs, mostly in the buffer zone, for the trails and vegetation adjacent to the 84 homes that back up on the Conservancy. Trail costs include raking, fence repairs, and the Canary Creek bridge. The estimated cost, mostly for irrigation repairs and water, will be between $8,000 to $10,000 a month. If the creek seriously erodes its banks, there will be a cost to repair that as well. An endowment will be created to cover some of these expenses. Several issues between the builder and the HOA remain. The major concerns are fencing, endowment, and the Potrero Parcel on the north side of the HOA. In the meantime, as long as we are good neighbors, we can continue to use and enjoy the Conservancy. Our Conservancy: A chance to see mother nature at work Neighbors, here's your chance to share a photo of your favorite spot on one of the trails in our community. Submit a photo of the spot on Trail A, B, C, D, or E that you wish to share with your neighbors. Send high-res photos to fourseasonsnews@yahoo. com with a caption and your name. Questions? Call Courtney Taylor at (909) 797-3647. Share Your Favorite Trail Pics!

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