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6 FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | MARCH 2018 In the beginning there was an 18-hole golf course and the 1989 Hovchild Specific Plan of a 570 acres site was for only a portion of the 2,454 dwellings to be age restricted. Environmental studies (EIR) brought changes and required the builder to amend their specific plan to conform to the 1989 California Environmental Quality Act. The golf course was eliminated, parks/open space increased from 4.7 percent to 26.6 percent (the Conservancy) and all dwellings were age restricted. The Potrero Creek and a tributary (Drainage S) were identified as headwaters of the Santa Ana River. They traverse through the development, south alongside Highland Springs Avenue and then west toward San Jacinto enroute to the main river. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which has oversight over waterways, California Department of Fish and Wildlife and Santa Ana Regional Water Control Board established the Beaumont Habitat Conservation Easements (CEs) for these environmentally sensitive areas. The CEs require certain maintenance, management and monitoring activities and limited human activity within the easements to protect habitats and water quality. Project development created permanent impacts to vegetation and wildlife long the watercourses. Riparian shoulders of the watercourses and eight water quality drainage basins were identified, and a buffer zone demarcated to minimize the impacts. The conservation requirements mandated protection of the streambeds with erosion control features and non-water quality drains in the basins (called tin whistles). Trails were also approved for use by residents of the development. Approval required compensatory mitigation-planting of native vegetation, initial irrigation (two years), exclusionary fencing and signage of the sensitive areas. Riparian Areas (shoulders of the steams and basins) were identified and are maintained to a different standard. Adjacent to the sensitive areas are Buffer Zones. There are non-irrigated Buffer Zones in the southern portion of the development and irrigated Buffer Zones adjacent to the trails and terraces alongside Potrero Creek. Wildlife Corridors within the waterways and riparian areas are suitable habitats for endangered species to include Bell's Vireo and southwestern willow flycatcher. Currently the developer, the Homeowner Association (HOA) and the environmental agencies are concluding a Long Term Management Plan (LTMP) for the use and maintenance of the conservancy. The environmental agencies selected the Inland Empire Resource Conservation District (IERCD) to be their Land Manager and interface with the builder and property owner (HOA). The Land Manager has specific authority to conduct and control activities within the Conservation Area. Both the Land Manager and the HOA have compliance monitoring responsibilities. The Land Manager inspects and records changes in the Riparian Areas and Basin Mitigation Areas and the HOA does the same for the Buffer Zones. Trash removal, broken or missing fencing or signage, irrigation repair, erosion or invasive plant activity will be recorded and corrected as part of the inspections. An annual report is required each year of conditions and actions taken. Special entrance/ exit trails to the tin whistles are marked for maintenance and inspections. Only approved changes to Laws of Nature are permitted, e.g., fallen trees provide homes and food for a variety of small life forms and may not be removed. Permission is required to disturb any land form or vegetation even if it interferes with trail trafficability. Funding for Land Manager tasks within the Conservation Area associated with the Compensatory Mitigation Area will be provided by an endowment for long-term management given by K.Hovnanian to the Land Manager. Costs associated with HOA maintenance will be paid through monthly dues and a supplemental endowment provided by K.Hovnanian. ~ Len Tavernetti Four Seasons at Beaumont Conservancy Google map of HOA Sept. 29, 1996 A tin whistle is a drain designed to protect streambeds from erosion.

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