The Bakersfield Habitat Conservation Plan

The Bakersfield Habitat Conservation Plan (BHCP) is a joint plan proposed by the City of Bakersfield and the County of Kern intended to provide regional conservation strategies and specific development guidelines to protect natural resources while improving and streamlining the permit process. The BHCP intends to support an effective framework for agencies to conserve, protect, enhance, and restore natural resources in the area addressed by the Metropolitan Bakersfield General Plan, while allowing appropriate and compatible growth and development.

The BHCP would replace lengthy and costly project-by-project permitting, which often results in uncoordinated and biologically ineffective mitigation, with a comprehensive permitting process planned to provide more effective recovery of threatened and endangered species in Central California.

Covered Species

The Bakersfield Habitat Conservation Plan intends to provide a streamlined approach for requesting and receiving endangered species permits for development and conservation projects. It concerns 14 wildlife and plant species, or covered species. Covered species are those species addressed in the Plan. Conservation actions in the Plan are proposed to be implemented to minimize impacts on these species. Each species was selected based on its potential to be affected by covered projects and activities, its occurrence in the area, the adequacy of data for the species, and its current or foreseeable listing status.

Birds

A warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrate distinguished by the possession of feathers, wings, and a beak and (typically) by being able to fly.

Mammals

A warm-blooded vertebrate animal of a class that is distinguished by the possession of hair or fur, the secretion of milk by females for the nourishment of the young, and (typically) the birth of live young.

Reptiles

A cold-blooded vertebrate of a class that includes snakes, lizards, crocodiles, turtles, and tortoises. They are distinguished by having a dry scaly skin, and typically laying soft-shelled eggs on land.

Plants

Includes all plants, such as Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta, the plants produces flowers; an angiosperm and plants that produce spores instead of seeds.

Project Documents

Project Documents are available for download in PDF format. If you are looking for a document not found in our library please
contact the City of Bakersfield Planning Department at 661 326-3733.

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Public Participation - that means you!

We want to address and include the public and your concerms regarding biological impact with our projects, get involved today!