Friends Of Riversides Hills

TO PRESERVE QUALITY OF LIFE AND MAINTAIN THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF THE GREATER RIVERSIDE AREA BY PRESERVING HILLS, RIDGELINES, ARROYOS, SCENIC VISTAS, AND WILDLIFE CORRIDORS BY UPHOLDING CONSERVATION ACTS, ORDINANCES, CODES AND GENERAL PLAN POLICIES, AND TO EDUCATE CITIZENS AND OFFICIALS IN SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES FOR LAND USE AND PLANNING.

FRH MADE A SUBSTANTIAL DONATION TO THE RIVERS AND LANDS CONSERVANCY (RLC), A 501 C (3) NON-PROFIT CORPORATION, TOWARD AN ENDOWMENT THAT FUNDS THE MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF APPROXIMATELY 17 ACRES OF CONSERVED HABITAT WITHIN THE ALESSANDRO ARROYO IN WESTERN RIVERSIDE COUNTY. THE CONSERVED LANDS INCLUDE THE 4.1-ACRE EAST BANK CONSERVATION EASEMENT IN THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE AND THE NEARLY ADJACENT 12.9-ACRE BIG BEND CONSERVATION PARCEL HELD IN FEE TITLE BY RLC. THIS "ALESSANDRO ENDOWMENT" BENEFITS LAND WITH RIPARIAN HABITAT AND A BLUELINE STREAM THAT WAS ACQUIRED BY RLC DURING A TIME WHEN DEVELOPERS HAD NO REQUIREMENT TO ENDOW THE LANDS THEY SET ASIDE AS MITIGATION FOR DEVELOPMENT. RLC IS NOW AN ACCREDITED LAND TRUST AND OUR DONATION WILL PROVIDE THE MEANS FOR THE RLC TO ENHANCE THE MAINTENANCE OF THIS IMPORTANT PERENNIAL STREAM AND ITS RIPARIAN FOREST. PRESERVING AND ENHANCING HABITAT WITHIN ONE OF RIVERSIDE'S MOST SCENIC ARROYOS BENEFITS THOUSANDS OF RIVERSIDE'S RESIDENTS, PROVIDES IMPORTANT HABITAT FOR WILDLIFE AND HELPS IMPROVE WATER QUALITY.

FRH WORKED WITH THEIR LEGAL TEAM TO SEEK ADVICE AND PROVIDE COMMENTS ON CEQA AND NEPA DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING NOTICES OF PREPARATION, NEGATIVE DECLARATIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL INITIAL STUDIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORTS FOR PROPOSED PROJECTS IN THE GREATER RIVERSIDE-SANTA ANA RIVER WATERSHED. FRH COMMENTS ENCOURAGED COMPLIANCE WITH CONSERVATION POLICIES AND LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL LAWS THAT PROTECT WILDLIFE, WATER, AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY. SPECIAL FOCUS WAS GIVEN TO SUSTAINABILITY, FIRE SAFETY, POLLUTION POTENTIAL, AND UPHOLDING OF VOTER APPROVED INITIATIVES. FRH PURSUED LITIGATION AND LEGAL SETTLEMENTS TO UPHOLD ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR WILDLIFE AND HUMAN COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE REGION, INVOLVING THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS. FRH NEGOTIATED PROJECT IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDING THE PLACEMENT OF HOMES, WAREHOUSES, ROADS, AND OPEN SPACES. FRH ALSO WORKED ON SETBACKS FOR TRAILS AND WATERCOURSES, THE IMPROVEMENT OF PUBLIC TRAILS AND ACCESS, NOISE REDUCTION, REDUCED LIGHT POLLUTION, IMPROVED CONSERVATION EASEMENTS, AND ENHANCED FIRE PROTECTION FOR BOTH HOMES AND CONSERVATION LANDS. LITIGATION THAT RESULTS IN SETTLEMENT FUNDS MAY BE USED TO SUPPORT CONSERVATION GOALS AND MAY INCLUDE, LEGAL FEES, CONSERVATION EASEMENTS, PUBLIC TRAILS IMPROVEMENTS, HABITAT RESTORATION, WILDLAND PRESERVATION, AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

FRH PROVIDED FUNDS TO CONTROL NON-NATIVE AND TOXIC INVASIVE PLANTS THAT CAME UP AFTER WILDFIRES IN RIPARIAN AREAS AND ON SLOPES WITHIN TWO LOCAL WILDERNESS PARKS: RIVERSIDE COUNTY'S BOX SPRINGS MOUNTAIN RESERVE, AND THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE'S SYCAMORE CANYON WILDERNESS PARK. THESE ARE IMPORTANT CONSERVATION AREAS FOR TWO HABITAT CONSERVATION PLANS, BUT RIVERSIDE CITY AND COUNTY PARKS LACK FUNDS FOR SUCH WORK. THE WORK BENEFITS WILDLIFE HABITAT, WILDLIFE AND MANY HUNDREDS OF HIKERS. HIKING ACTIVITY INCREASED DRAMATICALLY DURING THIS COVID-19 YEAR. WE HAVE A PARTNER IN RIPARIAN REPAIRS FOR THIS WORK. THEY VOLUNTEER AND WE REIMBURSE FOR TRAVEL AND MATERIALS. THE BILL FOR 2021 ARRIVED ON 12/31/21 AND WAS PAID IN JANUARY 2022.