Riverside County Habitat Conservation Agency

Exciting news from the journal Evolutionary Applications! A new open-access paper, “Conservation in the Anthropocene: Using Genetics to Understand the Past and Manage for the Future of the Threatened Stephens’ Kangaroo Rat,” has just been published.

This groundbreaking study combines genetics, landscape analysis, and population modeling to better understand the challenges facing the Stephens’ kangaroo rat, a species found only in southern California, and to chart a path for its long-term survival.

Key takeaways:

🔹 Central populations maintain the most genetic diversity, while edge populations are at greater risk.

🔹 Roads and development, not just natural barriers, are major drivers of genetic isolation.

🔹 Repeated, well-planned translocations combined with habitat restoration are vital to preventing extinction.

We’re proud that RCHCA’s Director, Brian Shomo, contributed to this effort, ensuring that the work directly supports on-the-ground conservation planning in Riverside County and beyond.

This is a strong example of how collaboration between scientists, land managers, and conservation agencies can create innovative strategies to protect threatened species in fragmented landscapes. Congratulations to Debra Shier, Rachel Chock and their team!

Read the full article here: https://doi.org/10.1111/eva.70152

Conservation in the Anthropocene: Using Genetics to Understand the Past and Manage for the Future of the Threatened Stephens' Kangaroo Rat Habitat loss and fragmentation are major drivers of biodiversity decline, reducing connectivity among populations and leading to genetic isolation, loss of diversity, increased inbreeding, and reduce...

📢 Prescribed Burn at Lake Mathews 🔥
🗓 When: June 11-12, 2025
📍 Where: Lake Mathews
To reduce wildfire risk, Cal Fire in coordination with RCHCA will conduct a controlled burn in the Lake Mathews area. You may see or smell smoke—please plan travel accordingly and keep windows closed if you’re nearby.
🔗 More info: https://rchca.us/161/Prescribed-Burns

Prescribed Burns | RCHCA, CA The Riverside County Habitat Conservation Agency, in cooperation with Cal Fire annually to conduct prescribed burns on Reserve lands.

📢 Prescribed Burn at Lake Mathews 🔥
🗓 When: June 3 - 5, 2025
📍 Where: Lake Mathews
To reduce wildfire risk, Cal Fire in coordination with RCHCA will conduct a controlled burn in the Lake Mathews area. You may see or smell smoke—please plan travel accordingly and keep windows closed if you’re nearby.
🔗 More info: https://rchca.us/161/Prescribed-Burns

Prescribed Burns | RCHCA, CA The Riverside County Habitat Conservation Agency, in cooperation with Cal Fire annually to conduct prescribed burns on Reserve lands.

📢 Prescribed Burn at Lake Mathews 🔥
🗓 When: May 20–21, 2025
📍 Where: Lake Mathews
To reduce wildfire risk, Cal Fire in coordination with RCHCA will conduct a controlled burn in the Lake Mathews area. You may see or smell smoke—please plan travel accordingly and keep windows closed if you’re nearby.
🔗 More info & Safety Tips: https://www.rchca.us/DocumentCenter/View/1050/05-16-2025-News-Release---Prescribed-Burning-Scheduled-at-Lake-Mathews

www.rchca.us

🌍 Happy Earth Day from RCHCA! 🐾
Today, we celebrate the incredible biodiversity of Riverside County—and one of our local conservation heroes, the Stephens’ kangaroo rat! 🐀💨
This remarkable little mammal is a federally-listed threatened species that plays a critical role in maintaining healthy grassland ecosystems. Through the Riverside County Habitat Conservation Agency's ongoing efforts, we’re working to protect and restore habitats essential to the SKR’s survival—and support broader environmental health in the region.
🌱 Why it matters: By conserving species like the SKR, we’re also preserving the ecological balance that sustains clean air, water, and resilient landscapes for generations to come.
This Earth Day, let’s recommit to protecting our planet, one habitat at a time. 💚
📸: Stephens’ kangaroo rat (SKR), a flagship species for conservation in Western Riverside County.

Prescribed Burn scheduled at Lake Mathews June 12th & 13th. For more information, please see this news release: https://rchca.us/DocumentCenter/View/1013/Cal-Fire-News-Release---Prescribed-Burning-Scheduled-at-Lake-Mathews

RCC's Wild & Scenic Film Festival is April 19, 2024 with an EcoFair from 4pm-6pm - don't miss it! Funds from the festival are used to recover California’s wild salmon and protect the Yuba River watershed. Get your tickets here: https://rccboxoffice.com/events/

Two red diamond rattlesnakes under cover boards near one of our restoration sites.

We're hiring! Join the RCHCA and help us make a difference in land management conservation. We have two positions available:

Open Space Habitat Technician (full-time, M-Th)
Open Space Reserve Patrol (weekend, part-time)

Visit https://www.wrcog.us/219/Work-at-WRCOG to apply.

Work at WRCOG | WRCOG, CA Current employment opportunities with WRCOG and RCHCA.

SKR made the Endangered Species Coalition’s top 10 list of most successful endangered species stories of 2023! SKR is featured as number 6 on the list and features RCHCA funded research by Dr. Debra Shier at the San Diego Zoo’s Wildlife Alliance on translocation research which, if necessary, would enable us to move SKR to maintain genetic diversity and repopulate extirpated areas within their range.

Ten Stories of Hope - Endangered Species Coalition The Endangered Species Act at 50 School children tending tiny turtles in Massachusetts. Researchers tracking secretive rodents at night. These are just two of the inspiring stories of wildlife conservation showcased in Ten Stories of Hope: The Endangered Species Act…

We had a great "Celebrating Endangered Species" Day event today with students from Rice Canyon Elementary. Special thanks to Riverside-Corona Resource Conservation District and Wild Wonders for making this event a success!

https://youtu.be/ffxeSYsHA5M?t=478

It's Fire Season! Cal Fire created this informative video on the importance of prescribed burns.

Multiple Vegetation Fires Throughout the County // Report on Conditions // July 12, 2023 This week, we take you to multiple vegetation fires and two plane crashes within the county. And our Unit Forester, Lynnette Short, explains the importance o...