SAN bernardino valley municipal water district (valley district) is a water district (category a applicant) working on behalf of the 11 cooperating agencies that are working to implement the upper…

The San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District was awarded a $4,176,441.64 Project Grant from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation under the WaterSMART (Sustain and Manage America's Resources for Tomorrow) program (CFDA 15.507) on March 27, 2024. The grant funds will be used to create and restore 21.7 acres of aquatic and riparian habitat in the Upper Santa Ana River watershed. Key project elements include constructing 4,200 linear feet of new and restored stream channel, enhancing a 25-foot buffer of native riparian vegetation, and removing non-native plants. This habitat restoration initiative will benefit the federally threatened Santa Ana sucker and other sensitive species found in Hidden Valley Creek, a tributary to the Santa Ana River. The project represents the first habitat restoration effort under the multi-agency Upper Santa Ana River Habitat Conservation Plan, a cooperative watershed-wide effort.

SAN bernardino valley municipal water district (valley district) is a water district (category a applicant) working on behalf of the 11 cooperating agencies that are working to implement the upper santa ANA river habitat conservation plan (HCP). The hidden valley creek aquatic and riparian habitat restoration project (project) is the first habitat restoration project to be implemented in the framework of the multi-agency, watershed-wide cooperative venture. The project will take place within the upper santa ANA river watershed, in approximately 112 acres surrounding hidden valley creek, a tributary of the santa ANA river, to the north and east by the santa ANA river, to the south by a steep hillslope to be a future residential development (sierra hills), and to the west by a wetland complex called hidden valley wetlands. The project consists of the creation and restoration of approximately 21.7 acres of aquatic and riparian habitat for the benefit of the federally threatened santa ANA sucker and other listed and sensitive species found in hidden valley creek, a tributary to the santa ANA river. Work will include constructing 4,200 linear feet (0.8 acres) of new and restored stream channel, enhancing a 25-foot buffer of native riparian vegetation on each side of the stream course as an enhanced 1.2 acre floodplain bench, non-native plant removal, and site revegetation.