The preservation of natural open space and improved parks and recreation land is a key component of the Mountain Springs Community Plan. Retaining the existing character within the Community Plan requires preservation of significant natural resources such as cultural and historical resources, prominent landforms, natural drainages, seasonal streams and lakes, riparian corridors and other sensitive wildlife habitat. Land devoted to Community open space and open space easements comprise 293 acres (27%) of the Community Plan. An additional 221 acres (20%) of the Community Plan is designated Parks and Recreation which includes community parks of 32 acres as well as the existing Mountain Springs Golf Facility of 189.5 acres (refer to Figure 6-1). The significant open space coupled with the large expanse of Parks and Recreation land total 515.72 acres and make up approximately 48% of the total Community Plan.
Open Space is a valuable amenity and integral component of the Community Plan. All of the open space and parks and recreation lands interconnect and are designated and sized appropriately in specific areas to ensure the preservation of sensitive areas. The significant open space along with the parks and recreation lands run throughout the community and not only preserve the natural resources of the site, but provide a scenic buffer for the on and off site uses and preserve the natural wildlife corridors that traverse the Community. The open space corridors connect with the parks and recreation and also provide corridors for the extensive community and neighborhood trail system.
The goal is to protect the sensitive habitat and landforms which give the area its identity and character and to buffer adjacent land uses adjacent to the Community Plan. Through preservation of the natural and cultural resources with the open space and recreational lands coupled with careful planning of the various residential and commercial uses, development can occur in harmony with, rather than opposition to, the character of the natural environment.
Mountain Springs is located within a region which has a wide variety of vegetative and wildlife habitat. Land use changes and competition from non-native species have led to the decline of some wildlife species in the County. The Community Plan includes the following types of habitats: annual grassland; blue oak-digger pine woodland; mixed chaparral and valley foothill riparian woodland.
The County Biological Resources Management Handbook classifies biological resources into four categories based on their level of legal protection, rarity in the County, importance to fish, plant and wildlife species and their habitat, and sensitivity to human disturbance. First and second priority species require specialized mitigation measures addressing each species’ habitat needs. Second priority habitats are to be fully protected except when doing so would eliminate all economic use of the parcel. Twenty
