Introduction
A Mitigation Credit Agreement (MCA) is a flexible advance mitigation crediting mechanism that can only be developed within an approved Regional Conservation Investment Strategy (RCIS) boundary (view the Interactive Map for locations of RCISs that have been approved, as well as RCISs that are in development or under review).
Any individual or entity may develop an MCA as an MCA Sponsor. In order to create mitigation credits, an MCA must implement one or more actions described in the RCIS. The projected ecological improvements can create credits for a variety of targeted species, habitats, and/or other sensitive resources. The MCA Sponsor can use MCA credits to offset their own project impacts, or they can sell their excess credits to other entities that need mitigation. MCAs can generate credits that will mitigate for both permanent or temporary impacts and can be established on either private or public lands.
Permanent credits must ensure the permanent protection of land. Non-permanent credits may be possible when the associated land is protected for a set duration of time. If desired, an MCA can include other local, state or federal agencies as acknowledging agencies, and the MCA credits may be labeled, or designated, so they meet the naming conventions specified in their permits. In order to create credits that can be used by multiple agencies the sponsor should coordinate with those entities early in the MCA development process.
All MCA credits will be tracked as they are used and/or sold.
Contact rcis@wildlife.ca.gov for more info.
MCA Subprogram Benefits
- Permanent and Non-permanent Credits
- MCA credits derived from excess mitigation
- Acknowledging agency credit types
- MCA Framework
MCA Subprogram Overview Video