A. The Washington County habitat conservation plan implementation agreement ("agreement") was signed on February 26, 1996.
B. Washington County is a signatory to the agreement, committing the county to certain obligations and responsibilities, including furthering the purposes of and assuring compliance with the terms of the agreement, and complying with and enforcing the conditions of the incidental take permit.
C. The HCP generally guides the types and locations of recreational uses allowed within the reserve.
D. The Washington County public use plan, adopted by the Washington County commission in 2000 as an extension of the HCP, specifically designated trails and further defined restrictions on recreational uses in the reserve, balancing recreational access with protection of critical habitat for the desert tortoise.
E. Failure to follow reasonable rules established to protect fragile Mojave Desert habitat can cause irreparable harm to the habitat and can result in the unauthorized take of a federally protected species.
F. It is in the best interest of the public and the citizens of Washington County that the proposed changes to this chapter be approved in order that the reserve rules be clearly established and enforceable. (Ord. 2008-959-O, 4-1-2008)