Survey Clearances

In January of 2021, Washington County was issued an incidental take permit by the US Fish and Wildlife Service to authorize the incidental take of Mojave desert tortoise on private lands. The permit was issued in association with an agreement made by the County and local municipalities, known as a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). The County’s HCP requires tortoise surveys and removals prior to development on all lands adjacent to the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve, and other habitat occupied by tortoises. Landowners developing within these “take areas,” are protected under the county’s permit as long as they coordinate with the HCP administration for tortoise surveys and removals prior to habitat alteration such as grading, digging and construction.

Washington County HCP, at no cost to the landowner, will conduct one set of tortoise surveys during the required windows for clearances from March 15 – May 15 or August 20 – October 20. If development does not occur within 60 days of a clearance or 90 days of a survey, a second survey will be required at the expense of the developer. Surveys or removals completed in areas that are fenced with tortoise-proof fencing do not require additional survey if development begins after the 60 or 90-day periods.

Note: Developers who are developing land immediately adjacent to the Reserve are required by ordinance to build an approved fence along the Reserve boundary prior to the County conducting the required surveys to prevent tortoises from returning to the property after the survey & removal.

Take areas and maps

A take area is a habitat zone outside the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve that is considered occupied by Mojave desert tortoise. Any development or habitat disturbance within these take areas must be coordinated with the Desert Reserve administration. Maps of those areas are available here.

Request a survey

To coordinate development, or if you have questions, please contact the Desert Reserve administrator at (435) 301-7431 or the habitat biologist at (435) 301-7433. Should your development require a survey clearance, a form below will need to be filled out and emailed or mailed/dropped off to the Washington County HCP office. When doing so, please attach a plat or similar detailed map to show exact location of property in need of survey.

Forms