The San Miguel Habitat Management Area (HMA) is a 240-acre biological reserve owned and maintained by the Otay Water District. It is located within the City of Chula Vista and lies at the base of Mother Miguel and the San Miguel Mountains.
It was established by the District in 1994 under a joint agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife as a mitigation bank to fulfill mitigation requirements established by the Endangered Species Act. It is used to mitigate the impacts associated with the construction and operations of the District’s facilities. The HMA is comprised of high-quality habitats for sensitive plants and wildlife such as the burrowing owl.
The HMA includes high-quality habitats such as wetlands, coastal sage scrub, and native grasslands for the sensitive plants and wildlife that occupy the area. Over 250 different species of flora and fauna and over 25 special status species were detected on the HMA in 2022. Some of these species include Coastal California Gnatcatcher, Least Bell’s Vireo, Quino Checkerspot Butterfly, Burrowing Owl, Coastal Cactus Wren, Otay Tarplant, and Variegated Dudleya.
In 2023, the District was awarded a grant through the SANDAG TransNet Environmental Mitigation Program for Threat Reduction in the HMA. This Program has allocated $4 million annually to implement regional habitat management and monitoring efforts. These efforts help maintain the biological integrity of San Diego County.
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