Burrowing Owls are indigenous to Ontario.

Developed as the “Model Irrigation Colony,” Ontario has a rich agricultural heritage.  The northern portion of the City was farmed with grapes, citrus, olives and other fruit tree crops.  The southern portion of the City, the New Model Colony (NMC), has been used predominantly for dairy farms for over half a century.  Other types of agricultural uses include cultivated crops, fallow fields and plant nurseries.  Until the mid-1990s, the NMC was part of the San Bernardino County Dairy Preserve.  Some of the City’s dairy preserve properties are still under Williamson Act contracts.  The City of Ontario adopted a right to farm ordinance which recognizes the right of agricultural operations to continue.  However, increased environmental regulations are causing existing dairies to relocate out of the region, resulting in a continued decline in the long term viability of agricultural operations in the NMC.

The County of San Bernardino owns and manages approximately 200 acres of land within the NMC, which was previously operated by Southern California Agricultural Land Foundation (SoCALF).  The majority of the 200 acres is prime agricultural land as identified by the Department of Conservation.  The use of 1988 Park Bond Act funds for the acquisition and maintenance of these properties insures that the property will be used for agricultural and/or open space.

Rare and/or endangered species that have the potential to occur in Ontario include Delhi Sands Flower Loving Fly and San Bernardino Kangaroo Rat.  Habitat for these species is of poor quality and/or is limited to isolated pockets.  As the City further develops, there may be opportunities to integrate suitable habitat for sensitive species into new developments and/or participate in regional efforts in conservation of high quality habitat, thereby expanding and creating new habitat corridors.

There are currently no permitted mining operations in the City.  According to the Department of Conservation, significant mineral resources within Ontario are limited to construction aggregate.  These areas have been developed with urban uses and are not suitable for mineral resource extraction.