WCB 11/2010: Calif. Wildlife board to save 84,000 acres in November...

State Plans Big End of Year Land Purchases—over 84,000 acres of land and development rights

Deals include $15 million paid to the Tejon Ranch Company

NOTICE OF MEETING --WILDLIFE CONSERVATION BOARD
November 18, 2010

http://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=24287

MAPS: https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=25149

HIGHLIGHTS:

Heart K Ranch, 880 acre conservation easement, Plumas County

Lower Yuba River, Excelsior, 527± acres, Nevada and Yuba Counties

Bruin Ranch, 1,773± acres, Placer County

Oak Hills Ranch, conservation easement over 3,316 ± acres, Yolo County

Los Vaqueros Ranch Conservation Easement, 800± acres, Monterey County

Santa Clara River Watershed, 123± acres, Ventura County

Tejon Ranch -- conservation easements over 62,003± acres--$15.8 million Kern/Los Angeles Counties

Bottle Peak 418± acres $3.5 million San Diego County

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SPECIFICS ON AGENDA ITEMS


20. Heart K Ranch $1,090,000 Plumas County
To consider the acquisition of a conservation easement for the Department of Fish and Game over approximately 880± acres for protection of critical habitat for the Sloat Deer herd as well as protection of black oak woodland, montane riparian, and wet meadow habitats, located in the Genesee Valley along Indian Creek in Plumas County.

21. Upper Butte Basin Wildlife Area, Expansion 6 $1,120,000 Butte County
To consider the acquisition of 222± acres of land for the Department of Fish and Game for the protection of wetland habitat, located approximately five miles west of the City of Biggs in Butte County.

22. Lower Yuba River, Excelsior, Phase I, $3,216,440 Nevada and Yuba Counties
To consider the acquisition of 527± acres of land by the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) known as the Yuba Narrows Ranch for protection of deer and mountain lion habitat, located along the Yuba River within the lower Yuba River watershed, situated between the DFG Daugherty Hills and Spenceville Wildlife Areas, in Nevada and Yuba Counties.

23. Bruin Ranch Phase I, $4,515,000 Placer County
To consider the allocation for a grant to Placer Land Trust for a cooperative project with the Department of Fish and Game, Caltrans and Placer County to acquire 1,773± acres of property to protect habitat for threatened and endangered species, including blue oak woodland habitat and approximately three miles of riparian corridor along the Bear River, located in Placer County. Protection of this property will also allow the connection of a regional trail through previously protected land to Placer County's Hidden Falls Regional Park and Coon Creek.

24. Oak Hills Ranch, $2,296,000, Yolo County
To consider the allocation for a grant to the California Rangeland Trust for a conservation easement over 3,316 ± acres of native oak woodlands located south of the community of Dunnigan and north of the town of Esparto in Yolo County.

26. Los Vaqueros Ranch Conservation Easement, $1,210,000.00 Phase II Monterey County
To consider the allocation for a grant to The Nature Conservancy to acquire a conservation easement over 800± acres of property to protect critical steelhead habitat as well as habitat for sensitive wildlife species including the red-legged frog, yellow-legged frog, western pond turtle and intact populations of native fish, oak woodlands, and grasslands on the west side of Salina Valley along the Arroyo Seco River in Monterey County.

27. Santa Clara River Watershed, Totlcom , $2,298,500 Ventura County
To consider the allocation for a grant to The Nature Conservancy, the acceptance of a Recovery Land Acquisition Grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife; and the authorization to enter into an Agreement to Subgrant to The Nature Conservancy for a cooperative project with the State Coastal Conservancy, Santa Clara River Trustee Council and the Department of Fish and Game to acquire 123± acres of land for the protection of threatened and endangered species and habitat corridors, located south of the City of Ventura in Ventura County.

29. Tejon Ranch $15,800,000 Kern/Los Angeles Counties
To consider the allocation for five grants to the Tejon Ranch Conservancy to acquire five conservation easements over 62,003± acres for the protection of significant natural landscapes and wildlife linkages and corridors, located south of the City of Bakersfield and north of the City of Los Angeles, adjacent to Interstate 5 and State Highway 138, in Kern and Los Angeles Counties.

30. Bottle Peak $3,562,900 San Diego County
To consider the allocation for a grant to The Escondido Creek Conservancy to assist with the acquisition of 418± acres of property to anchor regional habitat conservation planning efforts, including a Natural Community Conservation Plan, in central San Diego County and provide a critical ecological link between coastal habitat and the higher elevation Cleveland National Forest.

NOTE: PART 2 OF THE AGENDA IS IN NEXT POST

WCB 11/2010: Part two--Calif. Wildlife board to save 84,000 acres in November...

More: State Plans Big End of Year Land Purchases—over 84,000 acres of land and development rights

PART 2 OF AGENDA:

NOTICE OF MEETING --WILDLIFE CONSERVATION BOARD
November 18, 2010
10:00 AM
State Capitol, Room 113
Sacramento, California 95814

http://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=24287

MAPS: https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=25149

HIGHLIGHTS:

Glenn County, transfer120± acres to Nature Conservancy, to acquire 104± acres in fee

Loch Lomond Vernal Pool, Lake County, acceptance of 1.7± acres and the disposal of 1.4± acres

Swiss Ranch, 304 acre conservation easement, Calaveras County

Napa-Sonoma Marshes Wildlife Area, 532 acres, American Canyon, Napa County

Peninsular Bighorn Sheep, 947± acres, Riverside County,

East Elliott and Otay Mesa Regions (Sunroad), 1 acre, San Diego County

Cow Creek Conservation Area, conservation easement over 5,868± acres Shasta County

Red Bank Creek, conservation easements over two ownerships totaling 7,132± acres Tehama County

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SPECIFICS ON AGENDA ITEMS

8. Hamilton City Flood Damage, $10,000.00 Reduction and Ecosystem Restoration, Glenn County
To consider the disposal of a portion of property, the Sacramento River Conservation Area, Expansion 4, 120± acres, funded through a Wildlife Conservation Board grant to The Nature Conservancy, approved by the Board in November of 2001, and to authorize the reuse of proceeds generated by disposal to acquire 104± acres in fee title for the protection of riparian and riverine habitat supporting threatened and endangered species.

9. Loch Lomond Vernal Pool, $25,000, Ecological Reserve Exchange, Lake County
To consider the acceptance of 1.7± acres and the disposal of 1.4± acres through an exchange of fee title land between the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) and a private landowner to expand protection of vernal pool habitat at the Loch Lomond Ecological Reserve, located in the community of the Loch Lomond, in Lake County.

10. Swiss Ranch, Expansion 3, $430,000, Calaveras County
To consider the acquisition of a conservation easement for the Department of Fish and Game over 304± acres of land for protection of critical habitat for the migratory Rail Road Flat deer herd, located in the Sierra foothills along Swiss Ranch Road in Calaveras County.

12. Napa-Sonoma Marshes Wildlife Area, $10,000, American Canyon Napa County
To consider the acceptance of 352± acres of land for the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) for protection of bay wetlands, as an addition to the DFG’s Napa-Sonoma Marshes Wildlife Area, located between the City of American Canyon and the Napa River in Napa County.

16. Peninsular Bighorn Sheep $5,000.00 Riverside County
To consider the acceptance of a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Recovery Land Acquisition grant and authorize the use of those funds to acquire 947± acres for the Department of Fish and Game, to protect and enhance existing regional wildlife linkages and habitats for the Peninsular Bighorn Sheep, located west of the community of Oasis, in Riverside County.

17. East Elliott and Otay Mesa Regions (Sunroad), $5,000, San Diego County
To consider the acceptance of a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Habitat Conservation Planning Land Acquisition grant and the approval to subgrant the federal funds to the City of San Diego to assist with the acquisition of 1± acre of land to protect critical regional wildlife linkages, coastal sage scrub, and to protect and preserve core areas of vernal pool habitat that will enhance the existing Multiple Species Conservation Program and the Natural Community Conservation Plan areas located on the western Otay Mesa, south of Highway 905 and east of Highway 805 in the San Diego city limits.

18. Cow Creek Conservation Area, Expansion 2, $1,340,000, Shasta County
To consider the allocation for a grant to the American Land Conservancy to acquire a conservation easement over 5,868± acres of land, for protection of rangeland, riparian corridors and other significant ecosystems, located north of State Highway 44 approximately 10 miles east of the City of Redding in Shasta County.

19. Red Bank Creek $3,960,000.00 Tehama County
To consider the allocation for a grant to the Northern California Regional Land Trust to acquire conservation easements over two ownerships totaling 7,132± acres for protection of native oak woodland habitat, located approximately 20 miles northwest of the City of red Bluff in Tehama County.

Oil giant can't get a break in L.A....

Oil Company trying to find a local government that will OK its Planned Destruction of East L.A. County to Orange County Wildlife link

from 10/2010 newsletter of http://hillsforeveryone.org :

http://www.hillsforeveryone.org/news-publications/PDFs/hfe-publications/newsletters/2010/fall-2010.pdf


Aera Energy, the wholly owned subsidiary of Shell/ExxonMobil owns the natural lands above Brea and Rowland Heights, between the 57 Freeway and Harbor Blvd. The company appears to be playing a strange game.

After five years of processing its 3,600 unit development through Los Angeles County, Aera was told by the County to revise and downsize the project. Instead, in late 2006, Aera picked up stakes and took the same project proposal to Diamond Bar in hopes of being annexed into that city. Again, Aera was told to make it a greener project, downsize, and reduce the footprint (grading). Now Aera is no longer processing the project in Diamond Bar and the city will soon be formally ending the application.

Despite an additional 50,000 vehicle trips a day generated by the project, Aera continues to refuse to pay for improvements to the 57 Freeway. Both Diamond Bar and Brea are not happy about that. Apparently Aera plans to return to Los Angeles County for project approvals, but the County has not yet received a formal application. It will be interesting to see if the project has changed. Aera has long touted a need for executive homes but the bottom has dropped out of that market in the recession and there is a flood of executive homes for sale.

In the meantime, the Aera property was on a short list for potential funding from Measure M, Orange County’s transportation sales tax measure, to save the land. Aera had stated publicly that they were willing to look at a sale for preservation by using funds from this measure, but in April, Aera removed itself from consideration. The next round of funding comes in the summer of 2011.

Court awards more $$ to ex-owners of Humboldt's Redwood paradise...

Federal Appeals Court Awards $29 million to Pacific Lumber Creditors

10/19/2010

Editor's note: This court ruling does not overturn the sale of Pacific Lumber's 200,000 acres to the family that owns the Gap stores and Mendocino Redwood Company, who have promised to end the practice of clear-cutting. It does, however, award a little more money to the former owners.

http://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions%5Cpub%5C09/09-40307-CV0.wpd.pdf
5th circuit fed appeals court awards $29.7 million to Palco noteholders


http://www.leagle.com/xmlResult.aspx?xmldoc=In%20FCO%2020101019092.xml&docbase=CSLWAR3-2007-CURR

"Being satisfied with our appellate jurisdiction, we have concluded that the bankruptcy court undervalued the Noteholders' priority administrative § 507(b) claim by $29.7 million. The court erred in not crediting their interest with timber sales proceeds that were received during the bankruptcy, on which they had a lien and priority interest arising from the court's many cash collateral orders. To deprive the Noteholders of this amount would undermine a fundamental protection for secured parties whose collateral is used by the debtor during its reorganization efforts.

The judgment of the district court is VACATED, and the case is REMANDED with instructions to enter judgment for the Noteholders for a $29.7 million administrative priority claim against the reorganized debtor.

VACATED and REMANDED with Instructions."

Help Build a trail above Lake Berryessa this weekend!

Berryessa Peak trail construction begins!

from http://tuleyome.org

Our first trail building event on the new Berryessa Peak Trail will be held October 29, 30, and 31st, 2010. During this 3-day, 2 night backpacking trip, we'll be building a half-mile segment of the trail on an easement that gives access to the 9,100-acre Berryessa Peak public lands. The trail project is located north of Lake Berryessa, near the top of the scenic Blue Ridge. We'll camp in an amazing oak grove overlooking the lake. Tools will be provided, and we'll share dinners. We'll be meeting at 9am at the trailhead, and be back to the cars around 2pm on the 31st.

If you are interested in joining us on this trip, please RSVP to Andrew Fulks at yolohiker@yolohiker.org and I'll get you more details.

Hope to see you at one or both events!

Also, we've routed the new loop trail on Tuleyome's Cold Canyon Headwaters parcel, and will be scheduling construction days in November. This new trail will add 2 miles of new trail to Cold Canyon, including a wonderful forested hike to the ridge, with access to dramatic rock outcroppings.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVxeZsJiLcY
video of trail construction

Protecting the wild heritage and agricultural heritage of the Northern Inner Coast Range and the Western Sacramento Valley for existing and future generations.
http://www.tuleyome.org

Visit the Yolohiker web site for trail maps, hikes, and outings in the Putah and Cache creek watersheds.
http://www.yolohiker.org

http://yolohiker.org/trails/berryessa/coldcan/index.html
cold canyon trails

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http://www.latimes.com/videobeta/569102b6-5618-402a-93be-cafe4b3fb2a9/Travel/Berryessa-Snow-Mountain-America-s-next-national-monument-

LA Times video on BRBNA—3:29

SCC 10/2010: Coastal Conservancy October land purchases...

280 acres of Coastal Land will be purchased this month by State

...in Arcata, Fort Bragg and Ventura County

http://scc.ca.gov/2010/10/11/coastal-conservancy-public-meeting-notice-2/#more-568

TENTATIVE AGENDA
DATE: Thursday, October 21, 2010
TIME: 9:00 am
LOCATION: Temescal Gateway Park
Conference and Retreat Center – Stewart Hall
15601 Sunset Blvd.
Pacific Palisades, CA

Consideration and possible Conservancy authorization to disburse up to $100,000 to the City of Arcata for acquisition of approximately 16.3 acres and an adjacent access easement to add to the Arcata Forest Trail system in Arcata, Humboldt County.

Consideration and possible Conservancy authorization to disburse up to $4,000,000 to The Nature Conservancy for the acquisition of 250 acres in the lower river to further implement the Santa Clara River Parkway project, Ventura County.

Consideration and possible Conservancy authorization to transfer jurisdiction of the property located at 24038 Malibu Road, City of Malibu, to the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy; approval of a revised Implementation Plan for the transfer of the property; and authorization to disburse up to $994,000 to the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority for the purpose of constructing a public beach access stairway on the property.

Consideration and possible Conservancy authorization to disburse up to $500,000 to the City of Rancho Palos Verdes for the Palos Verdes Peninsula Coastal Trail, including final design and construction of approximately nine miles of the California Coastal Trail located within the City of Rancho Palos Verdes and the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve, Los Angeles County.

Consideration and possible Conservancy authorization to disburse up to $500,000 to the City of Fort Bragg to acquire approximately 12 acres of the Georgia-Pacific former mill site in Fort Bragg, Mendocino County, for the future site of the Noyo Center for Science and Education.

Consideration and possible modification of the Conservancy’s April 27, 2006 authorization to disburse $2,000,000 to the Land Trust of Napa County toward acquisition of Wildlake Ranch in Napa County by providing for conditional waiver of the repayment condition and adding associated conditions.

SMMC-MRCA 9/27/2010 to 10/6/2010

A whole bunch of additions to L.A.'s ring of open space

HIGHLIGHTS:

Elsmere Canyon --842 acres
Rubio canyon--Altadena--2.8 acres
Mt. Washington--2.2 acres
Ramirez Canyon/Malibu--100 acres
12 acres in Sherman Oaks
20 acres in Liberty Canyon, in Agoura Hills


SMMC 9/27/2010--Consideration of resolution authorizing amendment of smm-0809 for a scope change to include the acquisition of non-tax defaulted parcels in the Northeast Los Angeles Hilltop Areas including the perimeter of Elyria Canyon Park, Los Angeles [Attachment 1] [Attachment 2] [Attachment 3] [Attachment 4] [Map] [Staff Report] [Resolution] [Attachment 5]

SMMC 9/27/2010--Consideration of resolution authorizing a grant of Proposition 84 funds to the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority for the acquisition of approximately 2.8 acres, Rubio Canyon, Altadena. [Map 1] [Map 2] [Staff Report] [Resolution] [Attachment]

MRCA 10/6/2010--Consideration of resolution authorizing the acquisition of an option to purchase approximately 2.8 acres, APN 5843-019-004, unincorporated Los Angeles County from the Arroyos and Foothills Conservancy. [Staff Report] [Resolution] [Map] [Map 2]

SMMC 9/27/2010--Consideration of resolution approving the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority to use $400,000 in Coastal Habitat Impact Mitigation Funds to acquire properties in the Santa Monica Mountains Coastal zone at the Los Angeles County Tax Collector 2010A Public Auction. [Staff Report] [Resolution] [Map] No specific parcels were listed

SMMC 9/27/2010--Consideration of resolution authorizing a Proposition 84 matching grant to the City of Santa Clarita to purchase approximately 842 acres, Elsmere and Grapevine Canyons, unincorporated County of Los Angeles. [Attachment] [Staff Report] [Resolution] [Map] 

MRCA 10/6/2010--Consideration of resolution authorizing waiver of appraisal review based on current corresponding City of Los Angeles appraisal for acquisition of 29 acres of surplus City of Los Angeles properties in Beverly Glen and Benedict Canyons. [Staff Report] [Resolution] [Attachment 1] [Attachment 2]   

MRCA 10/6/2010--Consideration of resolution affirming Resolution 09-113 authorizing the acquisition of 77 surplus properties in Beverly Glen Canyon and amending said resolution to add said parcels to the Final Engineers Report for Santa Monica Mountains Open Space Preservation Assessment District No. 1, City of Los Angeles. [Attachment] [Attachment 2] [Staff Report] 

MRCA 10/6/2010--Consideration of resolution authorizing acceptance of a 1/3rd acre land donation, APN 4461-013-008 in Latigo Canyon, Malibu area. [Staff Report] [Resolution] [Map] 

MRCA 10/6/2010--Consideration of a resolution authorizing the acceptance of a donation of approximately 2.5 acres of open space, APN 4461-004-008, Corral Canyon, Malibu. [Staff Report] [Resolution] [Map]  

MRCA 10/6/2010--Consideration of resolution authorizing acceptance of donation of a 20 acre portion of APN 2063-008-013, Liberty Canyon, Agoura Hills. [Staff Report] [Resolution] [Map]  

MRCA 10/6/2010--Consideration of resolution authorizing acceptance of donation of 2.24 acres, APN 4453-016-002, Carbon Canyon, unincorporated County of Los Angeles. [Staff Report] [Resolution] [Map] [Map 2]  


MRCA 10/6/2010--6 acres at Laurel canyon/Mulholland Drive--Consideration of resolution authorizing conditional acceptance and repayment of private loans, for an option payment for APNs 5565-003-036, 037, 038, 039, 040 and 041, City of Los Angeles. [Map] [Map 2] [Staff Report] 

MRCA 10/6/2010--Consideration of resolution accepting dedication of 12 acre conservation and/or trail easement from The Buckley School, Sherman Oaks. [Staff Report] [Resolution] [Map]

MRCA 10/6/2010--Consideration of resolution authorizing (a) acquisition of APNs 4448-018-023, 024, 025, 026 and 041, comprised of 20.66 acres; (b) acceptance of both public and private funding towards said acquisition; (c) the use of Coastal Habitat Impact Mitigation Fund for said acquisition, and (d) a down payment towards said acquisition with public and/or private funds, Topanga Canyon, unincorporated Los Angeles County. [Staff Report] [Resolution] [Map]  

MRCA 10/6/2010--100 acres in Ramirez canyon in Malibu--Consideration of resolution authorizing a grant application to the Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Program to acquire APN’s 4465-004-045, and 084, in Ramirez Canyon, Santa Monica Mountains, unincorporated Los Angeles County. [Map] [Staff Report] [Resolution] [Map 2]  

    
NOTE: SOME OF THE MRCA LINKS DON'T WORK. THEY CAN BE FOUND HERE:

10/6/2010: https://web.archive.org/web/20110115052234/http://www.mrca.ca.gov:80/attachment.asp?agendaid=198

10/6/2010: https://web.archive.org/web/20110115052234/http://www.mrca.ca.gov:80/attachment.asp?agendaid=199