Indexed News on:

--the California "Mega-Park" Project

Tracking measurable success on preserving and connecting California's Parks & Wildlife Corridors

READ OUR EDITOR ON FACEBOOK: facebook.com/rex.frankel

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

WCB 8/2012: State to buy more wildlife habitat August 30th...


Almost 15,000 acres will be Saved from Development across the state with our Tax Dollars this month

SUMMARY:

4337 ACRES FULL(FEE) OWNERSHIP
10,466 ACRES IN DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS (CONSERVATION EASEMENTS)

NOTICE OF MEETING
WILDLIFE CONSERVATION BOARD
August 30, 2012
10:00 AM 1/ State Capitol, Room 112
Sacramento, California 95814

FULL PRELIMINARY AGENDA:

Lower Yuba River – Excelsior – Phase II, $549,600 (Black Swan Ranch) Nevada County
acquisition in fee of 108± acres


Thomas North, Contra Costa County, $393,755, to acquire 135± acres


Allensworth Ecological Reserve, Salo, Expansion 27,  $17,500, Tulare County, 10 acres in fee title


Millard Canyon $480,200, Los Angeles County
a grant to Arroyos and Foothills Conservancy (AFC) to acquire 13± acres


Santa Rosa Mountains (Desert Ranch II) $5,000, Expansion 17, Riverside County, acquire 763± acres


Jacumba Peak (Change of Scope) $0.00 San Diego County, acquire 1,081± acres
San Diego River (Walker) $94,000, San Diego County, acquire in fee 107± acres


Daugherty Hill Wildlife Area, Expansion 13, $2,740,000, Yuba County, acquisition in fee of 679± acres


Yuba Highlands Conservation Easement – Phase II, $1,104,000, Yuba County, over 1,620± acres
Conaway Ranch Conservation Easement $7,835,000, Yolo County, totaling 6,224± acres


Campstool Ranch $2,761,055.00 Calaveras County
a grant to the Pacific Forest Trust to acquire a conservation easement over 2,175± acres of mixed conifer forest, oak woodlands and wildlife habitat corridors, located near the town of Railroad Flat in Calaveras County. DECISION POSTPONED TO 11/2012 MEETING


Oak Woodlands Conservation Easement (Barboni) $610,000, over 447± acres, Marin County


Ocean Meadows $910,000, Santa Barbara County, acquire in fee 63± acres of coastal wetland and watershed habitat between the upper and lower reaches of Devereux Slough in Goleta Valley


Santa Clara River Watershed (Teyton) $1.01 million, Ventura County, acquire fee title on 34± acres

Indio Trails, $1.01 million, Riverside County, acquire in fee 495± acres


Carlsbad/Northwest San Diego County $4,629,750 (Cielo del Norte) acquire in fee 240± acres


Sycuan Tribal – Sloan Canyon $1,165,000, San Diego County
grant to the Kumeyaay-DiegueƱo Land Conservancy to acquire in fee 609± acres

Friday, August 10, 2012

SMMC-MRCA 5/2/2012 to 8/7/2012


Big Park purchase in the works in L.A. near Vasquez rocks park, in Agua Dulce Canyon
Plus Disney plans a big studio complex in Placerita Canyon natural area



Taken from the agendas of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority


SANTA CLARITA VALLEY:

Calmat-Vulcan 1158 acres-Agua Dulce canyon-- authorizing fee simple or conservation easement acquisition of the subject parcels, Agua Dulce Canyon, unincorporated Los Angeles County. Under consideration: price and terms. [Staff Report] [Resolution] [Map] MRCA 5/2/12

Placerita Canyon-- comment letter to Los Angeles County on Draft Environmental Impact Report for Disney/ABC Studios at the Ranch Project adjacent to Placerita Creek (sch No. 2010011010), unincorporated Los Angeles County. [Resolution] [Attachment 1] [Attachment 2] [Attachment 3] [Comment Letter] [Attachment 4] [Attachment 5] [Attachment 6] [Attachment 7] [Attachment 8] [Map] SMMC 5/21/12


SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS:

Malibu-- accepting Ackerberg Public Access Easement, and approval of interim access plan, APN 4452-002-011, City of Malibu. [Staff Report] [Resolution] [Attachment 1] [Attachment 2] [Map] ] MRCA 8/7/2012

Sweetwater Mesa, Malibu-- amendment to open space easement, APNs 4453-005-089 and 4452-025-025, City of Malibu. [Staff Report] [Resolution] [Map] ] MRCA 8/7/2012

Tuna canyon and PCH-- acceptance of dedication in fee title, 19862 Pacific Coast Highway, City of Malibu, subject to a deed restriction to preserve view corridor. [Staff Report] [Resolution] [Map] ] MRCA 8/7/2012

Encino-- acceptance of conservation easement over a portion of APN 2287-006-026 (16854 Severo Place), near Westridge-Canyonback Wilderness Park, Mulholland Drive Scenic Corridor, City of Los Angeles. [Staff Report] [Resolution] [Attachment 1] [Attachment 2] [Attachment 3] [Map] MRCA 7/19/12

Zuma canyon-- acquire APNs 4471-014-011, 012, 022, 023, and 024, totaling 0.75 acres in the Zuma Canyon watershed [Staff Report] [Resolution] [Map 1] [Map 2] MRCA 6/6/12

Rambla Pacifico road-- acceptance of one or both of the offers to dedicate open space easements associated with the following coastal permit numbers 4-01-046 (Tyler-Associates, LLC) and 5-85-214-A3 (Goshn), unincorporated Los Angeles County. [Staff Report] [Resolution] [Map] MRCA 5/16/12

Bel Air-- acceptance of a conservation easement over an approximately 18 acre portion of APN 4378-003-022, Nalin Drive, Hoag Canyon, City of Los Angeles. [Staff Report] [Resolution] [Map 1] [Map 2] MRCA 5/2/12

Saddle Peak 13.9 acres-- acquire 13.9 acres (APN 4456-037-008) abutting Piuma Road in the Cold Creek watershed contingent on approval by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. [Staff Report] [Resolution] [Map] MRCA 5/2/12
 [Map 1] [Map 2] [Staff Report] [Resolution] SMMC 5/21/12

Cold Creek-- comment letter to Los Angeles County on the Notice of Consultation for two contiguous residences at 25066 and 25080 Mulholland Highway, Cold Creek watershed, Calabasas area of unincorporated Los Angeles County. [Resolution] [Attachment] [Map] [Comment Letter] SMMC 7/23/12

Calabasas-- a clarification letter to the City of Calabasas regarding apn’s 2072-024-015, 2072-024-016, 2072-027-003, and 2072-030-010, prior lot line adjustments, and additional access parcels, Dry Creek Canyon watershed. [Staff Report] removed from agenda SMMC 6/25/12

Topanga Lookout—acquisition of Los Angeles County Water Works District No.29 property, apn 4453-038-901, unincorporated Los Angeles County. [Staff Report] [Resolution] [Map 1] [Map 2] SMMC 6/25/12

Zuma canyon-- acquire apn’s 4471-014-011, 012, 022, 023, and 024 in the Zuma Canyon watershed. [Map 1] [Map 2] [Staff Report] [Resolution] SMMC 5/21/12

West Malibu-- comment letter to Ventura County on Mitigated Negative Declaration for Planned Development Permit No. LU11-0123, 12610 Yellow Hill Road (sch No. 2012041071), unincorporated Ventura County. [Resolution] [Attachment 1] [Map 1] [Map 3] [Map 4] [Map 5] [Comment Letter] SMMC 5/21/12

Maibu-- comment letter to the City of Malibu on Rancho Malibu Hotel Project and Notice of Preparation for Environmental Impact Report No. 12-001, Coastal Development Permit No. 11-028, Winter Canyon watershed. [Resolution] [Attachment 1] [Attachment 2] [Attachment 3] [Map] [Comment Letter] SMMC 5/21/12


SIMI HILLS:

Chatsworth-- acceptance of donation of land, APN 649-0-140-060, unincorporated Ventura County. [Staff Report] [Resolution] [Map 1] [Map 2] ] MRCA 8/7/2012

Simi Hills-- acquisition of 10-acre conservation and trail easement over portion of APN 649-0-340-230, along North American Cutoff trail in Box Canyon, unincorporated County of Ventura. [Staff Report] [Resolution] [Map 1] [Map 2] [Attachment] ] MRCA 8/7/2012

Ahmanson Ranch-- management of Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space property pursuant to the Offer to Dedicate agreement and pending transfer of title. [Staff Report] [Resolution] SMMC 6/25/12


SAN GABRIEL MOUNTAINS:

Big Tujunga canyon--acquire APNs 2551-002-004 and 005 totaling 31.6 acres in the Doane Canyon tributary of Big Tujunga Canyon, Sunland. Negotiators: Joseph T. Edmiston and Cheri Savage. Under consideration: price and terms. (This item may be heard in closed session pursuant to Section 54956.8 of the Government Code.) [Staff Report] [Resolution] [Attachment] [Map 1] [Map 2] MRCA 6/6/12

Lopez Canyon augmentation of Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy grant CF-1020 and of said funding for riparian habitat restoration in Lopez Canyon, San Gabriel Mountains, unincorporated Los Angeles County. [Staff Report] [Resolution] [Map 1] [Map 2] MRCA 5/2/12


EAST L.A. HILLS:

El Sereno-- project planning and design grant for Elephant Hill Open Space, El Sereno. [Staff Report] [Resolution] [Attachment ] [Attachment 2] [Map] MRCA 5/2/12

Montebello-- Roosevelt Trail and Bluff Road Mini-Park Project. [Staff Report] [Resolution] [Attachment ] [Map] MRCA 6/6/12


BALLONA CREEK:

Ballona Wetlands-- installation of minor site amenities for the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve project. [Staff Report] [Resolution] [Attachment ] MRCA 6/6/12

Ballona creek—Milton Street Park--Public hearing and discussion regarding the proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Park project. [Staff Report] [Attachment] ] MRCA 8/7/2012
 [Staff Report] MRCA 6/6/12 [Staff Report. [Staff Report]


L.A. RIVER:

L.A. River-- proposed mitigated negative declaration for the Marsh Park project. [Staff Report] [Attachment] MRCA 8/7/2012

Studio City-- agreements with Community Conservation Solutions and the California Department of Transportation for the Studio City/Los Angeles River Greenway Project. [Staff Report] [Resolution] MRCA 5/2/12


VENTURA COUNTY:

Moorpark-- comment letter to the City of Moorpark on Notice of Preparation for the Hitch Ranch Specific Plan, Santa Susana Mountains. [Resolution] [Attachment 1] [Attachment 2] [Map 1] [Map 2] [Comment Letter] [Attachment 3] [Attachment 4] [Attachment 5] SMMC 5/21/12


---------------------------------------
ASSORTED:

Consideration of resolution adopting FY 12/13 MRCA Workprogram. [Staff Report] [Resolution] [Map]
MRCA 5/2/12

Consideration of resolution authorizing a comment letter to County of Los Angeles on Draft Significant Ecological Areas Ordinance. [Comment Letter] [Resolution] [Attachment 1] [Attachment 2] [Attachment 3] SMMC 6/25/12

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Mountain North of Tahoe is Saved from condos

Royal Gorge. We're Buying It!
8/6/2012--The Truckee Donner Land Trust and The Trust for Public Land have reached an agreement to purchase the 3,000-acre Royal Gorge property at Donner Summit after a proposed 950-home development at the site went into foreclosure. The Land Trust has been looking forward to this day for the last 20 years. We now have our best shot in a generation to protect all of Royal Gorge’s remarkable meadows, peaks, forests, streams, and lakes. We now face a Dec. 20, 2012 deadline to raise $13.5 million to complete the project. With your help, we can do this! Please donate now and help us protect this remarkable property.

http://www.sfgate.com/science/article/Donner-Summit-deal-by-land-trusts-3764910.php
The land trusts agreed to buy the property for $13.5 million seven years after a developer bought it for $30 million in hopes of building homes, lodges and other resort amenities at the 7,230-foot-elevation property just south of Interstate 80 near Donner Pass Road.


http://www.sierrasun.com/article/20120806/NEWS/120809952/1066&ParentProfile=1051

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48540737/ns/local_news-sacramento_ca/t/donner-summit-land-be-preserved-open-space/
The land has old-growth red fir forests, lakes and the lush Van Norden Meadow, which is home to more than 150 species of butterflies, 16 amphibians, 100 birds, plus several endangered species, according to John Cobourn, a hydrologist at University of Nevada-Reno. It is also has the headwaters for three major rivers.

FOR BIG VERSION OF THIS MAP: http://www.tdlandtrust.org/sites/default/files/Royal%20Gorge%20Acquisition%20Map.pdf

LA meetuphikes.org

E-Mail the editor:

rexfrankel at yahoo.com

Blog Archive

Quick-Search of Subjects on the Site