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Extreme Water Shortage Grips Los Angeles as City Continues Push for More Developments

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090218/ts_nm/us_water_california

2/17/2009

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – With a recent flurry of winter storms doing little to dampen California's latest drought, the nation's biggest public utility voted on Tuesday to impose water rationing in Los Angeles for the first time in nearly two decades.

Under the plan adopted in principle by the governing board of the L.A. Department of Water and Power, homes and businesses would pay a penalty rate -- nearly double normal prices -- for any water they use in excess of a reduced monthly allowance.

The five-member board plans to formally vote on details of the measure next month.

The rationing scheme is expected to take effect in May unless the City Council acts before then to reject it -- a move seen as unlikely since Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa called for the measure under a water-shortage plan last week.

The only other time such penalty pricing was imposed to force conservation in the nation's second biggest city was a rationing system put into effect for a year starting in March 1991, at the height of California's last statewide drought.

That measure cut citywide water use by about 25 percent, DWP spokesman Joseph Ramallo said....

...The snowpack in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, one of the state's chief sources of fresh surface water, is far below normal, and reservoirs fed by Sierra runoff are badly depleted as well, due to a statewide drought now in its third year.

State water managers have said the current dry spell could prove to be the worst ever in California, owing to rising demands from steady population growth.

Recent heavy rains, and mountain snowfall, have provided a welcome respite from California's driest January on record, but "this latest set of storms did not get us out of the woods by any means," water manager James McDaniel told the DWP board.

Complicating matters are federal court restrictions on water that can be pumped from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in northern California, which furnishes much of the state's irrigation and drinking supplies, in order to protect endangered fish species.

As a result, state water managers have cut the amount of delta water they provide to irrigation districts and cities around the state to 15 percent of their usual contracted allotment for the year and may curb those deliveries further.

Another major source of imported water to Southern California, the Colorado River basin, is emerging from an eight-year drought, but its reservoirs remain low.

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http://ballona-news.blogspot.com/2009/02/playa-vista-seeks-300-million-gift-from.html

L.A.'s Biggest Developer Seeks Another 2600 Condominiums on 111 Acres--the Largest Private Unpaved Parcel Left in the City

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Ventura Hillsides Conservancy Receives Land Donation along Ventura River Trail

February 17, 2009

for photos and maps:
http://venturaecosystem.blogspot.com/2009/02/ventura-river-parkway-land-donation.html

http://campaign-archive.com/?u=f95fb85f1cc97d8496edd65fd&id=3061f3b7fe&e=96a641650d

The Ventura Hillsides Conservancy is the recipient of a second donation of land to add to its conservation holdings. The gift came from the Gene Wave Waldo Trust. The two contiguous parcels comprising the gift measure just under one acre, and are located along the Ventura River just west of the Ventura River Trail. The property is south of Foster Park.
The children of Gene Waldo (Wave Lee Stonerock, Nipomo; Jennifer Tidwell Kennedy, Casitas Springs; Robert Waldo, Medford, Oregon; and Sue Brax of Lancaster) donated the scenic riverside property in honor of their mother. The family chose to give the acreage to the local land trust to ensure that it would remain as open space in perpetuity. “We wanted to be certain that nothing would be built there” said Stonerock. Kennedy added that she was pleased to give the lush riparian area to the Conservancy because “now the land has a purpose.” Pursuant to wishes of the donors, the grant deed carries a restriction limiting use to conservation objectives. This donation is the first land conservation conveyance recorded since the Ventura River Parkway project was announced by Trust for Public Land and the State Coastal Conservancy a few years ago. The Ventura Hillsides Conservancy serves as a key facilitator of the Parkway project, and is the only entity willing to hold land for conservation purposes in the lower Ventura River valley. The Ojai Valley Land Conservancy holds several properties along the river north of Foster Park. These parcels are in a relatively undisturbed riparian state. Only minor restoration work is needed. As riparian habitat supportive of river-dependent species, it is quite high quality. We are building a stewardship fund to support the management costs of this property. Now is a great time to donate to this fund. Please go to http://www.venturahillsides.org/donate.shtml

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Northern Sierra Partnership Launched

February 2009--5 conservation groups have joined in an effort to protect more than 100,000 acres in California's northern Sierra Nevada. The groups will work to attract $75-$100 million in private conservation funding to leverage $225-$300 million in federal, state and local funds. Other goals are to build regional support for land and water conservation, address the impacts of climate change, encourage sustainable economies in the northern Sierra, and serve as a model for nonprofit collaboration in other regions.

Click on map to enlarge

http://www.northernsierrapartnership.org/

http://www.tpl.org/tier3_cd.cfm?content_item_id=22704&folder_id=1705

Click to enlarge program area map.

Collaborating to Conserve

Northern Sierra's rapid growth threatens open space and drinking water
Nearly half of the land in the northern Sierra is privately owned, and threatened by the rapid pace of change in California. Population growth is driving an influx of new home, golf course, and ski resort development to the region, jeopardizing the source of clean drinking water for much of California and imperiling precious habitat.

Five conservation groups join forces
In October 2008, TPL and four other conservation organizations — Feather River Land Trust, Truckee Donner Land Trust, Sierra Business Council, and The Nature Conservancy — joined forces to create The Northern Sierra Partnership (NSP), a unique alliance whose goal is to protect 100,000 acres of the northern Sierra's highest-priority land and waters over the next five years.

Comprehensive plan secures resources for future generations
By developing a comprehensive plan that integrates land protection, restoration, policy development and community enhancement projects, TPL and its partners are working to ensure that the Sierra's remarkable natural, cultural, and recreational resources-and California's drinking water-will be protected for future generations.

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Over 100 SF Bay Area Groups Release Report on Vision for the Future of Local Open Spaces

Golden Lands, Golden Opportunity identifies the Bay Area’s vital lands that provide public
benefits but are not yet protected.

The overriding goal of the plan is to: Give more people access to open space by requiring that a park be located no more than 10 minutes by foot or bike from every resident’s home.

http://www.golden-lands.org/

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090204/OPINION/902030220?Title=PD_Editorial__Vital_lands


http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/02/04/BA4Q15ME6N.DTL&hw=fimrite&sn=001&sc=1000

2/3/2009 SF Chronicle--Thousands of acres in the Bay Area - from redwood forests in Sonoma County to orchards in Contra Costa and a large section of open space on San Francisco's waterfront - should be protected from development, according to a report released Tuesday...

The giant green corridor envisioned in the report would not mean commerce or private business would cease. The 100,000-acre coastal dairy belt in Sonoma County, vineyards in Napa and fertile farmland in Contra Costa, Santa Clara, Solano and Marin counties would be protected.

Trails linking 47 cities in the nine Bay Area counties would also be funded, including the 500-mile Bay Trail and the Carquinez Strait Scenic Loop. In San Francisco, a 13-mile corridor along the southeastern waterfront known as the Blue Greenway would bring recreation to an underserved area of the city.

Watersheds along the San Mateo and Santa Clara county coasts, urban parks in Alameda and the 470,000 acres of redwood forests and woodlands in Sonoma County would be protected under the plan....

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Sierra Valley Agricultural Preserves (north of Lake Tahoe) Threatened by Lot Splits

http://www.highsierrarural.org/announcements/subdivisionofagpreservelandinsierravalley

February 2009--After hearing and reviewing testimony from the applicant and the public, the Zoning Administrator continued the hearing on the Thran Subdivision until May 21, 2009 at 10:00 am in order to give the Plumas-Sierra Ag Commissioner and Farm Advisor an opportunity to testify. Thank you to everyone who sent a letter to the Zoning Administrator voicing concern about the subdivision of land in the Sierra Valley. If you didn't have time to send a letter before today, don't despair. The public hearing is still open through May 21, 2009. Your opinion counts. For more information click here.

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State Budget Crisis Halts Most Tax $$ for Land Purchases

San Diego River Group Appeals for Cash

From http://www.lakesideriverpark.org/ which has preserved a portion of the San Diego River is feeling the pinch.

Highlights of their work over the past 9 years:
--$16 million in State grants for 100 acre land purchase and river restoration project raised.
--Hanson Aggregates pledges to donate 22 acres to the River park for development of a Nature Center, trailhead and picnic park.

If, however, we were not able to raise enough money, Lakeside's River Park Conservancy would remain but in a vastly diminished form.

Here is what would be left...

The 100 acres along Highway 67 (where our offices are located) and the trail were purchased and developed with public funds. This would remain. The land is protected and can't be sold and the trail, which will remain open to the public, has been dedicated to the County.

We have sufficient funds to keep this year's newly planted plants alive but we would have no money for other activities and the River Park would fall silent...

Our project continues to do its important work. The new transitory storage basin, aka The Pit, is capturing water and holding it, letting it percolate down into the water table. Our constructed wetlands are working. Water flowing from streets and yards and Hwy 67 is flowing through the wetland and being treated before it is discharged into the San Diego River. The trail is open and even in the rain visitors are enjoying it.

We are finishing off the planting of California natives (bought and paid for before the budget freeze) so they become semi-established with winter rains. If you look carefully you will see all sort of new plants in the ground near Industry Road. If you look over near the Bostonia House from Hwy 67 you will see a green haze over the landscape from seeds planted in the fall.

Photo from monthly e-alert from http://sandiegoriver.org
http://www.sandiegoriver.org/eagle_acq.php

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New Map of Preserved Land in the Eastern Sierra Region

http://www.easternsierralandtrust.org/Pages/ComplProjects.htm

(click on map to enlarge)

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Salmon Falls Acquisition Completes American River Trail Corridor

http://arconservancy.org

February 2009--It took 20 years but the last of the sixteen river front parcels has been acquired along the South Fork American River to accommodate a new 20 mile trail system from Hwy 49 to the Folsom Lake State Recreation Area. The final trailhead acquisition was acquired in January, 2009 from Larry and Judy Klein. ARC is now working with the BLM and State Department of Parks and Recreation to complete the design and environmental documentation required before trail construction can begin. To learn more about the American River Trails Campaign and the American River Trail Corridor please see the spring issue of the American River Conservancy's Newsletter, The Current.

The American River Conservancy has been successful in the protection of over 10,700 acres of native fisheries, wildlife habitat, woodlands, and endangered species habitat since 1989. Thank you to all of our supporters and volunteers over the years who have helped make this achievement possible!

More news coverage:
http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/1636188.html

SMMC-MRCA 2/11/2009-2/23/2009

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L.A. Basin and Mountain Parks Update:

2/11/2009 Meeting Highlights of the Mountains Restoration and Conservation Authority:

BALLONA CREEK TRAIL LOOP

TRANCAS CANYON

BIG TUJUNGA WASH

ELYSIAN PARK

http://mrca.ca.gov/attachment.asp?agendaid=163

VIII. Consideration of resolution authorizing a grant of Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation funds to the California Department of Parks and Recreation for planning and construction activities associated with the Ballona Creek to Parks Connection Loop Project. [Staff Report] [Resolution] [Attachment]
IX. Consideration of resolution authorizing acceptance of an offer to dedicate a trail easement and an offer to dedicate open space easement, Trancas Town Ltd./5-91-754 (portion of APN 4470-012-045), west of Trancas Canyon, Malibu. [Staff Report] [Resolution] [Attachment] [Map]
X. Consideration of resolution authorizing all actions necessary to accept approximately 260-acre Big Tujunga Wash open space dedication, including, but not limited to, the formation of a Community Facilities District or Landscape Maintenance District to fund maintenance and required environmental mitigation measures, entering into agreements with the Angeles National Golf Course and/or the City of Los Angeles, and acceptance of funding for all said purposes. [Map] [Staff Report]
XI. Consideration of resolution authorizing: (a) conditional acceptance of open space lot number 16 from Vesting Tentative Tract Map No. 62900-SL-1A, 2400 Allesandro Street and 2005 and 2021 W. Elmoran Street in either fee simple or a conservation easement, (b) acceptance of trail easements on said property, (c) acceptance of funds to construct said trails and other improvements, and (d) assumption of maintenance responsibility for said open space lot pending condition of approval and mitigation measure requiring adequate payment to the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority via adequately worded and recorded CC & R’s for City of Los Angeles required Homeowners Association, Elysian Park. [Map] [Staff Report] [Resolution]



FOR BROKEN MRCA LINKS:

2/11/2009: https://web.archive.org/web/20110115052229/http://www.mrca.ca.gov:80/attachment.asp?agendaid=163

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Upcoming 2/23/2009 Meeting of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy

HIGHLIGHTS:
BIG TUJUNGA WASH
SANTA SUSANA MOUNTAINS

http://smmc.ca.gov/attachment.asp?agendaid=241
Consideration of resolution authorizing comment letters to the City of Los Angeles and the California Department of Fish and Game regarding the transfer of Big Tujunga Wash open space dedication from the Angeles National Golf Club, 9401 Foothill Boulevard, Sunland-Tujunga. [Comment Letter] [Resolution] [Attachment 1] [Attachment 2] [Attachment 3] [Attachment 4] [Map 1] [Map 2] Consideration of resolution authorizing a Draft Environmental Impact Report comment letter to the California Department of Transportation regarding Santa Clarita Woodlands Park mitigation measures for the I-5 hov and Truck Lane Widening Project (sr-14 to Parker Road), Santa Clara River Watershed. [Comment Letter] [Resolution] [Attachment 1] [Attachment 2] [Attachment 3] [Attachment 4] [Attachment 5] [Map]

Consideration of resolution authorizing a grant of deposited mitigation funds (Alamos Canyon ilf-Corps No. 200400766-mdc) from the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy Fund to the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority for implementation of the Gopher Canyon riparian habitat restoration and creation project in the Brown's Canyon watershed, unincorporated Los Angeles County, Chatsworth area. [Staff Report] [Resolution] [Attachment 1] [Map]

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North L.A. County City is Buying a Ring of Green Space Around the City

excerpted from the L.A. Times, February 12, 2009

for full story:
http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-me-greenbelt12-2009feb12,0,3961129,full.story

...To that end, the city of Santa Clarita has launched a full-court press to acquire and protect the wealth of unspoiled lands and wildlife sanctuaries that surround the Los Angeles County suburb.

"The goal is to get open space all the way around the city," said Weste, who has championed the cause for more than three decades.

In 2007, Santa Clarita property owners helped put the city one step closer to that goal when they voted to create an Open Space Preservation District.

It will secure a greenbelt buffer around the city by saving lands from development while protecting rare biological and geological regions and establishing additional trails and parklands....

The fees currently earn the city about $1.2 million a year, officials said. ...

But few cities have established a system that requires property owners to pay for creating a greenbelt, she said.

Property owners in the part of Los Angeles that includes the Santa Monica Mountains agreed to such a measure in 2002. It has so far resulted in the preservation and protection of almost 2,000 acres of open space, Stolarz said.

Santa Clarita has already acquired more than 3,200 acres, officials said.

The plan is for the greenbelt to stretch across the San Gabriel and Santa Susana mountains and create wildlife corridors in the Angeles National Forest.

In addition to buying land, Santa Clarita is partnering with public agencies such as the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy to acquire property.

The city also hopes to persuade would-be developers to donate land in exchange for the opportunity to build housing tracts or commercial centers.

Such was the case with Golden Valley Ranch, a 1,200-acre swath of land where developers had planned to build hundreds of homes and a retail center.

After years of negotiations, the developers agreed to donate 900 acres, which will remain open space, said Rick Gould, Santa Clarita's director of Parks, Recreation and Community Services...

...In the 1970s, she and county planners walked the entire Santa Clarita Valley. Weste noted every mountain range, suggested routes for trails and urged the creation of a non-motorized integrated trail system throughout the valley.

"You can't put a price on this," Weste said, describing the rugged recreational land that surrounds Santa Clarita. "Its value is incalculable. It will grow forever. I truly believe that this is the single legacy Santa Clarita will have for its future."