Indexed News on:

--the California "Mega-Park" Project

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

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Tuesday, May 4, 2010

WCB 5/2010: State finds cash to buy more land and development rights

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Almost 20,000 acres to be preserved by State this month

NOTICE OF MEETING--WILDLIFE CONSERVATION BOARD
May 27, 2010--10:00 AM--State Capitol, Room 112--Sacramento, California 95814

http://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=19402

MAPS: https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=25147


HIGHLIGHTS:

MONTEREY COUNTY—1 acre
RIVERSIDE COUNTY—404 acres
SISKIYOU COUNTY—10,500 acres
SIERRA COUNTY—1455 ACRES
SANTA CLARA COUNTY—1557 acres
MADERA COUNTY—2990 acres
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY—2355 acres--Avila Beach
LOS ANGELES COUNTY—139 acres—Cahuenga Peak
ORANGE COUNTY—100 acres—Los Cerritos wetlands
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PRELIMINARY AGENDA ITEMS

Elkhorn Slough Ecological Reserve, $220,000.00 Expansion 18 Monterey County
To consider the acquisition of 1± acre of land to protect critical tidal wetlands and grasslands as an expansion of the Department of Fish and Game's Elkhorn Slough Ecological Reserve located within the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, near the town of Moss Landing, in Monterey County.

Whitewater Floodplain Conservation Area $5,000.00 Riverside County
To consider the acceptance of two U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service grants and the approval to subgrant the federal funds to the Coachella Valley Conservation Commission to acquire six properties, totaling 404± acres, to protect and enhance existing regional wildlife linkages and aeolian and fluvial sand transport areas within one of four priority areas of the Coachella Valley Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Preserve located west of the City of Palm Springs, in Riverside County.

Shasta Big Springs Ranch $10,330,000.00 Siskiyou County
To consider a cooperative project with The Nature Conservancy and the Department of Fish and Game wherein the State proposes to acquire a conservation easement over 5,834± acres of land to protect critical wildlife and fish habitat located near the community of Big Springs, in Siskiyou County.

Scott Valley $3,237,700.00 Siskiyou County
To consider the allocation for a grant to the Siskiyou Land Trust for a cooperative project with the Department of Conservation to acquire Conservation Easements over five ownerships totaling 4,735± acres to protect rangeland, grazing land and grassland in Scott Valley, near the City of Etna, in Siskiyou County.

Lemon Canyon Ranch $1,057,000.00 Sierra County
To consider the allocation for a grant to the Pacific Forest Trust for a cooperative project with the Sierra Nevada Conservancy to acquire a conservation easement over 1,455± acres to protect rangeland, grazing land and grassland located east of Sierraville, in Sierra County.

Canada de los Osos Ecological Reserve, $1,908,200.00 Expansion 1 Santa Clara County
To consider the acquisition of two contiguous parcels of land totaling 1,557± acres to protect valuable grassland, oak woodland and riparian habitat and to expand connectivity to other public lands located east of the City of Gilroy, in Santa Clara County.

Millar Ranch Oak Woodlands $1,860,000.00 Madera County
To consider the allocation for a grant to the Sierra Foothill Conservancy to acquire a conservation easement over 2,990± acres to protect and preserve oak woodland habitat located south of the community of Oakhurst, in Madera County.

Wild Cherry Canyon $6,735,000.00 San Luis Obispo County
To consider the allocation for a grant and acceptance of a Land and Water Conservation Fund grant from the National Park Service as a reimbursement for a cooperative project with the American Land Conservancy, CA State Parks, State Coastal Conservancy, the Board and others to acquire a leasehold interest in 2,355± acres near the community of Avila Beach, in San Luis Obispo County.

Cahuenga Peak $705,000.00 Los Angeles County
To consider the allocation for a grant for a cooperative project with the Trust for Public Land, Department of Fish and Game, the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, the City of Los Angeles and private donors to acquire 138± acres to protect plant, wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities located adjacent to Griffith Park in the City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County.

Los Cerritos Wetlands $6,180,000.00 Orange County
To consider the allocation for a grant to the Los Cerritos Wetland Authority for a cooperative project with the State Coastal Conservancy and the Rivers and Mountains Conservancy, to acquire 100± acres of land to protect critical coastal wetland habitat, scenic features and vanishing remnants of California's wetland landscape located in the City of Seal Beach, in Orange County.

Friday, April 16, 2010

SMMC-MRCA 1/25/2010 to 4/14/2010

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L.A. Mountains Land Purchases, and development threats for first quarter of 2010

HIGHLIGHTS:

SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS:
18 acres- Kanan Dume Rd
Beverly Glen 
Cahuenga Pass
Malibu Bluffs--near Pepperdine
North Topanga Canyon

SANTA SUSANA MOUNTAINS:
Chatsworth
Newhall Pass

SANTA CLARITA VALLEY:
Cemex mining project
Disney Studios--Placerita Canyon

EAST SAN FERNANDO VALLEY:
Lopez Canyon 
Verdugo Crestline

NORTH OF DOWNTOWN L.A.:
East L.A. Hills

VENTURA COUNTY:
Santa Paula
Thousand Oaks
Simi Valley

MRCA 2/22/2010--Consideration of resolution authorizing acquisition by purchase agreement or option of approximately 18 acres and appurtenant easement, 5340 Kanan Dume Road, unincorporated Los Angeles County, APNs 4467-002-067 and 068 and further authorizing conveyance of a real property interest in the easement to the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. [Staff Report] [Resolution


MRCA 3/3/2010--Consideration of resolution authorizing the use of Santa Monica Mountains Open Space Preservation Assessment District No. 1 Area B funds to acquire parcels in Los Angeles County Chapter 8 Agreements 2619, 2646, and 2649, Beverly Glen, City of Los Angeles. [Map 1] [Map 2] [Map 3] [Map 4] [Map 5] [Resolution] [Staff Report]  


MRCA 3/3/2010--Consideration of resolution authorizing the use of Santa Monica Mountains Open Space Preservation Assessment District No. 1 Area E funds to acquire parcels in Los Angeles County Chapter 8 Agreements 2619 and 2646, Cahuenga Pass, City of Los Angeles. [Map 1] [Map 2] [Map 3] [Map 4] [Resolution] [Staff Report]  


MRCA 3/3/2010--Consideration of resolution authorizing acceptance of the offers to dedicate scenic easements and/or open space easements associated with Coastal Development Permit Nos. 5-89-145 (Joria), 5-88-821 (Johnson), 5-89-971 (Lehman), 5-89-745 (Brodie), 5-89-844 (Bennett), 5-81-011 (J. Martin Co.), 5-88-582 (Newman), 5-90-058 ( Williams), 5-87-461 (Daniel) and 5-85-214 (Ghosn), in incorporated and unincorporated Malibu. [Staff Report] [Resolution] [Map ] [Map 2] [Map 3] [Map 4] [Map 5] [Map 6] [Map 7] [Map 8] [Map 9] [Map 10] [Map 11]  


NEWHALL PASS---MRCA 3/3/2010--Consideration of resolution authorizing acquisition of APN 2826-025-007 in Los Angeles County Chapter 8 Agreement 2664, and acceptance of funds from Caltrans or Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy to complete acquisition, unincorporated Los Angeles County. [Map] [Resolution] [Staff Report]  


MRCA 4/14/2010--Consideration of resolution authorizing acceptance of the offers to dedicate trail easements associated with Coastal Development Permit Nos. 5-90-106 (Queitzsch), 5-88-489 (Busch), 5-88-1096 (Turner & Kleles), 5-88-1056 (Rouse) and 5-89-078 (Ramirez), incorporated and unincorporated Malibu. [Staff Report] [Resolution] [Map 


MRCA 4/14/2010--Consideration of resolution authorizing the acquisition of parcels in Los Angeles County Chapter 8 Agreement No. 2647, using mitigation funds, Chatsworth-Deerlake Highlands and Antelope Valley, unincorporated Los Angeles County. [Map 1] [Map 2] [Staff Report] [Resolution]  


MRCA 4/14/2010--Consideration of resolution authorizing a request for in-lieu fee mitigation funds from the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy for riparian habitat restoration on Authority property in Lopez Canyon, San Gabriel Mountains, unincorporated Los Angeles County. [Map] [Staff Report] [Resolution] [Attachment]  


MRCA 4/14/2010--Consideration of resolution authorizing acceptance of offer of donation approximately 4 acres of land, APN 2562-003-011, Verdugo Crestline area, City of Los Angeles. [Staff Report] [Resolution] [Map 1] [Map 2]  


MRCA 4/14/2010--Consideration of resolution authorizing acceptance of an approximately 7-acre conservation easement over a portion of APN 4458-018-019, adjacent to Malibu Bluffs Park, support for the project, and acceptance of a monitoring endowment, City of Malibu. [Attachment] [Map] [Staff Report] [Resolution



MRCA 4/14/2010--Consideration of resolution authorizing application for a Urban Greening For Sustainable Communities Program grant, acceptance of funding from said grant, entering into an agreement with the City of Los Angeles, and use of said grant funds for the acquisition and improvement of APNs 5306-006-037, 5306-017-053, 060, 061, 062, 5306-006-056, 057, 058, 059; 5306-017-054, 055, 056, 057, 058, 059; 5307-023-001, 006, 007, 016, 017, 018, 019, Elephant Hill-El Sereno area, Los Angeles. [Staff Report]

MRCA 4/14/2010--Consideration of resolution authorizing acceptance of a conservation easement, not to exceed 8 acres, on APN 104-0-170-415, Santa Paula, Ventura County. [Map] [Staff Report] [Resolution]  


MRCA 4/14/2010--Consideration of resolution reaffirming Resolution 95-04, supporting the annexation of MRCA-owned Rancho Portrero open space (Broome Ranch/former Huck property) into the boundaries of the City of Thousand Oaks and the Conejo Recreation and Park District. [Staff Report] [Resolution] [Attch 1] [Attch 2] [Attch 3] [Attch 4]  


MRCA 4/14/2010--Consideration of resolution authorizing entering into a settlement agreement with Toll CA IV, Limited Partnership regarding Memorandum of Understanding for Tract Nos. 44327 and 44327-01, Indian Oaks, unincorporated Chatsworth area. [Map] [Staff Report] [Resolution]  


SMMC 1/25/2010--Consideration of resolution authorizing a comment letter to County of Los Angeles on Notice of Preparation of Environmental Impact Report for Quest Ranch Assisted Living Facility, Project Number R200901566, 4001 North Topanga Canyon Blvd, unincorporated Los Angeles County. [Comment Letter] [Resolution] [Map] [Map 1] [Map 2] [Map 3] [Map 4


SMMC 1/25/2010--Consideration of resolution authorizing a comment letter to County of Los Angeles on Notice of Preparation of Environmental Impact Report for Disney/ABC Studios at the Ranch, Tentative Tract No. TR071216, 19802 Placerita Canyon Road, unincorporated Santa Clarita Valley. [Resolution] [Map] [Map 1] [Map 2] [Map 3] [Comment Letter]  


SMMC 1/25/2010--Consideration of resolution authorizing a comment letter to the City of Simi Valley on Whiteface Specific Plan Amendment 6 – Lost Canyons Draft Environmental Impact Report, SCH No. 2008061111, Simi Valley. [Resolution] [Attachment] [Map] [Map 1] [Map 2] [Map 3] [Map 4] [Map 5] [Staff Report] [Map 6


SMMC 1/25/2010--stopping the Cemex Soledad Canyon mining project--Legislation: Consideration of resolution supporting h.r. 4332. [Staff Report] [Resolution] [Attachment 1] [Attachment 2] [Attachment 3]  


SMMC 2/22/2010--Consideration of resolution authorizing an advance payment of deposited mitigation funds (SMM CF-0907) from the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy Fund to the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority for continuation of the Browns Canyon riparian habitat restoration and creation project, unincorporated Los Angeles County, Chatswsorth area. [Staff Report] [Resolution] [Attachment 1] [Attachment 2] [Map]
  
      
FOR BROKEN MRCA LINKS:
 



Huge San Jose Wetlands could be parks or more development...

What would you do with 2,600 acres along the southern San Francisco Bay?
Imagine what's possible: water recreation, a clean tech center, a living museum, jobs-based development, trails, habitat areas, a land bank, and more.
Together we can create a special destination to benefit our region for decades to come.
Shape the future of our South Bay Shoreline
Share your thoughts on land use ideas for the 2,600-acre site of the San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant - a wastewater treatment facility centered between the Bay and Highway 237. As we develop a master plan to sustainably rebuild our Plant, which is now 54 years old, we can consider a range of new, public land uses.
A series of Public hearings will be held between May 1st and the 19th.
http://www.rebuildtheplant.org/go/doc/1823/258442

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Land Trust may expand SLO's coast preserve

http://LCSLO.org

3-30-2010--Once again the City of San Luis Obispo’s Natural Resources Protection Program has teamed up with The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County to create Froom Ranch Open Space; a 310 acre property that offers new recreational opportunities and wildlife viewing among dense chaparral, oak woodlands and open grasslands. Adjacent to the existing Irish Hills Reserve, the successful conservation of Froom Ranch will expand the Reserve to over 1,000 acres and allow for a series of new recreation trails and linkages.

Froom Ranch Open Space will significantly enhance the existing 6,000 acre greenbelt of conserved lands around the City of San Luis Obispo. Not only does open space make San Luis Obispo more healthy and livable, but it also attracts important tourist dollars and protects our critical resources and municipal infrastructure. Neil Havlik, the City’s Natural Resources Manager, has secured over 90% of the funding required to purchase Froom Ranch from local Measure Y funds, the Land & Water Conservation Fund (federal) and The Nature Conservancy, a global private foundation.

Berryessa Peak trail is under construction

Yolohikers will soon have a new trail to park between Bay area and Sacramento

http://yolohiker.org
New Trail: above Lake Berryessa on the new Berryessa Peak Trail easement, to start constructing the half-mile length of the easement. A private ranch has so graciously donated a public trail easement...
Total distance is 10 miles, round trip, with 2000-foot elevation gain.
When completed, this trail will offer the first open public access to the 9,100-acre Berryessa Peak BLM public lands. Located in Yolo and Napa Counties, this public land was previously inaccessible.  I’d been working for 15 years to raise awareness of these lands and to get agency and landowner approvals for this project, and the time has finally come. We can build it!

Photos of the hike can be seen here: http://picasaweb.google.com/yolohiker/BlueRidgeTrailScouting#

450 acres saved in Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz Land Trust E-update 2-22-2010
In December the Land Trust protected 450 acres of farmland in the Pajaro Valley--bringing the total amount of land we have protected to almost 1,400 acres. Get the details at: http://landtrustsantacruz.org.

The Land Trust will host four community forums this spring to help guide the development of a 20-Year Conservation Blueprint for Santa Cruz County--and we want your input! Please refer to the Land Trust website (above) for forum dates and locations.

The Conservation Blueprint website has been updated! Stay informed on how the Blueprint will combine comprehensive scientific analysis with extensive community input to identify the highest priorities for conservation in our County. Recent updates include a Linkages Map, Habitat Quality for Steelhead Rearing, and several others. Please see: http://conservesantacruz.org

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

L.A. Times focuses on SF to Sacto Mountain preserve...

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Proposed conservation area would preserve some of California's least-trampled terrain

excerpted from
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-berryessa22-2010mar22,0,7702234.story

3/22/2010--
The diverse 100-mile-swath of inner coast range land between the Bay Area and Sacramento, dubbed the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Conservation Area, is on a list of prospective national monuments.
(Editor's note: The land includes both public and privately owned lands. Monument status only affects the lands owned by the Federal government.)

...Four of the 14 sites identified as candidates either to become monuments or gain acreage via presidential declaration are in California: the Berryessa site, the Bodie Hills, the Modoc Plateau and an expansion into California of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument from Oregon.

...John and Judy Ahmann run Romagnola and Black Angus cattle on several thousand acres of ranchland that sweeps up from the shores of Lake Berryessa. The couple love the area so much that they have been exploring ways to preserve it.

...The couple have decided to place more than 3,000 acres of the ranch into a conservation easement that they hope will be folded into the prospective national conservation area.

Water-less farms may go solar instead....

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FRESNO'S WESTLANDS WATER DISTRICT GOES SOLAR

Excerpted from PCL's Insider for 3/19/2010

Earlier this week, a private investment group with land in the Westlands Water District announced its intention to farm a new crop in California 's Central Valley : the sun's energy. The proposed Westlands Solar Park would take 30,000 acres of fallow land and provide 5,000 megawatts of renewable energy - enough to power between 2.5 million and 4 million homes in California .

As an agricultural district with junior water rights, the Westlands Water District has frequently been the center of controversy. Most recently, it attempted to overturn California 's Endangered Species Act in a desperate water grab that would have maximized the profits of the agribusiness tycoons that Westlands serves, but risked driving California 's salmon to extinction.

However, the new proposal for solar in the district has drawn a broad base of support from nontraditional allies, including the Sierra Club and the Planning and Conservation League, who are hopeful that the proposed project will make California a leader in carbon-free energy generation and create solar installation, operations, and maintenance jobs in an area with high historic levels of structural unemployment.

LA meetuphikes.org

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rexfrankel at yahoo.com

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