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A Look at 4 Preserves in East Fresno County's Sierra Foothills

http://www.sierrafoothill.org/preserves.htm

list of preserves owned by the Sierra Foothills Conservancy

At this moment in its history, the Sierra Foothill Conservancy is the proud owner of four nature preserves: the Mary Elizabeth Miller Preserve at Black Mountain the McKenzie Table Mountain Preserve, the Tivy Mountain Preserve and the Austin & Mary Ewell Memorial Preserve at Fine Gold Creek. Although they are all located in the Sierra Nevada foothills of Fresno County, they are remarkably diverse in their history, their topography, and their plant and animal life. In fact, they stand as splendid examples of the rich diversity of different habitat types in this region. SFC offers guided hikes on all three preserves.

http://www.sierrafoothill.org/fine_gold_06.htm

on 719 acres Ewell preserve

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Marin County Supervisor says County Needs to Preserve 15,000 Acres

excerpted from:
http://www.greenbelt.org/resources/press/clippings/clip_2009feb24.html

2/24/2009--“Here in Marin, we can close gaps in our own system of protected lands to preserve habitat, complete wildlife corridors and trail connections, and save wetlands—15,000 acres, according to the Marin County Department of Parks and Open Space.”

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A Look at the 36,000 acres of "Watershed Lands" in Alameda and Santa Clara counties owned by the San Francisco Public Utilities District

http://www.sfwater.org/msc_main.cfm/MC_ID/20/MSC_ID/188

The Alameda Watershed lands are split between Alameda (23,000 acres) and Santa Clara (13,000 acres) Counties and contain two reservoirs -- the San Antonio Reservoir to the north and the Calaveras Reservoir to the south. Highway I-680 and Route 84 meet in the northern portion of the Watershed, and Calaveras Road extends north-south down the center. Milpitas and Fremont lie to the west and Pleasanton and Livermore are located to the northeast. The SFPUC Alameda Watershed lands include 30,000 acres of primary watershed, lands which are tributary to San Antonio and Calaveras Reservoirs as well as lands which drain into Alameda Creek above the proposed Fish Release and Recapture Facility. The primary watershed lands are the most sensitive lands in terms of water quality protection. SFPUC Alameda Watershed Lands also include 6,000 acres of secondary watershed. These are lands where runoff enters Alameda Creek below the proposed Fish Release and Recapture Facility and is not currently captured for water supply purposes. ...

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Pacific Forest Trust Launches News Blog

This group works to preserve forests in Northern California and South Oregon...

http://www.forestsworkwonders.org/

http://campaign.constantcontact.com/render?v=001sGVCflSi-8x1R132z6EB8kycEv-eIIr_KovKStj_SO_WSwHmf7IxcmplM187NR-QEInmn2ywDSKCHHsWDOL_dqrFOER4WmjMbjv-k7p1CYh2PZJfBbnYIO_FhRYZbdOeeG4gQo0siZ8%3D

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Land deal to expand Morgan Territory Preserve in East S.F. Bay

http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_11620061

2/3/2009--The East Bay Regional Park District is buying 153 acres of hilly grasslands and oak forests to expand the Morgan Territory Preserve in the park system's first joint purchase with the new East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservancy. http://www.co.contra-costa.ca.us/depart/cd/water/HCP/ The regional park board agreed Tuesday to pay $803,900 to buy the land along Marsh Creek and on the east side of Mount Diablo from Karl and Alfred Schwartz, whose family has grazed cattle there for a century…

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The new East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservancy was set up by several local governments to administer a "Habitat Conservation Plan" which has as its goal "to protect natural resources in eastern Contra Costa County, while improving and streamlining the environmental permitting process for impacts on endangered species." ie.--issuing permits to develop wildlife habitat in exchange for preservation of other habitats.

(Editor's note: the devil is in the details. HCP's often encourage development of more accessible areas of habitat while saving steep mountainsides and other fire-prone or otherwise undevelopable areas.)

http://www.co.contra-costa.ca.us/depart/cd/water/HCP/overview.html

"The Plan was developed by a team of scientists and planners with input from independent panels of science reviewers and stakeholders. Within the 174,018 acre inventory area, the Plan will provide permits for between 8,670 and 11,853 acres of development and will permit impacts on an additional 1,126 acres from rural infrastructure projects. The Preserve System to be acquired under the Plan will encompass 23,800 to 30,300 acres of land that will be managed for the benefit of 28 species as well as the natural communities that they, and hundreds of other species, depend upon."

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Longgggg Story on the Growth-Encouraging Widening Proposal for the 101 Freeway in South Humboldt County through Richardson Grove State Park

--a Blast the Bottleneck Plan for the Biggest Trucks and Big Business?

http://www.northcoastjournal.com/issues/2008/03/06/parting-redwood-curtain/


Includes map of area of cutting into hillside

Caltrans will release a draft environmental document in April, at which point it will invite further public comment and hold another round of public meetings. More information is available at http://dot.ca.gov/dist1/d1projects/richardson_grove.

Save Richardson Grove! Save Humboldt! Join the opposition at http://saverichardsongrove.blogspot.com

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29 Acres in SLO Surrounding Nipomo’s Dana Adobe Protected

http://www.lcslo.org/

1/20/2009--The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County was honored by the Dana Adobe Nipomo Amigos (DANA) for their collaborative community partnership which resulted in the permanent protection of 29 acres of land directly surrounding the historic Dana Adobe. The project was completed just prior to the current State of California budget freeze which is now gripping non-profit organizations throughout California.

With the current State budget challenges, The Land Conservancy was thrilled to have DANA receive the state award in December, 2008. Escrow closed on the 29 acres just one week before all California Cultural and Historical Endowment (CCHE) grant distributions were frozen.

Natural resources on the 29 acres include one quarter mile of Nipomo Creek, an Oak Woodland, a dramatic bluff-top view of the 100 acre preserve and expansive views of the eastern foot hills. The land and the Adobe were the heart of the 37,888 acre land grant, known as Rancho Nipomo, awarded Captain William Dana and his wife Maria Josefa Carillo Dana in 1836.

The 29-acre parcel with be joined with another 100-acre parcel which The Land Conservancy and other county-wide partners helped preserve in June and is now owned by San Luis Obispo County. The Land Conservancy is undertaking a massive restoration project of riparian areas along a portion of Nipomo Creek which flows through the protected property. The restoration will include the installation of 12,000 plants across nearly 7 acres of land adjacent to the historic Dana Adobe. Eventually these properties are envisioned to become a regional historical park.

“The grassroots organization, Save the Mesa, provided initial project funding to The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County which enabled them to obtain $715,000 from the Environmental Protection Agency toward the purchase of this property,” explained D.A.N.A. president and Land Conservancy Board Trustee, Herb Kandel. “Both of these local non-profit organizations were critical to our success.” Other key supporters were the California Cultural and Historical Endowment, the Briscoe-Mankins Foundation, The Hind Foundation, Peg Miller, the Edwin and Jeanne Woods Foundation, Dick Blankenburg, as well as numerous private donors. Their focus was to preserve the land and protect the historic Adobe.

…The purchase price for the 29 acre parcel was $1,188,000 and negotiations were handled by Byron Grant of South County Realty. Seller was the Donald and Elaine Grisingher Revocable Trust. Until the sale, D.A.N.A. leased the 29 acres as access to the historic Adobe. A unique partnership of local donors, non-profit organizations, and state and federal agencies helped D.A.N.A. complete the land purchase.

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Lawsuit Looming Over Oil and Gas Sale in Kern County Kit Fox Habitat

3/6/2009--To stop a sale of 23 oil and gas leases in California's San Joaquin Valley, last week the Center for Biological Diversity and Desert Survivors filed a formal protest and warned the Bureau of Land Management we'll sue over the sale's impacts on habitat for the endangered San Joaquin kit fox. In approving the sale, the Bureau authorized the leasing of 4,402 acres of public lands for oil and gas development -- including building wells, running seismic lines, and building roads -- while glossing over the lease sale's harmful effects on the kit fox, whose numbers have been declining since 1967. All parcels in the sale are in critical kit fox habitat and would exponentially step up one of the greatest threats to the species: habitat fragmentation. Besides allowing harm to the kit fox and other San Joaquin Valley species, the oil and gas sale would ensure more greenhouse gas pollutants are spewed into the air. "The information in the Bureau's environmental documents misrepresents the full nature of continued oil and gas development in the San Joaquin Valley," said Melissa Thrailkill, staff attorney with the Center's Climate Law Institute. "It is based on outdated information, and if allowed to stand, will damage the local environment and push the kit fox ever closer to the edge of extinction."

Peruse our press release, http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2009/kit-fox-02-25-2009.html where you can also read our notice of intent to sue,

and learn more about the San Joaquin kit fox.
http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/species/mammals/San_Joaquin_kit_fox/index.html

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Mt. Konocti acquisition moving forward; Peak Towers over Clear Lake

excerpted from: http://www.record-bee.com/ci_11804322

2/27/2009--Lake County's monumental acquisition of several large parcels on top of Mt. Konocti continues to move forward while fundraising and park-planning efforts begin.

The acquisition includes 1,689 acres on parcels that span four peaks Wright Peak, Buckingham Peak, Howard Peak, and South Peak.

With breathtaking views from the top that span all of Clear Lake and north to Mt. Shasta, south to Mt. St. Helena, and east to Mt. Lassen and the Sutter Buttes, Mt. Konocti is truly a gem, and one that has only been appreciated by a select few, as much of the mountaintop has been in private ownership since the mid-1800s...

for more news and a photo:

http://lakeconews.com/content/view/7513/764/

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Sierra Pacific Industries Settles Case, Withdraws Bid to "Upzone" 34,000 Acres of Forests in 6 Northern Calif. Counties

http://www.sacbee.com/content/news/story/1660393.html

2-28-2009--Timber firm, Sierra Nevada environmental groups settle dispute

Two Sierra Nevada environmental groups have settled lawsuits challenging the rezoning of 12,541 acres of timberland owned by Sierra Pacific Industries, the largest private landowner in California…

Sierra and Lassen counties are among eight Northern California counties where the Anderson-based timber company had sought to remove a total of about 40,000 acres of its forests from timber production zoning. New zoning designations would start a 10-year countdown that would end the tax benefits Sierra Pacific has enjoyed under timberland production zoning, approved by the Legislature in 1976 to encourage long-term working forests.

After 10 years, the company could request new zoning designations that permit development.

With the settlements in Sierra and Lassen counties, only Tehama and Shasta counties have authorized the company's rezone requests on a combined 6,339 acres.

Sierra Pacific recently withdrew applications for rezoning 34,237 acres of timberlands in Butte, Lassen, Plumas, Sierra, Siskiyou and Trinity counties, said Mark Pawlicki, a company spokesman. The requests ranged from 7,826 acres in Plumas County to 2,537 acres in Tehama County.

Although it has no plans for development, the company is not abandoning zoning changes on some of its 1.7 million acres, Pawlicki said.

Instead of a piecemeal approach, company officials want to take a more comprehensive view that adheres to the legal processes required by state environmental laws, he said.

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http://www.sierracounty.ws/county_docs/bos/050808%20BOS/mno05062008bosweb.pdf

County planning staff doesn’t think any development is foreseen for the thousands of acres of SPI’s forest lands that they are rezoning in Sierra County...