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February 2006
California Oak Report
By Request
In response to our recent bulletin, Sierra Foothill Oak Woodlands: The Future Is Now, California Oak Foundation (COF) has received many requests for a similar statewide conservation guide. Contact COF for a copy of California Oak Woodland Policies and Laws.
Oaks 2040
Later this year COF will be publishing Oaks 2040, a report intended to inform the general public and California officials of the urgent need to protect and regenerate critical oak habitats. Guidance on how to achieve those goals will also be included.
Oaks 2040 will include an up-to-date oak habitat distribution inventory incorporating plot data from the US Forest Service 2001-2004 California survey, at risk analysis identifying those oak woodlands most in jeopardy of conversion to other land uses and oak woodlands sustainability criteria.
Public Perspective
A Public Policy Institute of California poll reports that eight out of 10 Californians would like to see their local government or governments work together to come up with a common regional plan.
The same report reveals that there is not much trust in locally-elected officials when it comes to planning, with 73 percent preferring the electorate making the decision about regional planning and growth through the voting process and with only 23 percent preferring their elected officials make those decisions.
The Clover Valley Saga
Clover Valley is a beautiful, steep-sloped, two-mile long valley and dale located in the City of Rocklin, Placer County. For a decade developers have proposed a new urban vision for the 622 acres of oak-covered hillsides and their 33 documented prehistoric sites, important wetlands and abundant wildlife. The latest subdivision proposal would result in the removal of a minimum of 7,400 old growth Blue, Black, Valley and Interior live oaks. The project would demolish Indian artifacts and desecrate sacred Indian burial grounds.
The Clover Valley Foundation (CVF), COF, United Auburn Indian Community, Sierra Club Motherlode Chapter and others are dedicated to the mission of protecting Clover Valley's natural habitats from being razed to make way for 558 upscale homes. CVF envisions protecting and preserving in perpetuity one of the last spectacular landscapes in Placer County. Clover Valley could serve as a natural buffer between the cities of Loomis, Rocklin, Lincoln and the rest of Placer County, a place of living history, interpretive centers, hiking trails and other passive recreational activities. The United Auburn Indian Community has indicated a willingness to purchase their ancestral Clover Valley lands at fair market value but the developer has so far responded to the Maidu and Miwok tribes offer with escalating funding demands.
Recently the Recirculated Draft Environmental Impact Report (RDEIR) for the proposed Clover Valley subdivision project was released by Rocklin. Below is COF's response to the Clover Valley RDEIR:
January 30, 2006
David Mohlenbrok
City of Rocklin
Community Development Department
3970 Rocklin Road
Rocklin CA 95677
Re: Clover Valley RDEIR
Dear Mr. Mohlenbrok:
The California Oak Foundation (COF) writes to advise the City of Rocklin that the Clover Valley RDEIR is in violation of Public Resources Code (PRC) §750 et seq., Professional Foresters Law and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines §15149, Use of Registered Professionals in Preparing EIRs.
The Clover Valley RDEIR and previous versions of the EIR failed to utilize the services of a Registered Professional Forester to quantify site conditions, oak habitat impacts or in the development of mitigation measures, as required by PRC §750 et seq. and CEQA Guidelines §15149. Therefore, the Clover Valley RDEIR oak woodland findings are illegal.
Although it is pointless to comment on an illicit EIR, COF must mention that the 1997 Development Agreement oak tree preserve doesn't constitute an oak woodlands mitigation measure. If a project has a significant impact, it is not a mitigation to say you will not add to it. As the RDEIR admits, Clover Valley oak woodland impacts remain significant even with the proposed oak preserve. Furthermore, that the RDEIR deems project oak woodland impacts unavoidable does not relieve the applicant from the CEQA responsibility to provide "feasible" and "proportional" oak habitat mitigation. The Clover Valley project must mitigate the remaining substantial oak woodland impacts.
COF urges Rocklin to immediately halt the Clover Valley project review until such time as a lawful CEQA oak woodlands evaluation is conducted. Failure to obey state laws will dictate enforcement actions.
Sincerely,
Janet S. Cobb, President
California Oak Foundation
Conservation Organizations Purchase Napa Ranch
Several conservation groups have joined together to purchase the 12,575-acre Napa Ranch. The ranch, traversing both Napa and Yolo counties, is home to mountain lions, bears and bald eagles. The purchase includes one of the last unprotected segments of the Eticuera Creek watershed, which spans 70,000 acres of oak woodlands and serpentine chaparral.
The property was acquired for $12.5 million in public and private funds by the Wildlife Conservation Board, in partnership with the Blue-Ridge Berryessa Natural Area Conservation Partnership, California Department of Fish and Game, California Coastal Conservancy, Land Trust of Napa County and Nature Conservancy. The land will become part of the Department of Fish and Game's Knoxville Wildlife Area.
Announcements
- California Native Plant Society announces new Executive Director, Amanda Jorgenson.
- 6th California Oak Symposium - California's Oaks: Today's challenges, tomorrow's opportunities, will be in Rohnert Park October 9 thru 12. Abstracts due by April 17.
Merchandise
Life of an Oak by Glenn Keator, illustrated by Susan Bazell (1998). An intimate look at all aspects of the genus Quercus, from an examination of cellular processes to the spread around the world of this remarkable, diversified family. 256 pages, 75 full-color photographs, 30 full-color illustrations, 21 black and white diagrams. Paperback, $17.95, members $16.16, plus local sales tax, shipping and handling.
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1212 Broadway, #842 Oakland, CA 94612 Tel. 510-763-0282
Fax: 510-208-4435 oakstaff@californiaoaks.org
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