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October 2004
California Oak Report
Senate Bill 1334
Congratulations to one and all on the signing of SB 1334 (Kuehl). Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, billed as the "Austrian Oak" in his bodybuilding days, has become the "California Oak" by signing oak woodlands conservation legislation, SB 1334 (Kuehl). Effective January 1, 2005, Public Resources Code Section 21083.4 outlines oak woodland mitigation options for counties under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) processes. In addition to mitigation alternatives, the new law provides a funding source for the Oak Woodlands Conservation Fund within the Wildlife Conservation Board (Department of Fish and Game), and appropriately diminishes the Board of Forestry's role regarding oak woodlands management throughout the state. The Board of Forestry has had many opportunities to take leadership in this area, and it has failed each time. Healthy watersheds and sustainable wildlife habitat depend on an intact oak woodland ecosystem.
COF extends its gratitude to Senator Kuehl/co-authors and to the numerous organizations and thousands of individuals who contributed to the passage of this oak habitat preservation act. Thanks to Forests Forever, Defenders of Wildlife, Sierra Club California, League of Conservation Voters, Planning and Conservation League, Endangered Habitats League, California Native Plant Society and many others for their support. With 24 major and well-funded opponents in the beginning of this rigorous two-year process, we greatly appreciate the power of coming together to protect this important ecosystem.
Governor Schwarzenegger also established the Sierra Nevada Conservancy (Laird/Leslie) which will endeavor to conserve important natural resources over a span of 25 million acres from the Oregon border to Kern County. The extensive old growth Blue oak habitats of the Sierra Nevada's lower west slope should be a prime beneficiary of the conservancy program. Again, congratulations to everyone who worked together to make this important effort a success. Now we must work together with the Sierra Fund, Sierra Nevada Alliance, Sierra Business Council and others to develop a funding source and processes for evaluating and conserving this important statewide and national resource.
Placer County Ponders Oaks
Placer County has proposed a new mitigation policy to address the removal of native oaks. The draft plan is characterized by a unique union of tree and understory habitat mitigation. Of the county's current oak planting mitigation standards, common statewide, the Planning Department acknowledges: "The current range of standards has, for the most part, focused on individual tree replacement and has not taken into account tree size, age, species type, and relationship to other ecological factors. This mitigation method does not replace the function of the plant community disturbed."
The difference between the proposed oak mitigation policy and Placer County's current standards is graphically illustrated in a comparison of the litigated 2000 Bickford Ranch project Blue oak habitat mitigation vs. Bickford mitigation under the new oak conservation measures:
Bickford Ranch: 10,653 oaks/960-acres of oak woodland proposed for removal.
2000 Bickford habitat mitigation: Plant 21,200 1-gallon oaks.
2004 Bickford habitat mitigation: Plant 10,653 15-gallon oaks, 159,795 seedlings,
31,959 shrubs and a fee of $2,130,600 for offsite conservation
Second Thoughts
Responding to public concerns, the City of Rocklin (Placer County) has rescinded the 2002 Clover Valley Lakes project EIR impacting over 7,000 Blue oaks. Rocklin will prepare a new environmental impact report for the 622-acre housing development. COF will continue monitoring Clover Valley Lakes for California Environmental Quality Act compliance.
Seabiscuit Oak Woodlands Preserved
Almost two-thirds of the 4,636-acre Ridgewood Ranch, training ground and final resting place of the famed race horse Seabiscuit, will be placed under an agricultural easement agreement barring development. Seabiscuit lies secretly buried under an oak tree.
Comprising almost 50 percent of the ranch, the 2,250-acres of rolling, high-quality oak woodlands contain eight different oak species. Numerous old growth oak trees and large snags, some exceeding 5 feet in diameter, dot the wildlife-rich landscape. The easement is the initial step in a phased campaign by the Mendocino Land Trust to acquire agricultural, timber and wildlife conservation easements across all but 400-acres of Ridgewood, located midway between the cities of Ukiah and Willits.
National Forest Plan Appealed
In December 2003 California Oak Foundation registered strong objections to a proposed Stanislaus National Forest reforestation and fuel reduction project that damages and kills thousands of California black oaks due to aerial herbicide spraying. Our review of the Larson project identified serious errors of omission and commission related to the oak resource analysis.
Recently COF filed an appeal with the USFS Regional Forester for modification of the Larson project by eliminating aerial herbicide spraying and its destructive oak habitat impacts. If this appeal is denied, it is likely that COF and other concerned organizations such as California Basket Weavers Association, California Native Plant Society and other will jointly file suit to halt gross violations of the 2004 Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amendment, which specifically prioritizes oak habitat conservation.
Hunter Liggett Legislation
Fort Hunter Liggett, home to over 72,000-acres of unsurpassed oak woodlands, has been included in a Senate amendment to the Military Construction Appropriations Act (S.2674). The rider addresses the transfer of future excess property at Fort Hunter Liggett, offering the US Forest Service the right of first refusal to annex any land at the fort that is determined surplus to military needs. Conserving the substantial oak resources of this region is critical to the state's wildlife, weather and water systems. When added to the Hearst Ranch's 30,000 acres of oaks now under easement, the oaks within the Los Padres National Forest and Big Sur/Santa Lucia Range, one gets the feeling that Intelligent Life may truly exist on this Planet, in spite of evidence to the contrary.
Tulare County GP Update
Tulare County has begun updating its general plan, including resource management for almost 300,000-acres of Blue oak habitat. Historically one of the most productive agricultural counties in the country, Tulare County is experiencing rapid urban expansion and this trend will accelerate. Due to the quantity, quality and location of its oak woodlands, COF will be closely monitoring the development of Tulare County's oak woodlands conservation planning.
Announcement
Habitat Conservation Planning From Tahoe to the Bay, Second Annual Workshop, November 16th, 2004. For more information and a registration form, contact ieh@cal.net 530/756-6455.
Merchandise
The Oak Woodland Conservation Plan by Dr. Steve Zack and published by California Oak Foundation. California oak woodlands rank amount the top three habitat types in North America for bird richness. This book is a guide for conservation policy and action on behalf of oak woodland habitats and wildlife. 126 pages, paperback, $12.00, members $10.80.
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