|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
November 2004
California Oak Report
Looking Back, Thinking Ahead
The autumn of 2004 is a good time to reflect on oak ecosystem conservation successes of the new millennia and unfinished business. Selected highlights from the COF-sponsored California Oak Report archives:
2000
Assembly Member Helen Thompson introduces the Oak Woodland Conservation Act. Assembly Bill 242 creates the Oak Woodland Conservation Fund to provide grants for conservation easements, incentive programs, public education and outreach related to conservation of oak woodlands. AB 242 stalls in Senate Appropriations Committee.
California voters approve $8 million for the Oak Woodland Conservation Fund with the passage of Proposition 12.
California Oak Foundation petitions the Board of Forestry to apply the Forest Practice Act to the conversion of oak woodlands where significant habitat impacts occur.
California Oak Foundation registers strong objections to the Bickford Ranch (Placer County) development proposal to remove 11,000 oaks and destroy 1,000 acres of Blue oak woodlands habitat.
California Oak Foundation registers strong objections to the Bahia project, City of Novato. This housing development proposes the removal of 6,320 oak trees, thus destroying the lone Blue oak forest in Marin County and the only known occurrence of Blue oak woodland-salt marsh ecotone in California.
California Oak Foundation registers strong objections to College of the Canyons (Los Angeles County) regarding unnecessary and unmitigated valley oak removal for a parking lot project. The Santa Clarita Oak Conservancy files a lawsuit against the Canyons mitigated negative declaration.
2001
Assembly Member Helen Thompson reintroduces AB 242. Following approval by members of Senate and Assembly, Governor Davis signs into law the Oak Woodlands Conservation Act of 2001.
California Oak Foundation and Mountain Lion Foundation attorneys file a lawsuit against the Board of Forestry seeking a summary judgement from the court that declares unlawful California's policy of failing to apply the Forest Practice Act to conserve oak woodlands. The San Francisco Superior Court rules in favor of the Board of Forestry and dismisses the lawsuit. California Oak Foundation appeals case to the State Court of Appeal.
Referendum voters overwhelmingly reject City of Novato approval of the Bahia (Marin County) development project. Conservationists enter negotiations with property owner to acquire the site and its distinctive Blue oak woodlands.
Santa Clarita Oak Conservancy settles lawsuit against College of the Canyons concerning valley oak removal for a parking lot. Terms of the settlement include a 75 percent reduction in the original number of trees proposed for removal, an oak replanting program with a ten year monitoring period and a 20-acre conservation easement for adjacent oak habitat.
California Oak Foundation registers strong objections to the Clover Valley Lakes project, City of Rocklin. This 622-acre Placer County subdivision proposes to remove at least 7,100 trees.
The U.S. Forest Service adopts the Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amendment establishing management plans for eleven national forests covering 11.5 million acres. Oaks and other hardwoods are prioritized for forest wide conservation.
2002
The California Oak Foundation, Sierra Club and Audubon Society join forces in filing a lawsuit against Placer County over its approval of the Bickford Ranch residential development project. The groups' primary concern is that even when general plans provide adequate protection for oak woodlands, local jurisdictions like Placer County ignore their own regulations.
California Oak Foundation registers strong objections to the Saddle Creek (Orange County) project. The 600-acre site is adjacent to the Cleveland National Forest and the development would remove more than 1,100 mature oaks and sycamores, many over five feet in diameter. Project currently in litigation.
California Oak Foundation requests that the Board of Forestry increase the retention standards for California black oak and Oregon white oak on 7 million acres of commercial timberland. The Board responds by passing an amendment strengthening review of cumulative impacts to wildlife species due to the cutting of California black oak and Oregon white oak, plus a rule that under certain conditions provides financial incentives for land owners to recruit and retain large oaks for wildlife values. Although improvements, California Oak Foundation finds these measures insufficient to sustain the Sierra oak ecosystem on commercial timberlands in the face of Sierra Pacific Industries clear-cutting practices.
State Court of Appeal rules against California Oak Foundation in lawsuit to protect oak woodlands statewide under the Forest Practice Act. State Supreme Court declines to hear the case.
Santa Barbara County adopts oak tree ordinance for 770,000-acres of agricultural land, but the regulation lacks adequate oak woodlands habitat mitigation criteria. Still, this oak conservation measure establishes a precedent for agricultural lands in California.
2003
Senator Sheila Kuehl introduces COF-sponsored Senate Bill 711 requiring feasible and proportional habitat mitigation under the California Environmental Quality Act for oak woodland conversions. SB 711 stalls in Assembly Appropriations Committee.
California Oak Foundation again petitions Board of Forestry to increase California Black oak and Oregon white oak retention standards to sustain these resources over time. By a one-vote margin, the Board rejects sustainable Sierra oak management standards for commercial timberlands.
The Marin Audubon Society completes purchase of the unique Bahia Blue oak woodlands for $15.8 million. Audubon later transfers ownership of a majority of the Bahia property to the Marin County Open Space District and the California Department of Fish and Game.
California Oak Foundation registers strong objections to Stanislaus National Forest reforestation and fuel reduction project that will damage and kill thousands of California black oaks due to aerial herbicide spraying. California Oak Foundation files appeal with USFS Regional Forester for modification of the Larson project by eliminating aerial herbicide spraying. Appeal is rejected.
Conservation groups prepare to sue USFS.
2004
Senator Sheila Kuehl introduces COF-sponsored Senate Bill 1334 (formerly SB 711) specifying oak woodland mitigation alternatives for counties to achieve feasible and proportional habitat mitigation under California Environmental Quality Act processes. Following approval by members of Senate and Assembly, Governor Schwarzenegger signs Public Resources Code Section 21083.4 into law. In addition to mitigation options, the new law provides a funding source for the Oak Woodlands Conservation Fund managed by Wildlife Conservation Board, and appropriately diminishes the Board of Forestry's role regarding oak woodlands management.
After reviewing the Clinton-era 2001 Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amendment, the Bush administration categorically adopts the 2001 oak conservation strategic objectives and standards for the revised 2004 Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amendment.
Under legal duress, El Dorado County becomes the first local jurisdiction to provide oak woodland habitat mitigation measures compatible with California Environmental Quality Act requirements.
Bickford Ranch (Placer County) lawsuit ongoing.
A lawsuit involving the City of Roseville (Placer County) annexation of 3,000-acres, including substantial oak woodlands, leads to a settlement agreement calling for a half percent conveyance fee on the gross sales price of homes resold for 20 years. The Placer Land Trust will administer the projected $85 million conveyance to preserve and oak woodlands habitat and other natural resource values.
Responding to public concerns, the City of Rocklin (Placer County) rescinds 2002 Clover Valley Lakes project EIR impacting over 7,000 Blue oaks. Rocklin begins preparing new environmental impact report for the housing development.
Placer County proposes new mitigation policy to address the removal of native oaks. California Oak Foundation currently reviewing Placer County draft standards for consistency with the California Environmental Quality Act.
The National Park Service review of Fort Hunter Liggett (Monterey County) concludes that the base qualifies for addition to the national park system but because the Army claims they aren't leaving any time soon, NPS deems acquisition infeasible. The reality is that Fort Hunter Liggett will eventually be decommissioned for economic reasons, thus the destiny of over 72,000-acres of the most diverse oak woodlands habitat in California remains unclear.
A conservation easement agreement nears completion for the 82,000-acre Hearst Ranch (San Luis Obispo County), which includes approximately 30,000-acres of dense Blue oak and Coast live oak woodlands.
Habitat Conservation Plan negotiations continue between Tejon Ranch (Kern/Los Angeles Counties), containing around 65,000-acres of prime oak woodlands, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Nearly 3,000 acres of Ridgewood Ranch (Mendocino County), training ground and final resting place of the famed race horse Seabiscuit, is placed under an agricultural easement barring development. Ridgewood's 2,250-acres of rolling, high-quality oak woodlands contain eight different oak species.
For $11.4 million the Sacramento Valley Conservancy, with assistance from the Wildlife Conservation Board, purchases 4,060-acres of oak woodlands and rolling meadows in eastern Sacramento County previously slated to become a senior development and golf course.
Ahmanson Ranch (Los Angeles County), a 2,959-acre property with incredible oak resources, is acquired for $135 million in bond monies.
Merchandise
California Oak Woodland Community Note Cards would be a special holiday gift for young and/or old, hostess and/or teacher, anyone on your holiday list. Wrapped in a festive bow, 15 cards per bundle, $10 ($9 for members) plus tax, shipping and handling.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
[Home] [Current_Issues] [Conservation] [Oak_Tree_Care] [How_To_Help] [Links] [Reference] [Newsletter] [Highlights]
1212 Broadway, #842 Oakland, CA 94612 Tel. 510-763-0282
Fax: 510-268-9948 oakstaff@californiaoaks.org
|
|
