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Conservation Action Alerts
URGE COUNTY SUPERVISORS TO PRESERVE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS!
Background:
On December 14th, 2010, Sonoma County Supervisors, in lame-duck session, decided to alter an existing conservation easement to allow the Roblar Road Quarry developer to use the land for mitigation credits. There are endangered species that have been found to live on the quarry property, and the developer traditionally would have to offset the impacts of the development by placing other unprotected land into permanent conservation. Supervisors, by altering the conservation easement contract on the neighbors' land to accommodate the mitigation needs of a quarry developer, trigger a dangerous change in policy. At risk are millions of dollars of taxpayer investment in open space and agricultural land preservation to the exploitation of resource extractors and developers. The citizens of Sonoma County deserve better! The action taken by the Board of Supervisors is a direct violation of law, and of the taxpayer’s trust. By paying ¼ cent sales tax, voters insisted on a legally binding contract for p rotected open space forever. We want the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors to revisit the conservation easement decision and rescind their prior direction on the Roblar Road mitigation case. Additionally, we want them to adopt a policy to prevent this type of uncertainty in land preservation from being allowable practice.
Take Action Now!
Conservation Easements are a critical tool to preserve land for future generations!
Points to include:
• Urge the Board of Supervisors to rescind their decision on the Roblar Road Quarry conservation easement mitigation issue.
• Demand that the Board of Supervisors adopt a policy preventing existing conservation easements from being altered for mitigation banking to offset new development impacts in the future.
• Request that the County keep you informed on this issue.
Address the letter to the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors:
Sonoma County Board of Supervisors 575 Administration Drive, Room 100A Santa Rosa, CA 95403 Email: drabbitt@sonoma-county.org 2nd District Email: vbrown@sonoma-county.org 1st District Email: ecarrillo@sonoma-county.org 5th District Email: szane@sonoma-county.org 3rd District Email: mikemcguire@sonoma-county.org 4th District __________________________________________ Say "No" to 1700 Acres of Forest-to-Vineyard Conversion at "Devastation Ranch"
Background The largest and most prominent use issue in Sonoma County is the Preservation Ranch project, near Annapolis. This is the largest forest-to-vineyard conversion project ever proposed in California coastal forestlands. The Permit and Resource Management Department (PRMD) of Sonoma County has initiated the required Environmental Impact Report (EIR) process on this proposal. The core components of the proposal are: permanent rezoning from timber production use to rural residential development forest conversion to vineyards is prohibited under current zoning); use permits for 17 ridge top vineyard blocks; and “consideration” of other project activities. The Initial Study describes a project that includes a 3 to 5 year construction period for ridge top vineyards, reservoirs, gravel quarries, internal road expansion and upgrades, drainage and water delivery systems, worker housing and renewed timber operations. This land has been over-logged for decades, which is why it now looks profitable for a land conversion and these new uses.
Take Action Now! Tell the Permit and Resource Management Department and Efren Carrillo not to approve this Timber Conversion
Points to include:
Address the letters to: Board of Supervisors AND Sonoma County Permits and Resource Management Dept. Attention: David Schiltgen - File No. PLP06-0107, 2550 Ventura Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95403-2829 ________________________________________________________ WE NEED A COMPREHENSIVE WATER Background: Did you know there’s a water supply crisis in Sonoma County? Over the next 20 years, the population of Sonoma County is planned to grow 27% to more than 600,000. Already, the difficult task of maintaining a sustainable supply of safe water is resulting in lowered water tables and damaged habitat for fish and other wildlife. Most of the water we use in our cities comes from the Russian River. Diversions from the Eel River to supplement this are being reduced and may eventually stop. To fuel new urban growth, cities and the county are now bringing emergency wells into full-time service, further lowering groundwater levels. Meanwhile, we have no comprehensive water management plan. There is no county-wide water budget to make sure we do not use more than we have without depleting future resources. If nothing is done, our water supply will become very expensive, and you, the water user, will have to pay with higher water rates and damaged water supplies. Many other counties in California have comprehensive water management plans. The Planning Commission is reviewing an update of our General Plan right now. We must protect the health of our watersheds and our aquifers. Tell your elected representatives to make this one of their highest priorities. Other cities – even Los Angeles – have grown without using more water overall. If LA can do it, we can do it! Take Action Now! 1) Write a letter to the Planning Commission telling them we need a comprehensive water management plan now. Points to include: • Insist upon a comprehensive water management plan to protect the health of our watersheds, aquifers and water supply for our future. • Protect groundwater recharge areas throughout the county now. If we pave over and pollute these vital areas, we will be unable to harvest the underground storage and flooding will increase. • Change building codes to require the most efficient water saving practices such as purple plumbing. • Ask them to keep you informed about water issues. Address your letter to: The Planning Commission The Board of Supervisors Water Resources Control Board PO Box 100 Sacramento, CA 95812 |
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