Sacramento Fish & Wildlife Office
External Affairs
|
|
|
Contacts:
Al Donner, (916) 414-6566
al_donner@fws.gov
LODI, CA — A Lodi-area winegrape grower today became the first landowner enrolled in California 's first regional Safe Harbor Agreement, which is intended to enhance habitat for native species along more than 20 miles of the lower Mokelumne River in San Joaquin County, CA.
P. Lynn Scarlett, deputy Interior secretary, and Brad Lange, at the Lange Twins farm in 2005.
Brad Lange, co-owner of Lange Twins Inc. Farms in Acampo, CA, signed on as a cooperator in the Mokelumne River Programmatic Safe Harbor Agreement. It provides incentives to private landowners to restore the dense riparian forests of the Mokelumne River, habitat for the valley elderberry longhorn beetle, a Federally listed threatened species, and a host of other native species from migratory birds to salmon.
Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetle
The agreement is the first in California that is "programmatic" — that is, it covers a large area with multiple landowners. Most Safe Harbor agreements cover just one property. Landowners along the entire Mokelumne River corridor, from the base of Camanche Dam to the confluence of the Cosumnes River near Interstate 5, are eligible to enroll.
The Safe Harbor Agreement is intended to:
The agreement is between the Fish and Wildlife Service and the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts, which will administer the agreement on behalf of individual landowners who sign on as "cooperators" and undertake habitat improvements, including planting elderberry bushes. The shrub is the sole habitat of the valley elderberry longhorn beetle, a Federally protected species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
Elderberry bushes planted at Lange's vineyard
The agreement could facilitate restoration of as much as 3,500 acres of habitat, if enough property owners sign on.
"I am very pleased that we are all here today to see the first landowner to sign on as a cooperator in a programmatic Safe Harbor Agreement in California," said Susan Moore, acting field supervisor for the Sacramento office of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "This is an important milestone for the Fish and Wildlife Service and for the habitat. This shows our strong commitment to partnerships and cooperative efforts that make it easier for landowners to improve native habitats. The result will be a better environment for California."
Lange and his twin brother Randy own 1,800 acres of vineyards along the Mokelumne River, north of Lodi. They have been working to enhance more than 300 acres of slough and riverside forest adjacent to their vineyards.
Lange said he looks forward to a productive partnership with the Fish and Wildlife Service. He urged other landowners in the area to sign onto the Safe Harbor Agreement, which he said could help recover the valley elderberry longhorn beetle to the point where some day it could be taken off the endangered-species list.
"Private landowners are the best land stewards," said Lange, a third-generation winegrape grower. "We treasure the land and we are closest to it. We want to pass on a healthy landscape and a living ecosystem to our children and grandchildren."
The lower Mokelumne River Programmatic SHA is a voluntary agreement; landowners are not obligated to participate. However, if they do sign on to the agreement and undertake voluntary restoration and management activities, they receive protection from violating the ESA. They will not be liable under the ESA if they accidentally kill or injure a listed species covered by the agreement during habitat restoration or while performing normal, routine agricultural practices. In this case, the listed species is the valley elderberry longhorn beetle. The agreement also contains a provision that protects neighboring property owners.
Typically, landowners sign on to Safe Harbor agreements for 10 years. At the end of the 10-year term, landowners can return the habitat to its pre-agreement conditions without fear of additional regulatory burden, or they can renew for another 10 years.
The Mokelumne River SHA grew out of discussions between the Service, the Lodi-Woodbridge Winegrape Commission, the East Bay Municipal Utility District (owner and operator of Camanche Dam), the California Association of Winegrape Growers and individual landowners. Environmental Defense, a national organization that has helped craft similar agreements in other states, also was extensively involved. With the assurances provided by the Safe Harbor Agreement, landowners will be free to plant additional elderberry plants as part of their riparian habitat restoration projects, helping work toward delisting the beetle. But the habitat restoration is expected to benefit many other native species that live along the river.
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.
All photos by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Last updated: May 28, 2008
National Home Page | Department of the Interior | USA.gov | About the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | Accessibility | Privacy | Notices | Disclaimer | DOI Freedom of Information Act Page
