FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mark Pelz – Region 8 Refuge Planning Office – (916) 414-6504
Service Proposes Conservation Program for Foothill Rangelands
Sacramento, CA -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is pleased to announce the availability of the Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) on the proposal to launch a new conservation easement conservation easement
A conservation easement is a voluntary legal agreement between a landowner and a government agency or qualified conservation organization that restricts the type and amount of development that may take place on a property in the future. Conservation easements aim to protect habitat for birds, fish and other wildlife by limiting residential, industrial or commercial development. Contracts may prohibit alteration of the natural topography, conversion of native grassland to cropland, drainage of wetland and establishment of game farms. Easement land remains in private ownership.
Learn more about conservation easement program called the California Foothills Legacy Area (CFLA).
The proposed CFLA easement program would provide a new tool to help ranching families stay on their land while permanently protecting a portion of this important resource for wildlife. The proposed program would be completely voluntary. The easements would encourage continued ranching operations but would limit certain types of development that could take place on a property in the future. No new regulatory requirements would be placed on lands within or outside the program area. Ranches within three foothill areas bordering the San Joaquin Valley could be eligible for the program, depending on which alternative is selected.
The Draft EA and appendices are available online at: http://go.usa.gov/YMWQ
Public input is very important to us. We invite members of the public to attend one of seven public open houses during early August. Fish and Wildlife Service staff will be available at several stations located in the meeting rooms to answer questions and gather comments on the Draft EA for the proposed California Foothills Legacy Area.
Date | Location | Address | Time |
August 1 | Porterville | Holiday Inn Express, 840 S. Jaye Street, 93257 | 5-8pm |
August 2 | Bakersfield | E. Bakersfield Veterans Rooms 1&2, 2101 Ridge Rd. 93395 | 5-8pm |
August 5 | Modesto | Modesto Centre Plaza, Pistache Rm, 1000 L Street, Modesto 95354 | 5-8pm |
August 6 | Merced | Merced Farm Bureau, 646 S. Hwy 59, Merced 95341 | 5-8pm |
August 7 | Mariposa | Board of Supervisors Hearing Room, 5100 Bullion St., Mariposa 95338 | 5-8pm |
August 8 | Los Banos | San Luis NWR Complex Visitor Center | 5-8pm |
August 9 | Hollister | Hollister Community Center, 300 West Street, Hollister, 95023 | 5-8pm |
The public can also provide comments via email to fw8plancomments@fws.gov. For additional information, contact Mark Pelz, Chief, Refuge Planning, at (916) 414-6500. Comments must be received by September 15, 2013, to be considered for development of the final proposal.
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/cno. Connect with our Facebook page athttp://www.facebook.com/usfwspacificsouthwest, follow our tweets athttp://twitter.com/USFWSPacSWest, watch our YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/usfwsand download photos from our Flickr page athttp://www.flickr.com/photos/usfws_pacificsw/.
-FWS-
