Conservation Easement Holder Recommendations to be Considered at the January Stewardship Council Board Meeting
The Watershed Planning Committee of the Stewardship Council has forwarded to the board the following recommendation regarding the selection of a prospective conservation easement holder over lands in portions of the Lake Spaulding planning unit as summarized below.
Bear Yuba Land Trust (BYLT) to hold the conservation easements over parcels 795, 796, and 797 in the Lake Spaulding planning unit which have been recommended for donation to the University of California – Center for Forestry.
Established in 1991, BYLT’s mission is to create a balance between nature and the needs of the people who make a life and a livelihood in Nevada County. BYLT promotes voluntary conservation of natural, historical, and agricultural resources through protection and enhancement of natural areas, farms and ranches, trails, and parks to provide a lasting community heritage. BYLT’s geographic focus is western Nevada County and the Sierra Foothills areas of Yuba and Sierra Counties. It currently holds 18 conservation easements over approximately 5,000 acres, and owns 350 acres in fee with an additional 3,500 acres in escrow. It has nine staff members, including an executive director, operations manager, development director, stewardship manager, conservation coordinator, program coordinator, and two trail coordinators. BYLT has ten board members with expertise in real estate law, fly fishing, wildlife biology, conservation planning, and forestry. For more information about BYLT, please consult its website.
This action will be considered by the board at its January 16, 2013 meeting in Sacramento. Please click here for meeting information. If the above recommendation is approved by the board and accepted by PG&E, transaction negotiations between the University of California, PG&E, and the prospective conservation easement donee at the Lake Spaulding planning unit would commence. The proposed transaction agreements would become part of a Land Conservation and Conveyance Plan (LCCP) to be considered for adoption by the board at a later date. The public will be given an opportunity to review and provide comment on the draft LCCP, and the comments received will be shared with the Watershed Planning Committee before the committee forwards the proposed LCCP to the board for its review and approval. Adoption of the LCCP by the board would be the final step in the Stewardship Council’s process for selecting donees. Transactions will be finalized upon LCCP review and approval by the California Public Utilities Commission.
Members of the public are welcome to attend the board meeting and address the board on this action. Inquiries regarding this recommendation can also be addressed to: comments14@stewardshipcouncil.org.
Pacific Forest and Watershed Lands Stewardship Council
15 North Ellsworth, Suite 100 • San Mateo, CA 94401
Main: (650) 344-9072 • Fax: (650) 401-2140
northernchumash.org 