Blue Ridge Designation Renewed - FWA Green Ribbon Report - Spring 2008

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THE BLUE RIDGE HOAX -WINTER 2008 NEWSLETTER ARTICLE

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Colusa County Board of Supervisors adopt resolution in opposition of the Blue Ridge Berryessa National Conservation Area (Adobe Acrobat PDF File)

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Idea of Blue Ridge-Berryessa conservation area draws mixed reactions

By Barry Eberling | DAILY REPUBLIC | March 14, 2008 15:56

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The Blue Ridge Berryessa Natural Area (BRBNA)

Under the guise of protecting agricultural land and the environment, the rights that belong to private property owners are being again being eroded and undermined.

The Blue Ridge Berryessa Natural Area (BRBNA) plan is to manage and acquire 800,000 acres of public and private lands with the purpose to protect agricultural lands; provide new opportunities for recreation, conservation, and stewardship; and support local economies of the adjacent communities. The exact boundaries of the BRBNA have yet to be determined. The goal of this plan is for this area to become a federally recognized National Conservation Area (NCA). Click here to read FWA's press release on the BRBNA.

The BRBNA mission is to promote "conservation and enhancement of the expansive landscape....by encouraging the sensitive management of its natural, agricultural, recreational, archeological and historical resources."

The map above shows the sphere of influence of the BRBNA, blanketing private property that is not in conservation easements. On the one hand, the BRBNA states the (NCA) designation applies only to federal lands, but the map includes private land and working ranches that the group feels need to be "well-managed".

While the BRBNA claims that it has no effect on local and state jurisdiction, it clearly states once designated, lands will be managed by agencies and non-profits such as Tuleyome (a non-profit whose vision is rooted in conservation biology) and the BRBNA. Be sureto familiarize yourself with the Tuleyome boardmembers and their biographies by visiting the Tuleyome web site.

Suzanne Easton, the manager of the BRBNA Conservation Partnership stated, "There is nothing regulatory or binding in anything we do. We are not an incorporated organization and so have no official legal status". Yet, if the BRBNA is promoting protection of a region, how can they do so without regulation and imposition on neighboring private properties?

A FEW ISSUES

• A National Conservation Area (NCA) designation claims no effects on activities outside the NCA, which implies there will be effects on activities inside the NCA. AS noted, they are already claiming that it will prohibit mining within the area and will limit off-road vehicles to designated roads only.

• There is no set criteria for managing the NCA. What impacts will it have on private property that is not under an easement program?

• A National Conservation Area can be managed according to site specific needs by the region as set by a local management team.

• The open space element gives the perception of entitlement to the public that ranches and farms in this area are open space.

• Under the BRBNA guiding principles, it states that it respects the rights of private property landowners, yet a majority of landowners are unaware that their land is within its boundaries.

• Under the BRBNA, all positions on an issue will be considered, but only support activities when the partnership has reached consensus. Historically, landowners who come to the table under the consensus process, walk away less than whole.

• The stated purpose of the BRBNA is to protect the valley's habitat from development, thus, how can it "create new opportunities for marketing and business growth and development"? Any improvements may require that the rest of your property has to go into an agricultural easement.

QUESTIONS

1. What impact will an open space designation have on private property?

2. How can the value of property increase when it has certain unknown constraints place upon it?

3. What are the rules for operating a business or farm when you're in an open space designation?

4. As a private landowner, can I opt out?

5. Who will regulate the areas under the designations?

6. Do these overlaying programs (see below for program listing) expose private property to unsolicited public access and impacts?

7. How will private lands be assimilated into the sphere of influence of the BRBNA and Tuleyome?

8. If the project only includes federal lands, are there not private lands within the 800,000 acres?

9. Are our politicians using our private property taxes to diminish our private property rights?

HOW MANY KINDS OF PROTECTION DO YOU NEED ON YOUR PRIVATE PROPERTY UNTIL IT'S NOT PRIVATE PROPERTY ANYMORE?

PRIVATE PROPERTY OR AGRICULTURAL LAND IS NOT OPEN SPACE, NOR IS IT AN AGRICULTURAL PARK OR PART OF THE BRBNA UNLESS YOU CHOOSE IT TO BE.

Currently, there are three different programs that will violate private property rights in Capay Valley. They are as follows:

1. OPEN SPACE AND GENERAL PLAN

Are you aware that if you are a Capay Valley or Yolo County landowner, your property is under consideration for County Open Space?

The Capay Valley is being considered for an open space designation in the Yolo County General Plan Update. Individual private land will be impacted and be put into an open space lock down. To see how Yolo County plans to control your private property visit www.yolocountygeneralplan.org.

2. YOLO COUNTY AGRICULTURAL DISTRICTS

In the Yolo County General Plan Update, the County is proposing Agricultural Districts that would have special areas, such as Clarksburg and Capay Valley, which will focus marketing efforts on these agricultural region. Each area will have a "separate area plan, tailored zoning and other additional regulations, and could serve as a basis for strategic conservation easements and similar tools". While the goal is to preserve agriculture, additional regulations and easements can serve as a vehicle to negatively impact farms and ranches in the aforementioned regions.

3. BLUE RIDGE BERRYESSA NATURAL AREA

The Blue Ridge Berryessa Natural Area (BRBNA) plan is to manage and acquire 800,000 acres of public and private lands with the purpose to protect agricultural lands; provide new opportunities for recreation, conservation, and stewardship; and support local economies of the adjacent communities. The exact boundaries of the BRBNA have yet to be determined.

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Follow this link to view FWA's letter of opposition to Congressman Mike Thompson on the BRBNA National Conservation Area.

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Click here to read FWA's press release on the BRBNA.

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Click here to read FWA's Editorial on Capay Valley General Plan by Vicki Murphy, FWA Director

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View Preserving America: It's Land and It's People real life video at Stewards of the Range

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For more information on the BRBNA, be sure to check out the links below:

Blue Ridge Berryessa Natural Area: www.brbna.org,

Tuleyome: http://tuleyome.org

Yolo Hiker: http://www.yolohiker.org/

Yolo County General Plan: www.yolocountygeneralplan.org

Capay Valley General Plan

Wildlands Project: www.wildlandsprojectrevealed.org and http://wildlandsproject.org

Rewilding Project: http://www.sweetliberty.org

To view FWA's educational brochure on the BRBNA, click here.

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