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PG & E Stewardship Program |
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Thursday, 16 April 2009 |
 Amador County – A pilot land stewardship program could include the Upper Mokelumne River watershed in Amador, Calaveras and Alpine counties, according to a report given to Amador Supervisors Tuesday. John Hoffman presented a written report and addressed Supervisors, telling of Pacific Gas & Electric Company’s “Land Disposition” program, which began in 2004 during the company’s bankruptcy. PG&E’s “Pacific Forest and Watershed Lands Stewardship Council” created a $70 Million Dollar fund for “studies, transactions, maintenance and capital improvements” on its land, in an effort to dispose of surplus lands. PG&E owns 140,000 acres, half of which is considered surplus. The program aimed at preserving and enhancing land use, including for: natural fish, wildlife and plant habitat; open space; public outdoor recreation; sustainable forestry; agriculture; and historic values. The program included the “grant of a conservation easement” for each parcel, with the aim to have the lands financed by other groups, “so that the totality of dispositions will be tax neutral in each county.” Four initial pilot programs evaluated by PG&E showed that “interest in owning the land or holding the conservation easement was less than expected,” the report said. “In fact, it appears there may be no interest in some lands at all. To compensate,” PG&E will now consider lands on a “watershed basis.” Among those is the Upper Mokelumne River Watershed, “with encouragement for a single easement holder for all lands within the watershed.” The Amador, Alpine and Calaveras county watershed will be considered, and would include PG&E donating: 1 acre in Calaveras; 1,028 acres in Alpine; and 2,851 acres in Amador. The Amador lands, around Bear River, Moke River and Cole Creek include the 4 powerhouses at Salt Springs, Tiger Creek, Electra and West Point. Hoffman noted that Bear River and Cole Creek are mostly surrounded by U.S. Forest Service lands, and Cole Creek is in partial wilderness; and the Moke River is recommended for “Wild and Scenic Status.” Recommendations by PG&E for the Amador lands include a new trail around Lake Tabeaud; a conservation easement to ensure a “higher level of open space in perpetuity;” designating “old forests for habitat;” evaluating grazing potential; studying cultural and historic resources; and managing forest fuels. Also recommended is adding access to the Ritchie youth church camp and formalizing or restricting off-highway vehicle access. Sustainable forestry suggestions include complimenting adjacent wilderness management, promoting natural forest development, preserving old forests at Tiger Creek, and establishing a Tiger Creek demonstration forest. Story by Jim Reece
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