| Challenges Facing Ag Community Focus of Modesto Meeting By Luree J. Stetson Department of Conservation The California Biodiversity Council took the opportunity to hear directly from farmers, rural landowners, and other experts regarding current economic challenges and ways to increase participation in programs to help preserve agricultural lands and the habitat they sustain.
The two–day November conference in Modesto began with an educational forum highlighting Habitat Conservations Plans (HCP) and Natural Community Conservation Plans (NCCP). This helped the public understand these federal and state plans and the compliance issues facing the San Joaquin Valley farming community.
Gail Presley (Statewide Habitat Coordinator, California Department of Fish and Game) and Vicki Campbell (Conservation Planning Division Chief, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) shed some light on the federal and state regional conservation planning programs, or HCPs and NCCPs respectively. They explained that local communities could use these tools to help foster local control, a streamlined permitting process, flexibility, and land–owner assurances.
Andrew Chesley (Deputy Director, San Joaquin Council of Governments) described the process for establishing the San Joaquin County Multi–Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP). At the end of this forum, moderator John McCaull (California Regional Director, American Farmland Trust) stated, “the HCP and NCCP planning processes have borne too much of the weight of land–use planning in California …. It is not a substitute for communities developing sound, long–term land–use plans that look at all infrastructure needs, including open space and habitat protection.”
In recent years, the Faith Ranch, owned by the Gallo Family, has invested greatly in habitat protection and the delisting of the Aleutian Canada Goose. Bob Gallo and his habitat management specialist, Gary Zahm, explained how their project will protect pristine river and grazing lands in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service San Joaquin National Wildlife Refuge. The neighboring Mapes Ranch, owned by the Bill Lyons Family, has a habitat conservation program that allows Aleutian geese to feed while farming and grazing operations continue. This restoration project also played a major role in delisting the Aleutian Canada Goose from the federal government’s endangered species list. The evening concluded with a dinner at the Old Fisherman’s Club where individuals discussed the restoration projects and local forum issues.
The meeting the following morning focused on economic challenges and the implementation of environmental programs at the local level. The first panel, Economic Challenges Facing Agriculture, was moderated by Paul Wenger (walnut rancher and Second Vice President, California Farm Bureau Federation). Mr. Wenger noted that overall prices in the California agriculture industry are down while the regulations and costs are ever–increasing.
The afternoon panel focused on Agriculture and Environmental Enhancement Programs at the Local Level. Pam Giacomini (California Farm Bureau Federation) led this discussion of the incentives and barriers to participation in enhancement programs.
Denise Mullinax (Dairy Education Coordinator, Hilmar Cheese) stated this program that educates dairy producers succeeds because it is science–based, producer driven, and compliance driven. Cliff Ohmart (Integrated Pest Management Director, Lodi–Wood-bridge Wine Grape Commission) outlined what it takes to make a voluntary program successful. It must include:
California Biodiversity News: Volume 9, Number 1 |
In the afternoon, the Biodiversity Council embarked on a trip visiting three “farm–friendly” habitat restoration projects beginning with the Grayson River Ranch. This conservation easement along the Tuolumne River added 5,000 newly planted tree saplings and two 2,000–foot sloughs to hold back the flow of the river. It is quite compatible with the adjacent orchard operations. 
Maxwell Norton (Farm Advisor, University of California Cooperative Extension) and Timothy Leach (Senior Vice President, Fresno–Madera Farm Credit) gave presentations discussing the economic impact on agricultural lands and the adjacent habitat. David Gallo (Professor of Economics, California State University, Chico) discussed the preliminary findings from his study of the economic impact from habitat restoration projects in Stanislaus County. Once released, his report will outline the economic effects to the County from land acquisition for habitat restoration programs along the Tuolumne River.