City residents recently received political ads encouraging them
to reject the proposal to consolidate the San Benito County 911
Communications Center with the Santa Cruz Regional 911, prior to
the Hollister council’s consideration Monday night.
Even though the devil remains in the details, there is no doubt the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s proposal to offer easements covering a large swath of Central California is monumental in size, would change the state’s landscape of land conservation, and deserves rigorous attention from all affected parties.
The federal proposal has been seven years in the making, but became public just last month when the agency posted its intentions – and upcoming meeting dates – on its website. The plan has several layers of designations. It starts with an 18-million-acre “study area” and from there is narrowed into four separate “focal areas.” Land in San Benito County – which includes just under 900,000 acres in total – makes up nearly 500,000 acres of the “San Benito Hills” focal area.
That means it not only has a potentially major impact on the state – but it also could play a more than significant role in land-management practices for generations to come.
To this point, the details in the proposal – and most important, the regulations sought by the federal government – remain far too vague for any final judgments on its merit.
How would the conservation easements restrict agricultural practices currently in place?
Once the feds get access to properties, what rights would the government maintain to restrict land practices based on environmental concerns that might arise?
How would this plan affect prospects to develop commercially along Interstate 5?
How could it affect property tax rolls, or mineral exploration rights?
After initially buying up to 900,000 acres in easements, when will the federal government look at expanding into more of the 18-million-acre study area?
Those are just a few questions, and there will be many, many more on both sides of the debate. That is why it is crucially important that the fish and wildlife service covers all ground possible with the property owners and communities affected by this proposal, and all those interested should try to attend a meeting on the topic scheduled for 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. June 16 at the Veterans Memorial Building.
It will be paramount to stay transparent with the public throughout. Because all too often, the federal government gets a foot in the door and then kicks its way through.
