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Education and Partners Education and Partners for vernal pool preservation www.vernalpools.org Carol W. Witham, VernalPools.Org unusual V.

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Presentation on theme: "Education and Partners Education and Partners for vernal pool preservation www.vernalpools.org Carol W. Witham, VernalPools.Org unusual V."— Presentation transcript:

1 Education and Partners Education and Partners for vernal pool preservation www.vernalpools.org Carol W. Witham, VernalPools.Org unusual V

2 www.vernalpools.org Grassroots conservation activism Grassroots conservation activism new strategies and partnerships are needed… Past, present and future losses Just to put the need for new approaches into perspective A grassroots activism success story 12 years of public education activities (and consistent political and legal pressure) pays off Forming new partnerships for vernal pool conservation What do environmental organizations and the California Cattlemen’s Association have in common?

3 www.vernalpools.org Areas of highest vernal pool loss Areas of highest vernal pool loss past, present and future… Vernal Pool Distribution pre-1492* 2000 (~13% remain) *based on biogeography of 29 endemic species by Robert F. Holland

4 www.vernalpools.org Areas of highest vernal pool loss Areas of highest vernal pool loss past, present and future… Yuba County 25,245 acres (67%) lost between 1971-1995 urbanization and agricultural conversion

5 www.vernalpools.org Areas of highest vernal pool loss Areas of highest vernal pool loss past, present and future… Sacramento County 30,251 acres (36%) lost between 1972-1993 over ½ remaining pools within USB recent incorporation of new towns >8,000 acres in the planning process

6 www.vernalpools.org Areas of highest vernal pool loss Areas of highest vernal pool loss past, present and future… Merced County 3,000+ acres (>10%) lost in last 10 years proposed UC Merced campus and town will impact adjacent Madera County

7 www.vernalpools.org Areas of highest vernal pool loss Areas of highest vernal pool loss past, present and future… Fresno County 11,842 acres (30%) lost between 1973-1994 rapid ongoing urbanization

8 www.vernalpools.org Areas of highest vernal pool loss Areas of highest vernal pool loss past, present and future… Other areas… Butte County (Chico urbanization, Highway expansion) Placer County (Roseville, Lincoln urbanization) Solano County (East Bay expansion) Glenn County (orchard conversion) Tehama County (timber product conversion)

9 www.vernalpools.org Losses are accelerating Losses are accelerating new strategies and partnerships are needed… Federal laws don’t really protect vernal pools Land use decisions are local and highly political Population growth Urban expansion Economic development Influential constituents Developer driven

10 www.vernalpools.org Education inspires activism Education inspires activism a local Sacramento County success story…

11 Mather AFB decommissioned in 1993 County agencies plan for economic development Aggregate mining Airport expansion Regional park Urban development Urban forest Water treatment facility Private university www.vernalpools.org Mather Field Air Force Base Mather Field Air Force Base 2,300+ acres of vernal pool grassland…

12 www.vernalpools.org Mather Field Vernal Pools Mather Field Vernal Pools twelve years and holding…

13 www.vernalpools.org Public awareness campaign Public awareness campaign grows into an elementary school curriculum… Life In Our Watershed: Investigating Vernal Pools

14 9000 fifth graders have explored the magic and mystery of the Mather Field vernal pools Database of over 500 people willing to write letters and testify at public meetings 1000 postcards mailed 150 people at a board of supervisors meeting Eventually the board of supervisors instructed staff to prepare a comprehensive plan for the Mather Field area In December 2005, county staff and stakeholders presented a plan that will preserve 1000 acres www.vernalpools.org An overview of successes An overview of successes no project has been approved to date…

15 www.vernalpools.org The work continues The work continues expanding into other areas… Sacramento County General Plan Expansion of the UPA Expansion of the USB Rancho Cordova General Plan Expansion of the SOI General education of planners, policy makers and the press Expanded coalition of organizations and individuals working on vernal pool conservation

16 www.vernalpools.org New partnerships New partnerships a Central Valley success story in the making?

17 CESHA grew out of a need to share resources and ideals, as well as the work of preserving species and habitat national, state and local environmental groups Quarterly meetings with the California/Nevada Operations Manager of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service mutual gripe sessions A challenge to find one issue that the environmental organizations and the Service could work together on in a proactive way Service staff came up with 30 priority issues www.vernalpools.org Dissatisfaction with the status quo Dissatisfaction with the status quo Conservation is hard work…

18 Difficult to recreate all functions www.vernalpools.org Central Valley Grasslands Central Valley Grasslands an ecosystem in peril… Escalating urbanization of the Central Valley Vernal pool grasslands are being targeted for this growth. Most of these lands are in private ownership

19 USFWS shared our white paper on Central Valley grasslands with leaders in the Cattlemen’s Association Development of The California Rangeland Resolution Keeping common species common on private lands Working to recover imperiled species and enhancing habitats Increase funding and assistance to expand beneficial stewardship Encourage voluntary and collaborative conservation Establishment of the California Rangeland Conservation Coalition and working groups to set short and long range goals to achieve Central Valley grassland conservation www.vernalpools.org California Rangeland Resolution California Rangeland Resolution New partnerships for habitat preservation…

20 www.vernalpools.org Looking into the future Looking into the future how effective will these new strategies be?

21 VernalPools.Org VernalPools.Org dedicated to saving California’s vernal pool landscapes www.vernalpools.org For additional information, contact: Carol W. Witham VernalPools.Org Info@vernalpools.org Info@vernalpools.org

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