HomeMy WebLinkAbout6/7/2022 Item 5g, Christie
Delgado, Adriana
From:Santa Lucia Sierra Club <sierraclub8@gmail.com>
Sent:Monday, June 6, 2022 7:
To:CityClerk
Subject:6/7/22, Item 5G: Dixon Ranch Easement
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Dear Mayor Stewart and Councilmembers,
The Sierra Club is pleased to support the request to approve a grant agreement with the Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County
in the amount of $100,000 towards the purchase of a conservation easement for the Dixon Ranch.
This project, as your staff notes, is supported by policies in the Conservation and Open Space Element and Land Use Element, and
implements a Major City Goal.
In 2006, the Sierra Club donated to LCSLO’s successful effort to retire development rights on the Union Pacific Railroad Properties
below West Cuesta Ridge and the Brughelli Ranch. We were also pleased to participate in the City’s 2016 Natural Resources
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Roundtable on the occasion of the 20 anniversary of the San Luis Obispo Greenbelt. The following year, the roundtable resulted in
the document, “Saving Special Places Forever: A Vision Plan to Complete and Sustain the San Luis Obispo Greenbelt,”
memorializing the primary vision statement to complete the Greenbelt such that “important land, water, and diverse natural resource
conservation values are protected by proactive land conservation efforts in priority areas of the San Luis Obispo Greenbelt over the
course of the next 20 years.”
Under the vision statement “Protect, Restore, and Enhance Greenbelt Natural Resources,” Successful Outcomes are listed as follows:
Monitoring shows that wildlife corridors are open and intact, especially key linkages within and between the Greenbelt and the
Los Padres National Forest and the larger Irish Hills ecosystems.
Recovery actions published by wildlife agencies are implemented and monitoring shows success, resulting in stable populations
or down-listing of threatened and endangered species found within the Greenbelt.
The integrity of watershed functions and riparian systems are maintained and improved, resulting in increased habitat value and
reduced water quality impairments and less frequent flooding events.
The common native species remain dominant by reducing current levels and new proliferations of invasive species.
Active human-caused threats to sensitive plant and animal receptors are addressed and ameliorated.
Conservation plans and restoration activities are closely aligned and coordinated with San Luis Obispo Creek watershed plans
and the City’s Stormwater Resource Plan, with the result being a holistic, “one water” approach.
We urge you to confirm with staff that the proposed conservation easement incorporates the above outcomes and approve the donation
of the requested funds.
Thank you for this opportunity to comment,
Andrew Christie
Director, Santa Lucia Chapter of the Sierra Club
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