|
SACRAMENTO – A
partnership of governments, the
Department of Conservation (DOC), and UC
Davis has finalized plans to preserve
300 acres of prime farmland along the
I-80 corridor. DOC provided the bulk of
the funding to create an agricultural
conservation easement that will
permanently shield McConeghy Ranch from
future development. The Solano Land
Trust and the cities of Dixon and Davis
will hold the easement, and the land
trust will monitor the easement.
“This project is an
excellent example of inter-governmental
cooperation protecting California
farmland and wildlife. As a rancher, I
understand the high value of preserving
our state’s agricultural lands,” said
Secretary for Resources Mike Chrisman.
“This also could be the first step
toward building an agricultural buffer
between Davis and Dixon.”
Through the
California Farmland Conservancy Program,
the DOC provided a grant of $2,237,500
to ensure the project’s completion. The
Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program,
part of the U.S. Department of
Agriculture’s Natural Resources
Conservation Service, contributed
$720,000. At the local level, the city
of Davis gave $507,500, and the city of
Dixon contributed $150,000. UC Davis
provided $77,500 for the project.
The McConeghy Ranch
spans both sides of I-80 at the Kidwell
Road exit between Davis and Dixon. There
is currently no development at the
freeway exit. The property is located
three-quarters of a mile outside of
Dixon’s Sphere of Influence and 2 ΒΌ miles
from Davis’. The land is farmed in hay,
sunflowers, and tomatoes. The ranch also
provides a scenic viewshed along I-80
and the Amtrak commuter route.
“This project is very
encouraging for the future of
agriculture," said state Senator Michael
J. Machado (D-Linden). "Collaboration
between state agencies, local
governments, and UC Davis was the key to
crafting this acquisition, and should
lead to other innovative ways of
protecting land for agriculture and
wildlife habitat throughout the state.”
“This is an important
project that hopefully sends an even
greater message -- about preserving open
space and farmland, about partnerships
between the state, UC Davis, the cities
and county, and ultimately, with the
voters who passed the bonds that fund a
large part of these acquisitions. This
project is a model of success,” said
Assemblymember Lois Wolk (D-Davis).
UC Davis and the city
of Davis approached the California
Farmland Conservancy Program about
pursuing an agricultural easement on the
property in June 2003. The university
had acquired an option to purchase the
land from the McConeghy family two years
prior. With the conservation easement in
place, the property will be resold to a
private farmer for continued
agricultural production.
The California
Farmland Conservancy Program,
administered by DOC’s Division of Land
Resource Protection, is designed to
ensure that the state's most valuable
farmland will not be developed. Local
governments and non-profit organizations
can apply for CFCP grants to purchase
development rights from willing
landowners, thus creating permanent
conservation easements.
Even though
California is recognized as a leader in
agricultural production, farmland is
being converted rapidly for development
and other uses. In the years 2000-2002,
nearly 54,000 acres of irrigated
farmland were taken out of production.
“As the population
grows, farmland preservation becomes
ever more critical,” Department of
Conservation Director Bridgett Luther
said. “The California Farmland
Conservancy Program offers a way to help
balance the needs of the traditional
agricultural economy with those of a
growing population.”
CFCP funds are still
available for new grant proposals.
Landowners and trusts are encouraged to
contact DOC’s Division of Land Resource
Protection for grant application
information. The division's Web address
is www.conservation.ca.gov/dlrp. DOC
also offers other land resource
protection programs through the
Williamson Act and Farmland Security
Zones that provide financial incentives
to keep land in agricultural use for
periods of 10 and 20 years.
###
Additional Quotes - McCONEGHY RANCH
PRESERVATION PROJECT
Jean McConeghy,
landowner: “That land is very meaningful
to me and my family. I always thought
I’d go back and live on it someday. I
never thought about selling it. I felt
very strongly that it ought to always
remain in agriculture. I think what
we’ve done would make my parents very
happy. It certainly softens the blow of
parting with the property.”
Marilyn Farley,
Solano Land Trust Executive Director:
“There’s little doubt that this property
was headed for development were the
partners not so committed to farmland
preservation. We applaud the partners
for stepping forward to protect this key
parcel and are glad we could play a
role.”
Ed Burton, California
State Conservationist for the USDA
Natural Resources Conservation Service:
“Not often do so many local, state and
federal groups concur on and contribute
to an approach to protecting
environmental and economic interests.
This easement, however, is just such a
meeting of minds and pocket books.”
Davis Mayor Ruth
Asmundson: “The location of the project
provides strong strategic value to the
acquisition. An easement at this
location will serve as the start to a
greenbelt between Davis and Dixon,
something of strong importance to both
cities.”
Dixon Mayor Mary Ann
Courville: “We’re hopeful that the
completion of this project will
encourage other landowners in the
immediate vicinity to create easements.”
Larry Vanderhoeff, UC
Davis Chancellor: “Combining close-in
compact development to serve students,
faculty and staff with strategic
agricultural land preservation makes a
lot of sense. We are pleased that we
were able to facilitate this project.”
Charles Tyson,
California Farmland Conservancy Program
Manager: “Farmland is a vital and
irreplaceable natural resource. We hope
this project encourages more efforts to
protect the county’s farmland.”
###
|