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Read a feature story
about Brian R. Leahy
SACRAMENTO – Saying,
“He’s a perfect fit,” Department of
Conservation Director Bridgett Luther
today welcomed Brian R. Leahy as the new
assistant director in charge of the
Division of Land Resource Protection (DLRP).
“The Division of Land
Resource Protection has the challenge of
helping to balance the needs of the
state's growing population with the
needs of agriculture,” Luther said.
“Brian was a rancher for 20 years and
has worked with a number of agricultural
organizations. He also has a background
in the law. His diverse experience gives
him a unique perspective that will help
our efforts.”
Leahy served as
director of the California Association
of Resource Conservation Districts from
2004 until last January. In that
capacity, he worked closely with DLRP
and many of the division’s constituents,
such as the USDA Natural Resource
Conservation Service and CALFED.
From 2000-2004, Leahy
was president of California Certified
Organic Farmers, a nonprofit
organization that certifies 1,200
members representing about $1 billion in
organic sales. He helped the
organization expand its market and its
outreach to the public.
Leahy was on the
board of directors of the Organic Trade
Association in 2003-2004, a member of
the California Biotechnology Task Force
Advisory Committee (2001), and has
served in a wide variety of positions
with groups interested in agricultural
issues in California and Nebraska.
From 1980-2001, Leahy
was the owner and operator of Cherokee
Ranch, Inc. in Chico, a 900-acre rice
farm on the cutting edge of the organic
and biodiversity movement.
Leahy earned his
Juris Doctor at the Creighton University
School of Law in Omaha, Nebraska, in
1997 and was admitted to practice law in
Nebraska and Illinois. He worked for a
time for the Legal Aid Society in Omaha.
“I feel well prepared
for this new challenge and look forward
to working with the great people at the
Division of Land Resource Protection who
have done so much for agriculture in
California,” Leahy said.
Governor
Schwarzenegger appointed Leahy to the
position. No Senate confirmation is
required.
DLRP administers or
supports several programs designed to
balance the land needs of California’s
agricultural economy with population
growth. The population of California is
expected to increase from its current 33
million to 50 million by 2025.
The Williamson Act is
DLRP's best known land preservation
tool. It provides landowners tax
incentives to enter contracts keeping
their land in agricultural use for
10-year periods. The Farmland Security
Zone program, sometimes called the
"Super Williamson Act," provides for
20-year contracts.
DLRP's California
Farmland Conservation Program provides
grants that enable land trusts and other
non-profit organizations to buy
permanent agricultural easements from
willing landowners, shielding some of
the state’s best farmland from
development forever.
DLRP's Farmland
Mapping and Monitoring Program tracks
land-use changes statewide, producing
maps that local government officials can
use to guide their planning decisions,
as well as a statewide report every two
years.
The division also
supports and provides technical
assistance for the 103 local resource
conservation districts (RCDs) in the
state. Traditionally involved in helping
farmers with conservation issues, RCDs
have expanded to address urban issues,
such as watershed restoration. They are
involved in protecting, conserving and
restoring natural resources through
education, information and technical
assistance programs.
In addition to
supporting land conservation, the
Department of Conservation promotes
beverage container recycling; regulates
oil, gas and geothermal wells in the
state; studies and maps earthquakes,
landslides and mineral resources; and
ensures reclamation of land used for
mining.
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