The American Farmland Trust is a nation-wide nonprofit focused on preserving and protecting agricultural land, and on assisting farmers in virtually any way possible, from promoting sound farm practices to lobbying on federal farm policy. If you are not familiar with the American Farmland Trust. I have placed several links below that can connect you up.

I have been a member of and a supporter of the American Farmland Trust for many years, and I worked closely with their California lobbyists during the time I served as the Executive Director of the Planning and Conservation League. What made me think I should alert KUSP listeners to the American Farmland Trust was a recent article in the Santa Cruz Sentinel, highlighting seven Santa Cruz County farmers who have been recognized by the American Farmland Trust for their stewardship and leadership on sustainability. One of the Santa Cruz County farms highlighted is on the Santa Cruz County North Coast, in the area I used to represent on the Board of Supervisors. Swanton Berry Farms was recognized for what the American Farmland Trust called “meritocratic organic farming.”

I invite listeners to review these very inspiring farm and farmer profiles. Three Monterey County Farms were recognized, as well!

More Information

• Land Use Links
• Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog
• Santa Cruz Sentinel Article on Agriculture and Conservation
• American Farmland Trust Website
• AFT California Webpage
• Farm and Ranch Case Studies - California

As most KUSP listeners probably know, a horrific fire in December, on Pfeiffer Ridge in Big Sur, burned down a number of homes. The Monterey Herald has reported that thirty-four homes were destroyed. On today’s agenda, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors will consider actions to help property owners rebuild.

After a disaster (whether it is a fire, or an earthquake, or a flood) local governments almost always face an incredibly distressing problem. It is almost always found that some of the structures destroyed were built illegally. If that is the case, property owners who have already lost everything may be faced with losing even more. Here is what the staff report on today’s Board agenda says:

In cases of any illegal dwellings, we may discover that the supporting water system and sewage disposal system were also not permitted, the access to the property and related grading was not permitted or reviewed for adequacy by the fire agency, and related fees were not paid, including payment of school fees. Consistent with the suggested guiding principles stated later in this discussion, staff is recommending that such structures or other illegal residences should not be eligible to take advantage of most of any approved special rebuilding guidelines.

You can get additional information about the proposed Fire Recovery Guidelines below.

More Information:

• Land Use Links
• Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog
• Monterey County Board of Supervisors Agendas
  • See Agenda Item #21.2 for discussion of the proposed Fire Recovery Guidelines
• Article in Monterey Herald – Big Sur Fire Contained
• Article in Monterey Herald – Rebuilding Fees

Let me give listeners a “heads up” on a number of meetings and other activities taking place today. I have a hunch that these items will be of interest to many of you.

First, let me remind you of a meeting I talked about last week. Today, starting at 1:30 this afternoon, the Monterey County Planning Commission will consider a proposed subdivision on San Benancio Road, about a mile off Highway 68, not far from Toro County Park. This development proposal is quite controversial. I have links to more information below.

Second, the Monterey County Housing Advisory Committee is meeting this evening from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the Board of Supervisors Chambers, located on the First Floor of the County Government Center, 168 West Alisal Street in Salinas. Affordable housing issues from Pebble Beach to the Camphora Farm Labor Camp are on the agenda.

Finally, the California Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources will hold a hearing today to get public input on draft regulations for hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking.” Comments can be made from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. A group called Californians Against Fracking is holding a rally at 5:30 p.m. The hearing and the rally will be held at the National Steinbeck Center, located at One Main Street in Salinas.

I hope many of you will be able to participate in these important meetings and events.

More Information:

• Land Use Links
• Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog
• January 3, 2014 Report on Proposed Harper Canyon Development
• Planning Department Documents on Harper Canyon Subdivision
• Monterey County Housing Advisory Committee Website
• Division of Oil Gas and Geothermal Resources Website
• Center For Biological Diversity Anti-Fracking Website
• For more information on the fracking rally, contact Andrea Weber at 415-436-9682, Ext. 311

I am a big fan of “FANS,” a nonprofit group whose full name is “Friends, Artists & Neighbors of Elkhorn Slough.” I recently had a chance to read FANS Winter 2013 newsletter, and I thought I would share with you its opening sentence: “Dear FANS Supporters: it was déjà vu all over again in North Monterey County in 2013.”

FANS is a community advocacy group, and their mission is to prevent any inappropriate development within the Elkhorn Slough watershed. FANS has been in existence for more than thirteen years, and one reason that I am such a fan of “FANS” is that I was around at the beginning. The Monterey Peninsula has a kind of a tradition of grassroots activism, but that wasn’t always the case in North Monterey County. In the mid to late 1990’s, there was a lot of proposed development in North Monterey County, putting scarce groundwater supplies at risk and threatening the biological integrity of Elkhorn Slough. FANS helped galvanize concerned residents, getting them involved in the critical land use issues that have such a profound impact on our natural environment. Those issues are still important, and the FANS Winter 2013 letter makes that clear.

I have put links to the FANS website, and to the website of the Elkhorn Slough Foundation below. Elkhorn Slough is national treasure. These local organizations are helping to protect it!

More Information:

• Land Use Links
• Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog
• Elkhorn Slough Foundation Website
• FANS Website

Let me tell you about a presentation this evening, and some related events tomorrow. Brock Dolman, Director of the Water Institute at the Occidental Arts & Ecology Center, will be speaking this evening, at 8:00 p.m., at the Kresge Town Hall on the UCSC Campus. Dolman is a pioneering leader in watershed restoration, and he will be speaking on “Basins of Relations” during his appearance at UCSC tonight.

Tomorrow, Saturday January 11th, Dolman will be part of a panel talking about “The Story of the San Lorenzo River, Past, Present & Future.” Participating with Dolman will be Randall Brown, a historian who has written a book on the history of the San Lorenzo Valley Water District, Fred McPherson, who organized the advocacy group Save The San Lorenzo River in the 1970’s, and John Ricker, Water Resources Director for Santa Cruz County. That panel presentation will start at 10:00 o’clock in the morning at the Calvary Episcopal Church in downtown Santa Cruz. The speeches and discussion will be followed by a River Levee Walk with Don Alley, a fisheries biologist, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.

If you live in the water service area of the City of Santa Cruz, and that includes all of Live Oak, and Pasatiempo, and part of Capitola, you should be interested in the San Lorenzo River. As we look to a drought, we need to look to the River, and to the watershed that sustains it.

More Information:

• Land Use Links
• Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog
• Information on Friday and Saturday Events
• Desal Alternatives Website
• Information on Brock Dolman
• Randall Brown and her book, The San Lorenzo Valley Water District: A History