California:State's acquisition saves 25,000 acres of redwoods

Contra Costa Times ^ | Thu, Jun. 06, 2002 | Don Thompson ASSOCIATED PRESS

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

SACRAMENTO - California has acquired 25,000 acres along its far northwest coast that will be joined with other public lands to form the largest contiguous redwood forest to be safeguarded in the state.

The Mill Creek watershed, purchased for $60 million, will link the redwood groves of the Jedediah Smith and Del Norte Coast Redwood state parks and connect inland and coastal habitats. It also borders on parts of the Smith River National Recreation area and Redwood National Park, more than 6 million acres of protected public land in all.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

We have a budget crisis, why are we spending a dime on anything other than the essentials?

There is State Taxpayers money in this acquisition.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

calgov2002:

calgov2002: for old calgov2002 articles. 

calgov2002: for new calgov2002 articles. 

Other Bump Lists at: Free Republic Bump List Register

[mvpel]

The city of San Jose is also applying to the State Resources Agency for a $2 million grant for acquisition of land for trails. Profilgate waste of taxpayer money in the face of a multi-billion dollar budget deficit is rampant.

[Frohickey]

Actually, the $60 million was spent by the Save-the-Redwood(pulp)-League. But what you and I and every taxpayer in California should be incensed over is that here is 25,000 acres that is not property taxed anymore.

The Save-the-Redwood-League would be paying property tax on this property until they gave it to the state!!!

[Gophack]

Shore up his base vote, try and keep them from moving Green.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

There are more articles at R & T today on governmental agencies misspending !

[Ben Ficklin]

That is probably 1/3 state money and 2/3 fed money from the Land and Water Consevation. The states' portion of LWCF is being currently funded 100% @ $450 million/year.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

There is 43.5 million of taxpayer money in there too!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

That included $42.5 million in state bond and grant money, $15 million from the league, and $2.5 million from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Actually 45 million dollars!

[mict42]

That's quite an acquisition, however, as size goes, that's just a MUIR WOODS.

[evolved_rage]

A drop in the bucket for Mayor Ron Gonzoless's new $450 million city hall bordello. There are large empty buildings in SJ, and he has to build a new one. $2 million is pin money for him!

[Zathras]

A little bit of Redwood trivia.
Over 80% of the original Sierra Redwoods still remain.
The Coastal Redwoods of which only 25% remain, had major portions cut down and burned to make lime for the concrete to rebuild SF after the 1906 earthquake.

[Carry_Okie]

The league then turned the title over to the state Department of Parks and Recreation. It's the largest such transfer in the league's 84-year history.

The State is the worst possible landowner. If that forest is mixed old and second growth, they are condemning those trees to death unless they thin it. The State doesn't have the money to do that.

Conservatives own the moral high ground on environmental issues, but just don't know how to wield it. That you would tacitly concede this constituency proves that the professional political class has no idea what they are talking about.

[Fishing-guy]

Drove through that area few years back. That place is gorgeous.

[Liz]

Darn "tree-huggers" value plants over people.

[daviddennis]

I have been wandering Malibu Creek Park for exercise, and it is a beautiful place. (I have pictures to prove it.)

But I don't get the impression that the state has sufficient funds to maintain it with anything more than a minimal level of quality. I think the state would be better off maintaining what it has than buying more.

The Save the Redwoods folks got the state to finance most of the purchase, which I found interesting. Since the land is now the state's, I have to assume the mortgage obligation is likewise. This is just like Gray Davis' budget - no money spent now (since the Redwoods folks put in a sizable downpayment) but plenty in the future as the bonds come due.

Not very smart in my view.

D

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I don't think most people understand why maintenance for a Redwood forest might be a concern.

[Carry_Okie]

Correct. They think that if you fell a redwood that it dies. They couldn't be more wrong. Cut a big redwood and you'll get twenty sprouts in the space where a single tree once stood. If you don't thin them, then a fire can induce significant mortality because juvenile bark is so thin. It's a disastrous policy.

[Frohickey]

Actually, there is not state taxpayer money in this acquisition unless you count the management of the property.

What is more alarming is that now, this $60 million land is not being property taxed. This means that less taxes is going to the state, and they would increase property tax rates in order to recoup this tax revenue loss.

Save-The-Redwoods League should still be paying the property tax incurred!

[RightWhale]

25,000 acres is nothing. Up here we lose that much to wildfires every day. A 100,000 acre wildfire doesn't usually make the news unless somebody had to grab their dog and rifle and run for it.