Posted on 05/24/2005 9:38:26 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
Tejon Ranch and its conservation partner, The Trust for Public Land, have figured out which 100,000 acres of the ranch's 270,000 acres will be carved out into a preserve.
If the deal goes through, some of Tejon's majestic peaks and canyons in the Tehachapi Mountains could forever be saved from development.
A step is being taken in that direction today, though an actual deal is much further away.
The majority of the land is in the southeastern portion of the Tehachapis. There's also a swath next to Interstate 5 intended to connect the future preserve with the Wind Wolves Preserve west of the freeway. Another several thousand acres was identified east of Arvin at the base of Bear Mountain.
In a major change sure to bring hoots of joy from serious hikers, Tejon and the trust also have identified lands to reroute the Pacific Crest Trail onto ranch property. The trail will be brought up onto the southern ridge of the Tehachapis, long a goal of trail proponents frustrated by a hiking trail along the desert flatlands.
Tejon and the trust have an impressive list of environmental supporters, including the National Resources Defense Council, the Center for Law in the Public Interest and officials with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Forest Service.
"The design of the 100,000-acre proposed nature preserve on Tejon Ranch is an excellent model for science-based conservation planning," Paul Henson of the Fish and Wildlife Service said in a statement. "It is designed to protect the best wildlife habitat from destruction, degradation, and fragmentation, which are the driving forces behind today's decline in species and biodiversity all over the country."
Critics, however, say it is not enough, and that the entire ranch should be preserved. In any case, they say that some of the lands left out of the conservation area -- especially grasslands at the base of the Grapevine critical to kit foxes and areas in the center of the ranch with the most important stands of oaks -- deserve to be included.
Tejon CEO Bob Stine says the ranch understands it can't please everyone, but the conservation deal will preserve a large portion of the ranch forever.
Tejon partnered with the trust in 2003 to help it identify and then buy, help sell or otherwise protect a large portion of the ranch.
A two-year survey of the property's watersheds, wildlife and vegetation led to the final map set to be officially unveiled today, said Reed Holderman, the trust's executive director for California.
"We started two years ago to identify 100,000 acres of the ranch as the best of the best," in terms of biological and environmental diversity, Holderman said. "Now we're moving from just talking about it to doing it, actually signing a contract."
Stine said with the land to be set aside for conservation now identified, Tejon and the trust have signed a contract -- Tejon is willing to sell if the price is right.
The next step is a formal third-party appraisal. Then, the trust will try to line up interested parties, must make an offer, buy the land and then turn it over to either a state or government agency or a private foundation. Tejon could reject a bid it if it is too low.
Neither Stine nor Holderman would put a ballpark figure on the value of the 100,000 acres. But a buyer will have to have deep pockets.
"We're told its incredibly valuable," Stine said. "So we'll just wait and see what the appraisal says."
Stine said he hopes to maintain the ranch's traditional cattle ranching and some hunting operations on the preserve, and expects some very limited public access.
Next up for the ranch is this summer's formal unveiling of plans for Tejon Mountain Village, a development of ranch estate homes, boutique hotels and resort properties along a swath of breathtaking mountains to the east of Interstate 5. Planning documents are expected to be filed with Kern County sometime this summer.
Stine said the development will cover 5,000 acres, interspersed with 23,000 acres of open space. For example, he said, a hypothetical 10-acre estate parcel may be sold, but only one acre of it may be built on or fenced in any way, leaving nine open acres.
It will be located generally in an area east of Tejon Lake, following Bear Trap Canyon, an area environmentalists covet for its diversity and habitat.
Stine says Mountain Village is envisioned as a second-home and vacation retreat, with boutique hotels, resorts and isolated homes. All would be on public water and sewer supplies.
The conservation plan and the Tejon Mountain Village development are linked in many ways, Stine said. He noted that the ranch could have cut up the areas to be conserved into tracts and sold them off piecemeal.
The trust said the plan works well, because Tejon is protecting much of the land around the mountain village and the trust will protect its part. He conceded, however, that he'd like all the land to be protected.
"You're right, if we had our druthers we'd like to buy it, but they made clear it was not for sale," Holderman said. "If most of the area is going to be protected in private conservation, and there's public conservation next to it, that works for us."
If you read their annual report, the plans for their community, Centenniel, is well under way.
Why doesn't everyone just move out and hand the whole state over to these "critics" to decide what to with? Will they be happy then? Or will they then demand Federal funds to help restore Los Angeles to a wetlands area? ;)
Oxymoron: "Trust for Public Land"
I spent ten years in Arizona when there were forty acre parcels ten miles from Tucson for 1K per acre. They're gone now, plastered with cheap stucco condo's and "ranchettes". And the desert which used to thrive there is of course long gone.
Conservatives who reflexively object to the preservation of undeveloped lands do themselves no service, and reflect no virtue.
Given the vast expanse of compromised land which is fine for human use, there is only stupidity and obtuseness in objecting to the preservation of (relatively) virgin lands.
I fully agree with you. "Conservatives" who would allow developers to pave over everything are not conservatives, but gross materialists and moral idiots.
I hope as little as possible of the beautiful Tejon Ranch area is developed. It is a wonderful slice of Old California.
Since 1843...
Tejon Ranch occupies an incredibly varied landscape, from high desert to mountains. One of the things that I fear from development here is the possibility that the exponential increase in lighting will forever destroy the night sky viewing from Mt. Pinos, one of the best locations in the U.S. Check out the photo credits in any American astronomy magazine and you will find at least one photo taken here.
By the way, the Navy has weighed in on the prospect for more development in this area. They do a lot of flying from the ocean to various destinations inland. This map shows a few low level flight paths passing over Tejon Ranch which is bordered in black. The fear is that with increased development there will be pressure to eliminate some of these very necessary flight operations.
Given the vast expanse of compromised land which is fine for human use, there is only stupidity and obtuseness in objecting to the preservation of (relatively) virgin lands.
Swallowing the UN propaganda, I see. Socialism at its finest.
Walk through the links on this excellent site, and see if you feel the same way. It is eye-opening. (requires flash-player)
TakingLiberty.us (American Land Foundation)
This is also a good place to start an education. The website has many excellent articles.
PropertyRights.org
"Or will they then demand Federal funds to help restore Los Angeles to a wetlands area? ;)"
That might be next, years ago the head of the Sierra Club stated that their desired end result was to eliminate all humans west of the Rockies.
To appreciate land conservation, it helps to come from the Midwest, where there is a house or fence or road every 100 yards from here to infinity.
First of all, I've never heard of ANYONE, including "developers" who would deliberately "pave over everything!" Furthermore, I think over-eager preservationists who use government to demand preservation of everything to the detriment of an entire regions economic progress, to say nothing of the ruin to individual's investment backed expectations, are more than "moral idiots," but far worse than politbureau soviet socialists!!!
There now, Mr. uppity smarta$$, how do ya like them apples???
Oh we have a bigger problem than I thought when people like this belive environmentalism is conservative. Why don't they see the socialism invloved? This just makes me sick.
Here's your danged GovernMental/EnviroMental Axis of Evil!!!
The list did leave an impression on me, one which was not favorable!
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