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Siski supervisors add conditions to conservation board letter on proposed 12,000-acre Scott Valley purchase
Summary
The board approved a revised letter to the Wildlife Conservation Board on a proposed roughly 12,000-acre acquisition in Scott Valley, asking that Cal Fire emphasize fuels management, changing the signature line to the chair only, and requesting easement conditions to preserve access, operations and the board's support.
The Siski County Board of Supervisors voted to transmit a revised letter to the Wildlife Conservation Board supporting a proposed purchase of about 12,000 acres in Scott Valley, with edits to emphasize fuels management, limit the signature line to the chair, and request easement conditions to preserve community needs and access.
Joanne Johnson, identified in the transcript as a project coordinator for Siski, asked for a single signature by the chair rather than five signature lines in the draft letter: "I would like to request 1 minor change to the letter included in the agenda. The original letter has, all 5 signature lines for every board member to sign, but I'd like to request that it's changed to a signature just by the chair." The board accommodated that change.
A board member who spoke during the discussion said the property initially raised concerns about removing a large parcel from the tax rolls but thanked staff for quick research and urged Cal Fire, which would administer the property, to place a strong emphasis on fuels management and smaller-diameter understory treatments even if the property is enrolled in a carbon-reserve plan. The speaker said those measures are needed "because it does no good to hold on to carbon credits and carbon sequestration if you're just gonna burn it up," and added that the landscape is important for range management, access to public lands and for water-conveyance systems that feed agriculture in Quartz Valley.
The board added language to the letter asking that conditions in any final easement help "preserve essential community needs and safeguard ongoing access and operations, and gain the support of the Board of Supervisors," and instructed staff to copy Assemblymember Hadwick and the county's CRC on the letter so those offices are aware of the board's position. A motion to send the letter with those additions was moved and seconded and carried on recorded ayes from supervisors who voted on the item.
The meeting record does not specify the dollar amount or the full terms of the proposed purchase, nor does it record any binding commitments by Cal Fire; those details appear to remain with the Wildlife Conservation Board process.
