LETTER TO THE EDITOR

(Santa Rosa) Press Democrat.
February 23, 2001

Power crisis a chance to protect land

Amid the intense debate over a potential state bail-out of California’s debt-ridden utilities is an opportunity that the people of California can not afford to miss: permanent protection of more than 165,000 acres owned by PG&E and Southern California Edison.

These lands were acquired as watersheds for hydropower development earlier in the 20^th century. While some of them have been developed with dams and hydropower facilities, much of the land remains as open -space and natural habitat. These lands have historically been managed for the public benefit, as watersheds to provide clean water, as public areas for outdoor recreation and as critical habitat for threatened and endangered species.

Without state intervention, these benefits could now be lost as utilities seek to raise funds to cover their debts. These lands, and all the public benefits that they provide would then be another tragic victim of to short-sighted policies.

The public has used these lands for decades for recreation and cultural activities. Recreation uses include fishing, boating, hiking, camping, swimming and birding. Popular areas include Bass Lake in the southern Sierra foothills, Shaver Lake in the southern Sierra and 12 miles of the Eel River, north of Lake Pillsbury. Other areas like the Sky Valley in Solano County, have tremendous potential for public recreation and permanent open-space protection in the burgeoning Bay Area. In addition, certain sites, such as the Mountain Meadows Reservoir area, are important for traditional practices of Native Americans.

The forests in these lands are significant, serving as natural water filters by absorbing and cleaning run-off, as well as natural air cleaners by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which in turn, helps mitigate global warming. These forests include old growth forests, such as those along the Eel River. They also provide critical habitat for numerous species of concern ranging from bald eagles, spotted owls and wolverines to less noticed, but equally important threatened species such as yellow throated warblers and willow flycatchers.

Included in Gov. Gray Davis’ plan to purchase the transmission grid from PG&E, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric is also a proposal to purchase conservation easements on the "prime watersheds" owned by the utilities.

This is a good first step that would ensure critical lands continue to be managed for the public trust, and not liquidated as another victim of the power "crisis." We believe, however, that an even better alternative exists. That is to obtain a one year option, at nominal costs, on all of these lands — not just prime watersheds -- to evaluate and implement conservation options appropriate to each property. Acquisition of these lands should be atbe at book value of the properties ensuring that the public does not pay highly inflated prices.

Our legislators and governor must not allow this land to become another casualty of the deregulation debacle. This is a time for leadership; a time to seize opportunities. In this time decade of increasing concern over sprawl, water quality, and biodiversity protection, we can not afford to lose more than 165,000 acres to development or to to liquidate liquidate valuable forestland. Whatever the details of the final plan, it should ensure the continued conservation and public benefits of this land.

This is the silver lining in the power crisis storm cloud. The Governor’s efforts to secure California’s energy future must also ensure a lasting legacy of lands for future generations.