HomeMy WebLinkAbout00-113~~~ ~~ ~S t1PE'~~i
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;aa ~: BOARD t~F ~UP'ERVISORS
~ * ' ~ ~~ CC?f.1h1TY C)F BU7TE, STATE OF CALIFORNIA
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~~~~~~0_uN ~+~~~ Resolution No , 0 0 -113
RESOLU`T'ION OF SUPPORT
FOR THE PERMANEN`T' CONSERVA'I'T_ON OF `PHE `T'HOMAS SON RANCH
~f~HEREAS, the Thomason Ranch ("the ranch"} is comprised of
approxi_ately 4,511 acres of open space within the unincorporated
portion of Butte County and is an ideal location for the
establishment of a conservation easement; and
Gti'HEREAS, the ranch conta~_ns a very diverse mix of open space
and c~~~ildife habitats, ir,~cluding hilly blue oak woodlands and
gentl;~ rolling open grasslands containing wetlands, endangered
.~r~.~~.> ai::1 ~e~~-e~a~ tY-butary creeks to Rock Creep; and
~~~:.~_~, ~,~~~~~~o~~_mately 6~;u ~~ res of the ranch contain
wetlands, including vernal pools, vernal swales and various types
of seasonal_ wetlands; and
WHEREAS, the ranch contains the single-largest documented
po;r.~lation of the Butte County meadowfoam plant, a federal and
state-,~isted endangered species. These endangered plants annually
occupy approximately 1,300 acres of the ranch, including the only
known woodland population of this species in the world; and
~~°ti?HEREAS, dozens of other California native plants and
wi~dflower species are found on the ranch; and
~i'7L~.t~A~, nuilerous ~~,ildlife species inhabit the ranch including
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}~~ ~~~.,K_ -~e^~r , r~.n~,;,n~a~ n 1 i ors , ~~~T-intering migratory mule deer, bald and
golden eagles and the state-listed Swainson's hawk; and
~^~THEREAS, preservation of the ranch in its open space character
~~~~ould preserve its extensive flood plain which spreads out and
slows the passage of flood flows into Rock Creek; and
~^'uFREA~~ ;~t s^~ould a?_so establish a permanent open space green-
belt. north. of the Chico Municipal Airport stretching all the way
::-~~1~, the ioot:iL! is west almost to State Highway 99; and
GVHEREAS, preservation of the ranch in this condition would
allow for the continued historical use of the ranch as an
economically viab7_e cattle grazing operation and help the ranch
continue to contribute to the economy of Butte County; and
~~^dHER.EAS, establishment of the property as a mitigation bank
for wetlands and endangered species habitat would ensure tr~e
economic viability of preserving the ranch in its natural state;
and
,''I~R;AS, a cc.>r,ser~~Tation ease?ner.t ~~~~~ t'_~ land use restrictions
designed to protect the above listed environmental and other unique
fey ~rre~; of the ranch in perpetuity would preserve open space and
other environmental values in the County of Butte; and
WHEREAS, the easement should be granted to and held by a
qual~~~.ed r.on-profit organisation equipped to monitor and maintain
the values embodied in that conservation easement.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE 1T RESOL,VED, that the Board of Supervisors
of Butte County hereby supports the concept of the establishment of
a consert.Tation easement t~vith land use restrictions to preserve open
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~. ~E~ ar:~t of :~~er imoortant environmental values on the Thomason
Ranch.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of Supervisors of the County
of butte, State of California, on the 12 th day of5eptember 2000 by
the following votes:
AYES: Supervisors Beeler, Houx, Josiassen, Davis and Chair Dolan
i~TOES : None
ABSETtii i' : None
NO` VOTING : None
~4 ~ - --_
'7
JANE~DOLAN Chair
Butts County Board of Supervisors
AT'I'ES'='ED
OrTN BLACKLOCri
Chief Administrative Officer
and the Clerk of t Board
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