Amador County – Amador County Board of Supervisors last week discussed a proposed federal land swap that targets 160 acres of a parcel primarily located in Amador County, near Kirkwood, and agreed to place the issue on a future agenda.

Supervisor Chairman John Plasse brought up the issue, saying the Mammoth Base Land Exchange was targeting the exchange of land in Amador County, and the U.S. Forest Service is supposed to coordinate with local government when doing such exchanges. He asked Supervisors, during a discussion of a scoping notice letter, whether they wanted to “issue a letter of response and a demand for coordination on this item.”

Supervisor Brian Oneto said they should absolutely put it on a regular agenda. Supervisor Ted Novelli, agreed, saying seven or eight counties were included in the proposed land swap. Supervisor Louis Boitano requested it be placed on a regular agenda.

Supervisor Richard Forster said he received a copy of a letter sent by Inyo County Supervisors, which Amador County can use as a template to work from. He also requested its placement on a regular agenda, along with a suggested letter to approve.

U.S. Forest Service listed the swap documents online, saying the Mammoth Base Land Exchange was proposed by Mammoth Main Lodge Redevelopment LLC, a company related to Mammoth Mountain Ski Area. The company proposed to exchange 20.6 acres of “National Forest System land managed by the Inyo National Forest in the town of Mammoth Lakes” for “approximately 1,729 acres of private land” located on parcels in Inyo, Mono, Amador, El Dorado, Stanislaus and Plumas Counties. The value is said to be offset by the large proposed acreage swap because the Mammoth Base contains restaurants and ski lodging for the resort.

A letter dated Sept. 29 from the USDA Forest Service, Inyo National Forest gave notice of the proposed land exchange, which had a public meeting Sept. 29, and has a public comment period which closes Oct. 31.

An overview document on the USFS website said “one of the non-federal parcels” for the Mammoth land swap proposal was “located inside the boundaries of the El Dorado National Forest at Martin Meadow near Kirkwood Ski Area” on Highway 88. It said the “parcel offers outstanding alpine recreational values and includes wet and dry meadows and frontage on a perennial stream.” The Martin Meadow Parcel is 160 acres, most of which is located in Amador County, with some of the parcel crossing Highway 88, and located in El Dorado County.

Lands listed in the potential swap included 920 acres in Tuolumne County, 478 acres in Mono County, 80 acres in Plumas County, and 22 in Inyo County. The lands are surrounded by Inyo, El Dorado, Stanislaus and Plumas National Forests.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.