Jackson – The Board of Supervisors continued their discussion Tuesday on the feasibility of becoming a qualified donee for over 4,500 acres of regional land made available for stewardship through a PG & E settlement. The proposed plan dates back to 2000, when a bankruptcy settlement agreement with the state required PG & E to donate their surplus lands to public entities or non-profit organizations. After concern was expressed over how stewards would be chosen, a Pacific Land and Forest Stewardship Council was established to spearhead designation of donees. Donees can be land owners or conservation easement holders with a say over land use, but not both. It is expected that approximately half of the 140,000 acres of PG & E lands will ultimately be donated. Consultant John Hoffman said the county is competing with many other interested parties. Mary Adelzadeh, Regional Land Conservation Manager with the Stewardship Council, said “our primary purpose is to conserve and enhance these watershed lands.” She said “we’re seeking organizations interested in holding fee title” as well as “organizations interested in a land conservation role.” She said the primary role of a title holder “is really monitoring, with no management involved.” Amador County is among 19 entities interested in fee title on parcels of approximately 2,607 acres of land in the North Fork Mokelumne area, 914 acres in the Lower Bear area and 1,028 acres in the Blue Lakes area. Other applicants include the Amador Water Agency, the California Department of Fish and Game and the US Forest Service. Supervisor Richard Forster made clear his opinion that the lands would be better managed under local control, versus control by the state or federal government. “If the interests are held by Amador County groups then obviously they’re going to care more about what happens to that land,” said Forster. “We don’t want someone like fish and game coming in where they have so many conservation easements that they can’t “do a good job managing them.” Board Chairman Ted Novelli asked if it was possible for PG & E to change the acreage. Adelzadeh said they can, and “PG & E has an application pending with the Federal Energy Commission to build another (water) plant in the Lower Bear area.” Adelzadeh said the Stewardship council is already in the process of screening and reviewing applicants. Hoffman said there is a meeting scheduled for August 20 for all those interested in owning the land. Hoffman said the Stewardship Council will be meeting on September 18 to visit various properties under consideration. He said there will be a workshop to be scheduled in October to solicit the public input. “These decisions are going to effect ecology, wildlife and the ability to transfer water back and forth,” said Forster. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.