Jackson – About 35 people attended a meeting last week to hear about the Pacific Forest & Watershed Lands Stewardship Council programs at Lower Bear River Reservoir and the North Fork of the Mokelumne River. Public input was and still is being sought for “prioritization of potential measures for preserving and enhancing” both areas, and the council was asking interested organizations for plans on their proposed involvement. The Stewardship Council will look at qualifications of future landowners and conservation easement holders. Council Land Conservation Director Ric Notini gave a Land Conservation Program overview, and said the Stewardship Council was formed by Pacific Gas & Electric Company in a 2003 bankruptcy settlement. It was formed to permanently protect PG&E lands, “to develop and implement a plant to permanently protect lands and maintain and improve public access.” Notini said PG&E owns 140,000 acres of watershed lands. The company owns and manages that land, in 22 counties across California, grouped into 47 planning units within 9 watershed areas. The key element of the program, Notini said, is to retain lands needed for operations and make the remainder available to qualified organizations. He said “existing agreements for economic uses” will be honored, and conservation easements – or satisfactory assurance – will be placed on both PG&E retained lands and donated lands. Another key element is tax neutrality. The Stewardship Council’s Mary Adelzadeh, regional land conservation manager, talked to the group about which organizations had expressed interest in the program. 4 organizations were interested in taking a fee title of the “Lower Bear Area Planning Unit,” including Amador County and the Amador County Research Conservation District. Amador County was also among 10 groups listed with interest in taking fee title of the “North Fork Mokelumne River Planning Unit.” Amador County was also among 5 groups interested in getting a conservation easement on the “Upper Mokelumne River Watershed Area.” Notini said the Stewardship Council would have future preservation and enhancement activities to involve landowners, conservation easement holders and land conservation partners. Non-profits, public entities and tribes are eligible to participate. Notini said the program will have “$70 million in funding over 10 years,” being provided by “PG&E ratepayers.” The “funding is available for studies, transaction costs and enhancements.” Its funding policy will be developed with public input. The next step is developing a “land conservation and conveyance plan,” with objectives to preserve and enhance public benefit at the 2 areas, and develop potential measures to achieve the objectives. Online, see www.stewardshipcouncil.org. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.