4f) Discussion and Possible Action Including Acceptance of a Presentation from the Mendocino County Fish and Game Commission and California Department of Fish and Wildlife Regarding the Need to Establish Riparian, Stream, and Wetland Protections for the Inland Area of Mendocino County; and Direction to Staff
(Sponsor: Supervisor Haschak)
Dear Supervisors,
On behalf California Trout and Trout Unlimited we thank you for taking up this important matter. We are writing to voice our strong support for the County pursuing the development of an ordinance that addresses the recommendations provided by the Fish and Game Commission. In addition to the species projections and fish and wildlife benefits a robust riparian ordinance can provide – protections that are of critical importance to our members – riparian buffers also support a range of water quality and quantity benefits that ultimately ensure our water resources are clean and reliable.
Our groups stand ready to assist the Board with technical information that may help in the development of the ordinance and we thank you for your efforts to protect our shared resources.
Charlie Schneider
Lost Coast Project Manager, California Trout
cschneider@caltrout.org
Matt Clifford
Staff Attorney, California Water Project
Matt.Clifford@tu.org
December 5, 2022
Re: Agenda Item 4f: Mendocino County Riparian Corridor and Wetland Setback Ordinance
Dear Board of Supervisors:
Thank you for your attention on this matter. Protecting Mendocino’s riparian corridors and wetlands is an important step in conserving Mendocino’s valuable biological resources. The County currently lacks adequate protections for these sensitive resources, leading to a demonstrable loss of biodiversity and harm to the environment. We support the Board taking action to develop an ordinance that addresses these shortcomings.
We look forward to engaging in the Board’s process for developing the ordinance that creates tangible improvements and reduces detrimental impacts to wetlands and riparian corridors, not only from development but from other uses.
The California Native Plant Society hopes to be a resource to the Board in providing technical information to assist with development of the ordinance.
We hope the Board and staff keep the following points in mind as they begin this process:
1. Coordinate closely with CDFW, Mendocino FGC, and interested stakeholders (e.g., CNPS) who can provide technical expertise and guidance throughout the drafting process.
2. How is Mendocino’s existing permitting structure going to impact the efficacy of the ordinance? Consider necessary changes to existing permitting processes to ensure that the setback ordinance accomplishes its objectives.
3. Development is not the only source of degradation to wetlands and riparian corridors. Consider incorporating protections against degradation from all land uses.
4. Consider hydrology and ground-water flows that are essential to riparian and wetland integrity and function, and that buffer zones alone may not address impacts to hydrology.
5. Incorporate a requirement for ground-truthing and consultation/review by qualified professionals into the ordinance. Map layer reviews are inadequate.
6. Adopt appropriate definitions that are consistent with state and federal definitions but also take into consideration the unique biological setting of Mendocino County. A practical, clear, consistent, robust classification of wetland and riparian habitats specific for Mendocino County is essential.
Thank you for putting this item on the agenda. Please reach out to us if we can provide assistance.
Sincerely,
Isabella Langone, J.D.
Conservation Program Manager
California Native Plant Society
2707 K Street, Suite 1
Sacramento, CA 95816
ilangone@cnps.org
Andrea Davis and Jim Xerogeanes
Co-Presidents
Sanhedrin Chapter of the Native Plant Society
725 Vichy Hills Drive, Ukiah, CA 95482 wrecodesign@gmail.com jimxflora@gmail.com
Dear Supervisors,
On behalf California Trout and Trout Unlimited we thank you for taking up this important matter. We are writing to voice our strong support for the County pursuing the development of an ordinance that addresses the recommendations provided by the Fish and Game Commission. In addition to the species projections and fish and wildlife benefits a robust riparian ordinance can provide – protections that are of critical importance to our members – riparian buffers also support a range of water quality and quantity benefits that ultimately ensure our water resources are clean and reliable.
Our groups stand ready to assist the Board with technical information that may help in the development of the ordinance and we thank you for your efforts to protect our shared resources.
Charlie Schneider
Lost Coast Project Manager, California Trout
cschneider@caltrout.org
Matt Clifford
Staff Attorney, California Water Project
Matt.Clifford@tu.org
December 5, 2022
Re: Agenda Item 4f: Mendocino County Riparian Corridor and Wetland Setback Ordinance
Dear Board of Supervisors:
Thank you for your attention on this matter. Protecting Mendocino’s riparian corridors and wetlands is an important step in conserving Mendocino’s valuable biological resources. The County currently lacks adequate protections for these sensitive resources, leading to a demonstrable loss of biodiversity and harm to the environment. We support the Board taking action to develop an ordinance that addresses these shortcomings.
We look forward to engaging in the Board’s process for developing the ordinance that creates tangible improvements and reduces detrimental impacts to wetlands and riparian corridors, not only from development but from other uses.
The California Native Plant Society hopes to be a resource to the Board in providing technical information to assist with development of the ordinance.
We hope the Board and staff keep the following points in mind as they begin this process:
1. Coordinate closely with CDFW, Mendocino FGC, and interested stakeholders (e.g., CNPS) who can provide technical expertise and guidance throughout the drafting process.
2. How is Mendocino’s existing permitting structure going to impact the efficacy of the ordinance? Consider necessary changes to existing permitting processes to ensure that the setback ordinance accomplishes its objectives.
3. Development is not the only source of degradation to wetlands and riparian corridors. Consider incorporating protections against degradation from all land uses.
4. Consider hydrology and ground-water flows that are essential to riparian and wetland integrity and function, and that buffer zones alone may not address impacts to hydrology.
5. Incorporate a requirement for ground-truthing and consultation/review by qualified professionals into the ordinance. Map layer reviews are inadequate.
6. Adopt appropriate definitions that are consistent with state and federal definitions but also take into consideration the unique biological setting of Mendocino County. A practical, clear, consistent, robust classification of wetland and riparian habitats specific for Mendocino County is essential.
Thank you for putting this item on the agenda. Please reach out to us if we can provide assistance.
Sincerely,
Isabella Langone, J.D.
Conservation Program Manager
California Native Plant Society
2707 K Street, Suite 1
Sacramento, CA 95816
ilangone@cnps.org
Andrea Davis and Jim Xerogeanes
Co-Presidents
Sanhedrin Chapter of the Native Plant Society
725 Vichy Hills Drive, Ukiah, CA 95482 wrecodesign@gmail.com jimxflora@gmail.com
Please see the attached comments on Agenda Item 4F from Mendocino County Farm Bureau. Thank you