LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a request from the Lake County Land Trust to make a contribution toward the purchase of a Kelseyville wetlands property that the group says is critical to the health of Clear Lake.
The board approved a $3,000 allocation from the Lake County Fish and Wildlife Advisory Committee's budget for the Land Trust's Big Valley Wetlands project.
The 31-acre parcel, which includes both wetlands and grassland, is located on Clipper Lane and is owned by George Melo. Last fall, the Land Trust announced its was raising funds to purchase the property for $225,000.
Fish and Wildlife Advisory Committee Chair Greg Giusti took the request to the board, explaining that the Land Trust had approached the committee last November to ask for a $5,000 contribution.
Giusti said the committee held off on a decision while it gathered more information, taking up the issue again in January.
At that time, the committee decided that it didn't want to commit to giving the full $5,000 requested, as that would have meant that 50 percent of its budget was devoted to one project, Giusti said.
Instead, the committee settled on a compromise, offering a $3,000 contribution, he said.
“This is a wonderful project,” said Supervisor Jim Comstock, adding that he's hopeful it will be successful.
However, Comstock was concerned about what would happen to the county's funds if the sale fell through.
Giusti suggested the board could could direct the funds be held until the project is completed.
Supervisor Rob Brown said he believed the project's potential for failure was long past. He said he had spoken to Land Trust representatives Roberta Lyons and Michael Friel, and was confident that the sale would go through.
Board members also asked about whether the land would be publicly accessible.
Land Trust Executive Director Catherine Koehler told the board that some of the land will be accessible while, at the same time, the organization works to maintain the wetlands' conservation value.
“Above all, that is what we are trying to protect,” she said.
She said they don't want the lands to be damaged, nor do they want to prevent people from enjoying them.
Supervisor Denise Rushing pointed out that public access isn't always the point in such land purchases. “Those wetlands are key to the lake's health,” Rushing said.
During the meeting, Supervisor Anthony Farrington suggested that the county have a contract to disburse the funds, and County Administrative Officer Matt Perry told the board he felt that was an appropriate approach. Perry said the board could authorize him to both draft and sign the document.
Farrington moved to approve the $3,000 allocation with a contract to require that it goes toward the purchase, with the requirement that if the purchase doesn't take place, the funds are returned to the county.
Brown seconded the motion, which the board approved 4-0. Supervisor Jeff Smith was absent.
With the $3,000 from the county, the Lake County Land Trust has now raised $69,000 toward the $225,000 purchase price, Koehler told Lake County News in a followup interview.
The $69,000 raised so far includes $5,000 from a bequest from the late John Graham, a Land Trust member and avid fisherman.
Koehler said the Land Trust's option to buy the land runs through March 2015. “We're hoping to close long before the option, though,” she said.
The Land Trust's goal is to raise the funds by the end of this calendar year, according to Koehler.
“We are going to see how things go for the first part of the year and then come up with a decision on how to finalize the fundraising, roughly midyear,” Koehler said.
Those interested in donating to the Melo land purchase can visit the Lake County Land Trust's Web site at http://www.lakecountylandtrust.org/ and go to the “donate now” button in the upper righthand corner. The online donation function allows donors to specify where they want their donation spent, Koehler said.
Checks also can be sent to the Lake County Land Trust, P.O. Box 711, Lower Lake, CA 95457, with the specific project noted in the check's subject line.
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