Environmental Impact Statement - Sonoma Land Trust

California Department of Fish and Game
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Chapter 1. Introduction, Purpose, and Need
Project Founders
With the assistance of private and federal, state, and local public funds, Sonoma
Land Trust acquired the Dickson Ranch and North Point Joint Venture properties
in late 2004 and early 2005. Since 2004, SLT has held title to the Sears Point
properties while it conducts restoration planning. During this period, SLT has
maintained the property’s pre-existing leases for oat-hay farming, cattle grazing,
and the Black Point Sports Club.
The Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District provided
public funds totaling $2.6 million toward the purchase of Dickson Ranch. The
California Wildlife Conservation Board, the State Coastal Conservancy, and the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Coastal Estuarine Land
Conservation Program together provided public funds totaling $8,765,000 toward
the purchase of the North Point Joint Venture property. The Gordon and Betty
Moore Foundation provided $8 million that was applied to the purchase of both
properties.
Funds applied to purchase the properties come with land use restrictions and
obligations that guide SLT’s plans to eventually transfer these properties into
permanent public ownership. SLT raised approximately $17 million to purchase
the properties with the explicit intention of holding title to them for
approximately 5 years while it conducts wetland restoration planning. Following
the completion of restoration plans and/or restoration construction, SLT will
transfer title of portions of the property to state and federal agencies to be
managed as wildlife habitat and for public access. Most of the Sears Point
property (theThe property south of the SMART rail line will transfer to the State
of California, to be managed by the CDFG, while approximately 4500 acres
between the SMART rail line and Highway 37 will transfer to the USFWS as
part of the San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge. The upland areas north of
Highway 37 may be transferred to the USFWS, or may be retained by SLT for
long term management.
As such, SLT’s wetland restoration planning has been guided in part by the
requirements and management policies and objectives of the properties’ longterm
landowners, CDFG and the USFWS. Covenants and restrictions associated
with the acquisition funds included a conservation easement recorded on Dickson
Ranch (held by the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space
District), an Irrevocable Offer to Dedicate (OTD) to the State applied to the
North Point Joint Venture parcel, and a plan for disposition of the properties,
which defines the transfer of the properties for inclusion in the CDFG Tolay
Creek management area and the San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge.
Disposition of Sears Point Properties
Beginning in 2004, SLT has worked with CDFG and USFWS officials to
determine the distribution of the 2,327 acres. Based on the each agency’s
respective management policies and the potential to achieve management
Sears Point Wetland and Watershed Restoration
Project Final Environmental Impact
Report/Environmental Impact Statement
1-4
April 2012