Quarterly Status on Projects and Programs - Sonoma County ...

MaxProject Location: Mill Creek Road andSweetwater Springs Road, west ofDry Creek near HealdsburgSupervisorial District: 4 thProject Manager: Stuart Martin, 565-7362Estimated Project Budget: to bedeterminedProject Completion: to bedeterminedPartners: On behalf of thelandowner, the Sonoma Land Trusthas applied for a CA ForestConservation Program grant throughthe Wildlife Conservation Board to fund 50% of the acquisition cost.Acquisition Plan Category: Water, Wildlife and Natural AreasProject Overview: The District is proposing to purchase a 2,322-acre conservation easement toprotect the property’s natural resources, including oak woodland, and many riparian areaswhich support endangered salmon and steelhead. The property is one of the largest in the areaand is adjacent to the Pryor property, for which a conservation easement with a forestrycomponent is pending. Protection of the Max and Pryor properties would protect a large habitatwith compatible and sustainable forestry resources in the area. The Max property owners are inthe process of obtaining a non-industrial timber management plan, so timber harvesting will beincorporated into the conservation easement provisions. Negotiations are on hold at the requestof the landowner pending completion of restoration work.