QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. HOW MANY
ACRES OF FORESTS DOES SONOMA COUNTY HAVE?
The actual
number of acres currently devoted to timber production in Sonoma County as of
March 2002 is about 230,000 acres.
Altogether there are about 375,000 acres capable of growing mixed
conifers that for various reasons are not presently doing so.
2. WHAT ARE
WE PROTECTING THESE FOREST FROM?
We are trying to prevent these
timberlands from being “converted” to industrial agricultural uses, mainly but
not only vineyards. Conversion
of forestlands is permanent. Many complex ecological processes are
tragically disrupted. Once forestland is converted to agriculture or other
uses, its regeneration into a
healthy forest ecosystem will take
generations.
3. WHY IS NOW
THE TIME TO TRY AND PROTECT THEM?
With the
growth of the wine industry, and other agricultural demands, there has been
pressure even this year from outside our county, and our country, to clear
these forests and plant industrial crops.
Though the wine industry is presently slow, this could change in any
future year. Also the Sonoma County
General Plan is now being updated, providing the public a chance to express a
desire to see these timberlands protected.
4. WHY
SHOULDN’T THE FORESTS BE CONVERTED TO AGRICULTURAL USES?
Conversion
of wildland to vineyards or other row crops causes serious environmental
impacts. These include: a) disruption
of wildlife corridors and habitat fragmentation. b) ground water depletion c) downstream flooding d) pollution to fresh water sources caused
by pesticides/herbicides, sediment and mobilization of mercury, asbestos and
other geological particulates e)
sub-surface hydrologic flow changes f) water diversion g) recontouring h) deep soil disruption i)
increasing rate of flow in streams causing stream bank failure, mass wasting of land and streams, and river
disequilibrium j) micro-climate changes k) harm to endangered species and
depletion of their habitat. l) aesthetic impacts.
.
5. WHAT IS
THE GENERAL PLAN?
The County
government of Sonoma County is responsible for regulating development within
the unincorporated areas of the County. The County's principal means for
accomplishing this task is the General Plan, which prescribes the policies and
guidelines for making land use decisions.
It has
been almost 12 years since the adoption of the current General Plan in March,
1989. Although some believe the Plan is still strongly supported by the
community at large and remains effective, a number of its provisions are in
need of reevaluation and updating. With the ongoing release of the year 2000
census, coupled with the ongoing update of the Housing Element, now is the time
to update the Plan.
6. WHAT ARE THE CHOICES WE HAVE REGARDING THE
TREATMENT OF OUR FORESTS?
The four options that are being
considered as a part of the new General Plan are:
1.
Continue with the status quo because the fraction of
timberlands that have been converted to vineyards is less than 1%.
2.
Discourage the conversion of timberland by not allowing
agricultural uses that would require conversion in the 69,000 acres that are
zoned TP (Timber Production).
3.
Protect the 194,000
acres of forest in the RRD (resource and rural development) Land Use category
by not allowing conversions for industrial or other development whether or not
they are zoned for timber production.
4.
Allow
conversion of the 69,000 acres of TP on a case- by- case basis.
7. WHAT IS THE BEST OPTION?
Option
3 gives the most protection to the most number of forested acres, 194,000
acres.
8. WHAT ABOUT OPTION 2? WON’T THAT PROTECT FORESTS?
Option 2 is a step in the right direction, but an
inadequate step. Option 2 will only
protect about 1/3 as much forest as Option 3.
Moreover, the 1/3 protected by Option 2 already enjoys some protection
because it is in Timber Production Zoning (TPZ). Historically, most forest conversions have not been in the TPZ
areas. So Option 2 is too little
protection, and the protection that is offered is not where the protection is
most needed.
9. WHAT ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORT OPTION 3?
Sierra
Club, Townhall Coalition, Friends of Gualala River, and the Audubon Society all
support Option Three. More
organizations are expected to soon support Option 3.
10. HAVE ANY STATE OR FEDERAL AGENCIES TAKEN
POSITIONS ON THE FOREST PROTECTION
OPTIONS?
The North
Coast Water Quality Control Board has publicly gone on record supporting Option 3.
11. WHAT IS THE PUBLIC RESPONSE TO THE QUESTION
OF WHICH OPTION IS BEST?
Public comment has been almost unanimously
supportive of Option 3.
12. WHAT ARE THE FORESTS THAT WOULD BE PROTECTED
BY OPTION 3?
The vast
majority of these forests are in the Western part of Sonoma County, in the
Fifth Supervisoral District. That’s why it is so significant that
Supervisor Mike Reilly, the Supervisor whose district would be most affected by Option 3, has come out in
strong support of it.
13. WHAT HAPPENS IF OPTION 3 IS NOT PART OF THE GENERAL PLAN?
There will
be less protection for the 194,000 acres of our Redwoods and Douglas firs,
which can then be cleared more easily
to make way for vineyards or other industrial agriculture projects.
14. WHO CAN WE CONTACT TO VOICE OUR OPINION?
The Planning Commission and the Board of
Supervisors need to hear from you. They
need to hear from more than just those who stand to
profit financially by destroying forests.
Please take just a minute or two to send letters to:
1) THE PLANNING COMMISSION: 707-565-2563 maddybook@sonoma-county.org
2550 Ventura Ave.
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
2) BOARD OF SUPERVISORS: 707-565-2241 lgerber@sonoma-county.org
575 Administration Drive, Room 100A
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
For a local issue like this, even one
letter can significantly affect the outcome
Email us at: forest@ecostewards.org
Or find out more at: www.redwood.sierraclub.org/sonoma