The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 02271990 - S.3 -;� S . 3 T0" BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FROM: Supervisor Tom Torlakson Contra Costa DATE: February 27 , 1990 County SUBJECT: ANALYSIS OF CALIFORNIA WILDLIFE PROTECTION ACT SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDED ACTION: Direct the County Administrator's Office to prepare an analysis of the California Wildlife protection Act for consideration by the Board of Supervisors for endorsement. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: I endorse the California Wildlife Protection Act. The attached material provides additional information about the act . CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE: �✓Y l . RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S) ACTION OF BOARD ON February 27, 1990 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT ) I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AYES: NOES: AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN ABSENT: ABSTAIN: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. CC: County Administrator ATTESTED �1t- c/ a7. /990 Phil Batchelor, Jerk of the, Board of Supervisors and County Administrator M3e2/7-83 BY , DEPUTY California Wildlife Protection Committee December 13, 1989 Dear Contra Costa Supervisor: We are writing to invite your participation in one of the most important campaigns in the history of American wildlife protection. The California Park and Recreation Society has endorsed this measure, and strongly urges your support as well. CPRS is convinced the passage of the Act will result in substantial additional funding for local park and wildlife projects. Specifically the Act accomplishes the following: * allocates $20 million per year for 30 years toward habitat for rare and endangered species; * allocates $10 million per year for 30 years toward habitat for mountain lion, deer and native oak; * makes it illegal to kill a mountain lion for reasons other than protection of life or property. Of special interest to local agencies is $2 million per year for the next 30 years in matching grants for the acquisition of habitat, wildlife corridors and urban trails, nature interpretation programs, and other projects that bring urban residents into parks and wildlife areas. In the largest volunteer signature gathering campaign in California history, more than 5, 000 volunteers throughout the' state gathered 671, 000 signatures - almost double the needed amount to qualify the measure for the June 1990 ballot. We are confident that this initiative will pass, since our polling shows it to be very strong and the direct mail response has been overwhelming. We feel certain that upon reading the enclosed information, you will want to join a wide variety of conservation groups and a myriad of state and local officials in supporting the California Wildlife Protection Committee Act. A Project of: The Planning and Conservation League • 909-121h St. w203 • Sacramento, CA 0 95814 -4W- SAMPLE RESOLUTION WHEREAS, the Act would provide local agencies $2 million for 50 percent matching grants for the creation, enhancement and management of, urban trails, nature interpretation programs and other programs which bring urban residents into park and wildlife areas, and for acquisition of habitat and wildlife corridors, and WHEREAS, the Act would provide $1 million for acquisition of lands in and adjacent to state park systems, and WHEREAS, the Act would provide $30 million per year for thirty years towards habitat acquisition for rare and endangered species, mountain lions, deer and native oak,and WHEREAS, the Act would utilize whenever possible the services of the California Conservation Corps and local community conservation corps; THEREFORE, be it resolved that the hereby endorses the California Wildlife Protection Act of 1990, and encourages all residents to likewise preserve the health of our world and the beauty of our state's wildlife heritage forever. r>..::......:....,..--.vawm.,;z,...«r:.p.;a<�.s!"i"xr.: ^ea^ec •h,5..}nMR, .,".-'.,'•`. 3.. 8?: s: ...E:.'o.'::':::. ?.;ii'%'"' :�•�� QUESTIONS &ANSWERS `K. f... V. about the .r.: 1 ..ms�rsi'�g' CALIFORNIA WILDLIFE vX;o:fry� PROTECTION INITIATIVE X .; `r What is the Wildlife Protection Initiative? $ nri The Initiative bans the sport hunting of mountain lions and provides funds for the protection of habitat for rare and endangered species,deer,mountain lions,and other wildlife. {=:n V; : , , . " WhyVIA should we protect mountain lions? °' '' o l� photo by Ron Hyde The mountain lion,also known as the cougar,puma or panther,is the last remaining large predator left in California. We have lost the wolf,jaguar,and grizzly bear through excessive hunting and habitat loss. We don't know today how many of the secretive mountain lions remain in California. We do know there aren't very many. We need at least one symbol of our vanishing wilderness to roam unhunted and free. The mountain lion plays a vital role in maintaining the forest ecosystem,since it is at the top of the food chain and helps maintain the ecological balance of the forest. Isn't the California Mountain Lion already protected? No,in 1985 the Governor'vetoed the last bill approved by the Legislature which would have provided protection for the mountain lion. Ever since then,the Fish and Game Commission has been trying to establish a hunt for these magnificent creatures. Two other attempts to protect mountain lions have failed in the Legislature. It's time for the people to act, since the public overwhelmingly supports this protection. What is"sport hunting"of mountain lions? Unlike hunting where the hunter has to use skill to kill the prey,mountain lion hunting relies on packs of dogs to futd and tree the mountain lion. The mountain lion believes it has found safety,but the hunter walks over to the tree and blasts the lion at close range. It makes no difference whether the lion is a nursing mother with kittens,or whether the lion is mature or not. Any treed lion is killed. In an even more perverse hunt,a"hottndsman"trees the lion and then calls a hunter from another part of the state or country to come out and shoot the lion. The lion can be kept treed without food or water for two or more days while the hunter flies in to the hunt location. Mountain lion hunters only seek a trophy head or skin to be placed on the wall. Unlike other hunters,mountain lion hunters usually do not consume their prey. What about mountain lions that are a threat to livestock or human safety? Any lion that threatens livestock or humans could be destroyed immediately. Any lion that killed livestock could be taken through a permit from the Department of Fish and Game. How would additional wildlife habitat be protected? The Wildlife Protection Act creates the Habitat Conservation Fund,which will receive$30 million a year for the next thirty years. These funds will be used to acquire and restore deer and mountain lion habitat,native oak woodlands, endangered species and other important habitat throughout California. All of the money for the fund will come from existing revenue sources. No new taxes will be required. What type of habitat would be acquired? One third of the habitat acquired would be for deer and mountain lions. Native oak woodlands would be given special attention in this category. Two thirds would be for endangered species and other rare habitat. Within this category$3 million a year would be spent on stream and river habitat,and$3 million a year would be spent on wetlands. Who will acquire the habitat? Every state agency already involved in habitat acquisition will implement the program. The yearly allocations are: Coastal Conservancy-$4 million;State Parks Department-$2S million;Local Park and Open Space Districts-$2 million;California Tahoe Conservancy-$.5 million;Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy-$5 million for the fust ten years;Wildlife Conservation Board-$16 million for the fust ten years,$21 million a year thereafter. In an average year,where would the$30 million come from? Ten percent of the Unallocated Account from the Tobacco Tax would provide$15 to$16 million. The Coalition for the Healthy California,the sponsor of the Tobacco Tax Initiative,has approved this use of the funds as consistent with the original intent of the Tobacco Tax Initiative. Bond funds(such as from Proposition 70)would currently provide well in excess of the remaining$15 million. The Environmental License Plate Fund(which now totals about$28 million a year)should provide at least$3 million a year for habitat purposes. There is no reason that legitimate environmental programs would be hurt by this redirection of the ELPF. There are several programs being funded now that are inappropriate uses for the ELPF. These funds can and should be used for habitat protection. The Resources Account of the Tobacco Tax Fund can provide from$3 to 10 million a year. The Wildlife Restoration Fund(which is based on revenue received from horse racing),and other funds set up by the Legislature or the voters in the future could also provide funding. The Endangered Species Checkoff Fund could also be used. The total of all the funds listed above is well in excess of$30 million. Any shortfall would be made up by the General Fund,but the General Fund should not be needed. �• Why do we need to devote resources to habitat protection? TIME magazine's Endangered Earth issue noted that the greatest danger to the Earth's environment is extinction of species. More than 100 species become extinct each day primarily due to loss of habitat. Despite our best efforts to protect Californias wildlife,we are losing the battle here too. More than a �. third of our native species are listed as rare or endangered,and dozens more tl�i�." '• - ,!!^�.,, are also threatened with extinction. .,('�A._ �r—ldb'`'1D`" &1111 The California state budget is approximately$50 billion a year. The habitat conservation fund would be less than one- tenth of one percent of the state budget. This is a small price to pay to protect our wildlife heritage. We have already lost more than ninety percent of our wetlands and riparian habitat. Many thousands of acres of wildlife habitat is being lost each year to urban growth and agricultural development..We must act now to assure that some remnants of our California wildlife heritage will endure. Who supports the Initiative? The Wildlife Protection Act is endorsed by virtually every major conservation organization in California,including the Sierra Club,the Mountain Lion Coalition,Defenders of Wildlife,the Planning and Conservation League,Californians for Parks&Wildlife(Ca1PAW),the California Wildlife Protection Committee and many others. Who opposes the Initiative? The National Rifle Association is expected to be the major opposition force. The California Wildlife Federation,which was expelled from the National Wildlife Federation because of its pro-gun attitude,can also be expected to oppose. The Farm Bureau and the California Cattlemen's Association can be expected to oppose because they are against the acquisition of additional wildlife habitat. What can I do to help? Volunteers will gather all of the 600,000 signatures necessary to place the initiative on the ballot. Your active participation in the organized volunteer petition effort is crucial to the success of the drive. Financial contributions are also needed and appreciated. Thanks for your help! California Wildlife Protection.Committee 1012 J Street,Suite 202 Sacramento,CA 95814 (916)444-2287 California Wildlife Protection Committee Supporters U.S. Senator Alan Cranston State Superintendent of Schools Bill Honig Attorney General John Van de Kamp State Senators Ed Davis Nick Petris Milton Marks Robert Presley Henry Mello Assemblymembers Bruce Bronzan Jackie Speier Byron Sher John Burton Terry Friedman Tom Bates Lloyd Connelly Tom Hayden Sam Farr Burt Margolin Richard Katz Delaine Eastin William Penn Mott, former Director National Parks Service California Parks and Recreation Society Marin County Board of Supervisors Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors Cities of Capitola, Santa Cruz, Santa Clarita Greater Vallejo Recreation District Ambrose Recreation and Park District, Pittsburg Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Elk Grove Community Services District Tuolumne County Parks and Recreation Director Leon Casas Jr. Riverside County Park and Recreation Director Paul Romero Santa Clarita Valley Board of Realtors Audubon Society Chapters of Laguna Hills, La Purisima,. Madrone, Mendocino, Napa-Solano, Ohlone, Pomona Valley, San Diego, San Fernando Valley, Santa Barbara, Sequoia, Tulare American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Big Sur Land Trust Defenders of Wildlife Environmental Defense Fund Sierra Club Fund for Animals Oak Foundation Humane Society of the United States Sanctuary Forest League to Save Lake Tahoe Marin Conservation League Mountain Lion Coalition People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals Planning and Conservation League Santa Susanna Mountain Park Association Margaret Owings George B. Schaller Recreational Equipment Incorporated (REI) KTVU Television, Oakland Ed Asner, Bonnie Franklin, Whoopi Goldberg, Earl Holliman, Rue McClanahan, Sally Struthers, Joanne Woodward, Gretchen Wyler CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 1. ENDANGERED AND THREATENED SPECIES Mammals Mountain lion Salt-marsh harvest mouse (C,F-e) San Joaquin kit fox (C-t;F-e) Birds , Californa black rail (C-t;.F�-c2) 'Suisun song sparrow (C-c.) Reptiles Alameda whipsnake (C-t;f-C2) 2. HABITATS UNDER STATE PROTECTION Wildlife Conservation Board Point Edith Wildlife Area California Conservation Corps Center State Parks Mt. Diablo State Park Bethany Res. State Recreation Area 3 . CLASSES OF HABITATS THAT ARE CANDIDATES FOR ACQUISITION Aquatic: Estaurine (marshes) Wetlands: Saline emergent Oak Woodlands: Coastal Oak . Valley Oak i i I Contra Costa Times, November 15,1989. Petitioners confident the '11 win lion-hunt: ban ! t SACRAMENTO (AP) —Environ- the gauntlet, its head plumage bris- . mentalists said Tuesday they have.:,. thng. enough signatures to qualify an ini- Steve Karlin of Wildlife .Asso- tiative to ban trophy mountain lion :-ciates.said the 12-pound eagle had hunting and set aside $30 million a ,been wounded illegally in Alaska year for 30 years to buy wildlife and cannot fly. It is part of a menag- habitat. erie used for school assemblies and The environmentalists,led by the other public appearances. i.'`.Planning:,a id Conservation League, .:The director of the Planning and brought samples of wildlife to two: :Conservation League,Gerald Meral, 1 news conferences, a mountain lion said about 5,000 unpaid volunteers ;•to the one in Los Angeles and a bald :collected 671,079 signatures that eagle to the one in Sacramento....'- ...were being turned in Tuesday for �:. The bald eagle presided.sternly`: ;verificaGoa Required are 372,178 t.over the Sacramento proceedingsvalid voter signatures to put the Cal- e '... ' while on the arm of handler Eva ifornia .Wildlife Protection Act'on Blasberg until it tried to jump off,: .the June ballot.. apparently forgetting that its legs' . .The initiative would ban trophy were lashed to Blasberg's gauntlet. hunting of mountain Bons,but allow There.ensued a mighty whacking hunting by permit of lions that kill . of wings and flying of feathers until farm or ranch animals. He said the the bird, named America, managed mountain lion is not an endangered to get itself right-side up again on species, but may become one. r F 1 1 y c