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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 10051993 - S.3 S. 3 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Contra FROM: Supervisor Tom Torlakson Costa County i DATE: f , October 5, 1993 SUBJECT: REFER TO AGRICULTURAL TASK FORCE DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES PLAN TO CANCEL AGRICULTURAL LEASES SPECIFIC REOUESTIS)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)i BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDED ACTION: Refer to the Agricultural Commissioner and the Agricultural Task Force the plan by the Department of Water Resources to cancel agricultural leases on at least 759 acres in Contra Costa County in the Byron area and request a report and recommendation for action by the Board of Supervisors . BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Please reference the attached correspondence from the Contra Costa County Farm Bureau. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE: - ""- RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIONAT RE 5: ACTION OF BOARD ON APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED.., OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE UNANIMOUS(ABSEIL- 24- AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. ATTESTED &&K" 5 Z f 9_3 PHIL BATCHELOR.CLERK OF THE BOARD OF cc: Agricultural Commission SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADM)NISTRATOR Agricultural Task Force Community Development County Administrator BY ,DEPUTY Masa (10/001 Of CONTRA COSTA COUNTY FARM BUREAU i _ •_ 5554 Clayton Road Concord, California 94521 Phone (415) 672-5115 -�- I • o ��-rte '� - 13 September 1993 Honorable Tom Torlakson Supervisor, District 5 300 E. Leland Avenue Suite 100 Pittsburg, California 94565 Dear Tom: The Department of Water Resources has given preliminary notice by telephone only that they plan to cancel agricultural leases on at least 759 acres in Contra Costa County in the area of their Delta Pumping Station in Byron. They will be thirty-day notices so that the leases will not be allowed to run their contracted term. DWR has admitted that they are taking this action because environmental groups are pressuing them to remove cattle from state lands . The land will lay idle . State agencies seem determined to embark on a course to remove cattle from grazing land, causing not only hardship to livestock producers , but exposing surrounding communities and responding fire crews to increased hazard from grassland fires . I am enclosing a copy of a letter I have written to Governor Wilson on this matter. On behalf of our agricultural community I respectfully ask you for any assistance you are able to give us in this very serious situation . Thank you for your continued support of agricultural concerns . Sincerely , l j Jackie Stewart " President - y CONTRA COSTA COUNTY FARM BUREAU 5554 Clayton Road Concord, California 94521 Phone (415) 672-6115 22 August 1993 The Honorable Pete Wilson Governor State of California State Capitol Sacramento, California 95814 Dear Governor Willson: We recently received a telephone call from the Department of Water Resources stating that they are going to cancel our agri- culture lease which is not due to expire until 28 February 1994 . We have been leasing this 23 acres since 1978. They will also be cancelling six other leases in the same area , comprising of at least 759 acres . They have told us that these leases. are to be cancelled because of environmental concerns , and that they are under pressure from environmental groups to discontinue cattle• grazing on these lands. The leases are in the area of the Delta Pumping Station in Byron at the eastern end of Contra Costa County near the San Joaquin and Alameda County borders . This area is in a very high fire zone , and the grazing helps minimize the danger. Last June there was a fire in the nearby Altamont Pass which took 1200 acres in just a few min- utes. It could have been even worse if cattle had not already grazed down some of the taller grasses . If the environmental concerns are for native grasses and native hab- itat , they should realize that in a heavy grassland fire, plants and anittials would be totally destroyed. Grazing does not destroy either plants or animals. We all have been good tenante' to the Department of Water Resources . We monitor their roads , advising them of trespassers , out fences , and any other disturbances. We are -scrupulous about making sure that our cattle do not get into any other adjoining state property . We are good stewards of the land, and we do not abuse it. Continued* * r r.' CONTRA COSTA COUNTY FARM BUREAU -�'"'r j 5564 Clayton Road Concord, California 94623 L w` .�► ''" "�� Phone (815) 672.5116 22 August 1993 �. PageTwo 8every a000unt we are told that the .State of California is out o funder and that the situation is terrible and getting worse. if this is so, why would the Department of Water Resources cancel good leases that bring in a regular and prompt paying income. Why would they prefer the land to be idle rather than collect rent , and if it 's going to be idle why not declare it to be surplus , and sell it so that it can go on to the tax rolls. And why is the Department of Water Resources cancelling these leases without letting them run their term, } When a livestock producer is issued a lease for a certain term, the function of their operation is based on the term of that Isass, with a very definite use in mind. Livestock producers do not plan their operation by the day or even by the month. The operation is planned by the seasons for the year at the very leash . If a lease is pre- maturely cancelled , even with a thirty-day notice , the producer is loft with no choice other than to try and f ind .othor land, which is becoming increasingly difficult in this area due to the growing ur- banization. Most likely that pxoduoer will. have to sell the live- stock prematurely whioh, aartainly results in a financial, hardship. Livestock that is gold before it is ready, or in. an off season can cause financial devastation to the producer. We would hope that you would look at this matter if only on they basis of a revenue generating issue for the State of California. We: think the Department of Water Recouross is acting in a very arbitrary manner and we cannot understand why they are willing to give up in- come by cancelling these leases , whioh,# turn puts some Livestock producers in more jeopatrdyo ' The agriculture community provides a large tax base for, the State of California, and when our income is affooted, it obviously results in lase taxes paid back to the State. Cancelling these leases will cause needless hardship to our industry. it: has also been brought to my attention by other Farm Bureau mem- bera that East: Bay Munioipal. Uti.l.itry District is cancelling a 1220 acre lease in the Alhambra Valley #red°of Martinez . The family who Continued. . . CONTRA COSTA COUNTY FARM BUREAU +'04- t 5554 Clayton Road Concord, California 94521 Phone (415) 672.6115 22 August 1993 Page Three has had the lease for many , many years has been given the same reason. Environmental groups are gutting pressure on East Bay Municipal. Util- ity District to discontinue cattle grazing on their lands . when you put these two instances together with the Mt. Diablo ranch situation, it becomes cleat' that there is a concerted even saripted. agenda for these agencies to discontinue all graving on California state lands. it is hard to understand, with all the cute in county fire fighting and emergency services , that the Department of Water Resouroes and other agencies are dotermi.ned to discontinue grazing. We are in the midst of a long and dangerous firs season. The Lack of grazing added to shrinking fire fighting services literally l.eavas us in a very volatile position. 1 mint also go back to the point that why in these hard financial times for the State of California would Department of Water Resources oanoel leases and throw away badly needed income . I respectfully thank you for your attention to the concerns of our agricultural community. B ince,gr�l , ackle Stewart President oat Bob L.Vios , President California Farm Bureau Federation