Post by jgaffney on Apr 13, 2010 14:54:58 GMT -5
The PeeDee this morning has an article about a new trail system along the Laguna de Santa Rosa, starting from the Joe Rodota Trail, south of Hwy 12, and running north to Occidental Road. When the Laguna recedes, this is a great area to walk, with a lot of birds and flowers. Here's the article:
Construction is about to begin on 2.4 miles of a long-delayed trail designed to give nature lovers a walk-up glimpse into the Laguna de Santa Rosa.
The work is proceeding as Sonoma County officials seek federal regulatory permits and also to purchase mitigation banks required because the pathway impinges upon wetlands and tiger salamander habitat.
The project that cuts paths into the Laguna will be an important test of the county's ability to create public access to an environmentally sensitive watershed, West County Supervisor Efren Carrillo.
Wait a minute! Back up there! Did that article just say, "Sonoma County officials seek federal regulatory permits and also to purchase mitigation banks required because the pathway impinges upon wetlands and tiger salamander habitat"??
So, let me make sure I get this straight. The County builds a trail alongside the Laguna, so that we can enjoy the wetlands and the fauna. But, the federal government - that would be the Corps of Engineers (that's pronounced "Core", Mr. President) - requires the County to purchase mitigation bank credits before the trail will be permitted. If you haven't checked lately, mitigation bank credits are not cheap. They're anywhere from $50,000 to $400,000 per acre, depending on what you are mitigating. The feds, in their single-mindedness, have just added a bunch to a worthy outdoor project, all in the name of protecting the environment from those eeevill humans.
Construction is about to begin on 2.4 miles of a long-delayed trail designed to give nature lovers a walk-up glimpse into the Laguna de Santa Rosa.
The work is proceeding as Sonoma County officials seek federal regulatory permits and also to purchase mitigation banks required because the pathway impinges upon wetlands and tiger salamander habitat.
The project that cuts paths into the Laguna will be an important test of the county's ability to create public access to an environmentally sensitive watershed, West County Supervisor Efren Carrillo.
Wait a minute! Back up there! Did that article just say, "Sonoma County officials seek federal regulatory permits and also to purchase mitigation banks required because the pathway impinges upon wetlands and tiger salamander habitat"??
So, let me make sure I get this straight. The County builds a trail alongside the Laguna, so that we can enjoy the wetlands and the fauna. But, the federal government - that would be the Corps of Engineers (that's pronounced "Core", Mr. President) - requires the County to purchase mitigation bank credits before the trail will be permitted. If you haven't checked lately, mitigation bank credits are not cheap. They're anywhere from $50,000 to $400,000 per acre, depending on what you are mitigating. The feds, in their single-mindedness, have just added a bunch to a worthy outdoor project, all in the name of protecting the environment from those eeevill humans.
