April 1994 Issues Online June 2007 April 2007 February 2007 December 2006 October 2006 August 2006 June 2006 April 2006 February 2006 December 2005 October 2005 August 2005 June 2005 April 2005 February 2005 December 2004 October 2004 August 2004 June 2004 April 2004 February 2004 December 2003 October 2003 August 2003 June 2003 April 2003 February 2003 December 2002 October 2002 August 2002 June 2002 April 2002 February 2002 December 2001 October 2001 August 2001 June 2001 April 2001 February 2001 December 2000 October 2000 August 2000 June 2000 April 2000 February 2000 December 1999 October 1999 August 1999 June 1999 April 1999 February 1999 December 1998 October 1998 August 1998 June 1998 April 1998 February 1998 December 1997 October 1997 August 1997 June 1997 April 1997 February 1997 December 1996 October 1996 August 1996 June 1996 April 1996 February 1996 December 1995 October 1995 August 1995 June 1995 April 1995 February 1995 December 1994 October 1994 August 1994 June 1994 April 1994 February 1994 December 1993 October 1993 August 1993 Select any issue from the menu in this bar.

Vernal Tangle

More than one hiker has accidentally discovered a vernal pool on a seemingly dry path or field - by stepping into the muck. Stepping into an unexpected muck might also be a good description of what happened to State Senator Tim Leslie, R-Roseville when he introduced legislation (SB 1708) to create a vernal pools mitigation bank.

"The intention of this legislation was to simply create something confined to the financing side of the equation," says spokesman Roger Wildermuth. "But we are realizing it is going to be very difficult to limit ourselves just to financing, and that we'll have to work with the issue of regulation."

Leslie's legislation would create a bank account developers could pay into when they encounter environmental impact problems with vernal pools. Such mitigation banks for all kinds of wetlands have been endorsed not only by frustrated developers but also by major environmental groups and agencies.

Cal Fish & Game's counsel Hal Thomas says mitigation banks are viewed as a key to the implementation of a new strategy of advance, rather than reactionary planning. He says the state hopes to see the creation of central land refuges, purchased with development mitigation monies, all over California.

But so far, mitigation bank legislation has been unable to get past the four federal and two state agencies involved in wetland regulation, and Leslie's bill is no exception. Relief is some form may appear this summer, when the National Academy of Sciences releases a report on how wetland regulation can be untangled.

"We have an attorney that we work with who candidly admits this is one of the most complicated areas of law, and one that he often doesn't understand," says Wildermuth.

Leslie says he's committed to making the idea work, despite the mess. "Not only would this bill provide a new model for balancing the needs of business and the environment, but it would also do so without asking taxpayers to foot the bill," he says.

Contact: Roger Wildermuth (916)969-8232

«To @@(newsletter_title)@@ Index

[ ABAG HOME | SFEP HOME ]

Copyright © 2002, San Francisco Estuary Project