HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES NO 153-89RESOLUTION NO. 153-89
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF BAKERSFIELD ESTABLISHING GOALS
FOR THE BAKERSFIELD EDUCATIONAL STUDIES
AREA AND 2800 ACRE RECHARGE AREA.
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Bakersfield has
established a Bakersfield Educational Studies Area located between Coffee
Road and the Stockdale Highway Bridge, and on the City owned 2800 Acre
Recharge Area; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Bakersfield, in conjunc-
tion and coordination with the Bakersfield Educational Studies Area
Advisory Committee, believes the establishment of management goals for the
area is desirable;
NOW, THEREFORE, be it hereby resolved, by the Council of the City
of Bakersfield as follows:
That the Council of the City of Bakersfield hereby declares the
following management goals for the Bakersfield Educational Studies Area;
Kern River Channel Maintenance for Flood Control
Groundwater recharge and extraction
Educational Studies in the Area
Habitat Preservation in Clearly Defined Areas
Wildlife Preservation in Clearly Defined Areas
Habitat Restoration in Clearly Defined Areas
Wildlife Restoration in Clearly Defined Areas
Limited Public Use in the Area
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution was passed
and adopted by the Council of the City of Bakersfield at a regular
meeting thereof held on August 30, 1989 , by the
following vote:
AYES: COUNCfLMEMF~ER3: ANTHONY, DeMOND, SMITH, RATTY. PETERSON. McDERMOTT, SALVAGGIO
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS NC~ ]3 ~*
A/~TAIN: COUNCILMEMBER~; '~ ~
~. f~ L.('~ (_.- x ../.,..(- ~ ,-.~
CITY CLERK and Ex Officio Clerk of the
Council of the City of Bakersfield
APPROVED August 30, 1989
~CLARENCE E. MEDDERS k~
MAYOR of the City of Bakersfield
APPROVED as to form:
GB:rw
7/28/89
R.2800.1-2
MANAGEMENT PLAN
for
BAKERSFIELD EDUCATIONAL STUDIES AREA and
2800 ACRE RECHARGE FACILITY
SUBMITTED BY: BAKERSFIELD EDUCATIONAL STUDIES AREA ADVISORY COMMITTEE
I. SUMMARY
This plan proposes abrcad set of management actions and agreements
for the 440 acre Bakersfield Educational Studies Area (hereafter
"BESA") and the 2800 Acre Groundwater Recharge Facility (hereafter
"2800 Acres"), both of which are owned by the City of Bakersfield
(hereafter "City") along the lower Kern River. These 2 sites are
uniquely important ecological areas, offering wildlife habitat and
educational opportunities for the greater Bakersfield area. This plan
was developed by the Bakersfield Educational Studies Area Advisory
Committee (hereafter "Cc. mmittee") and will be carried out under a
cooperative program wit]/ the City.
II. BACKGROUND
A. The City of Bakersfield owns over 3700 acres of property along
the lower Kern River, stretching some 14 miles from Manor Street on
the east to Enos Lane on the west. As a result of recent biological
inventories, much of this area has been determined to con~ain
significantly high quality wildlife habitat and native vegetation. The
City is interested in e]nhancing the educational and ecolo~;ical
potential of much of this area and has sought community involvement in
this effort by creating the Bakersfield Educational Studies Area
Advisory Committee.
B. The Bakersfield Educational Studies Area Committee is a City-
appointed advisory group composed of representatives from local
educational institutions and conservation organizations. The Committee
was formally establishe~ on March 1, 1989 by the Council of the City
of Bakersfield by ResolJ. tion No. 32-89. Its primary purpose is to
advise upon the management of the two subject areas. The Committee is
composed of 9 members, ioeing represented by delegates from The Nature
Conservancy, Cal State University, Bakersfield, Kern Country
MANAGEMENT PLAN PAGE 2
Superintendent of Schools, Bakersfield College, Kern-Kaweah Chapter of
the Sierra Club, Kern Audubon Society, California Native Plant
Society, Kern River ParEway Committee and the California Department of
Fish & Game.
C. The BESA consists of approximately 440 acres and provides some
of the finest natural habitat remaining in the southern San Joaquin
Valley, including two critically endangered native California
ecosystems - valley riparian woodlands and annual grassland savannah.
The BESA has been shown to be a unique ecological area of high value,
especially for the endangered San Joaquin Kit Fox and San Joaquin
Antelope Squirrel. It is located along the lower Kern River
immediately north of California State University, Bakersfield,
stretching from Coffee i~oad to ~he Stockdale Highway bridge.
D. The 2800 Acres is ~he site of the City's Groundwater Recharge
Facility and is located from a point 1~ miles downstream from the
Stockdale Highway brid~e to Enos Lane. It contains an impressive
diversity of natural vegetative communities and ~heir asseciated flora
and fauna. Typical native communities include riparian woedlands,
valley saltbush scrub, valley mesquite savannah and annual grasslands.
Periodic flooding of percolation basins within the 2800 Acres provides
seasonal marsh and wetlands conditions for a multitude of plants and
animals.
E. Both the BESA and the 2800 Acres are within the planning
boundaries of the Kern i~iver Plan, which is part of the City's and the
County of Kern's general plan. The BESA is also part of the Kern River
Parkway Plan, a City plan for approximately 1400 acres of the lower
Kern River coverin~ an ~ mile stretch through the metropolitan area.
In both the Kern River Plan and ~he City's adopted Kern River Parkway
Plan, priorities have been established to provide for floed control
and ground water recharge. Additionally, the City has an approved
Channel Maintenance Program that applies to the primary flood channel
of the Kern River through beth areas to meet these priorities.
F. The City and the Committee will cooperatively manage the BESA
and the 2800 Acres in a manner which will promote the areas'
identified wildlife, ecological and educational values. The managemen5
of these areas will be administered in harmony with the City's channel
maintenance and groundwater recharge programs.
III. THE PLAN
A. GOAL. The foremost goal of this plan is to manage the BESA and
2800 Acres as natural areas for the protection, restoratien and
enhancement of the native habitat, wildlife and educational values
~ound on these two sites.
MANAGEMENT PLAN PAGE 3
B. OBJECTIVES. In order to accomplish this goal, two major
objectives are planned:
1. Educational: To provide a location with excellent
opportunities for educational field trips, scientific
research, nature study, and environmental education programs.
2. Habitat Enhancement: To enhance the existing natural habitats
through native plant restoration, development of water sources
for wildlife, control of exotic/feral species, restoration of
land subjected to previous disturbances, proper abandonment of
oil and gas wells, and removal of trash and rubbish. In
addition, a long range objective of the plan is to survey and
identify those areas adjacent to the BESA and the 2800 Acres
which, if acquired, would allow for the expansion of the
protected corridor along the lower Kern River and provide more
open space as Bakersfield experiences future growth.
The following activil~ies are inconsistent with this management plan
and will not be permitted on either site: livestock grazing, tree
cutting and/or firewood removal, overnight camping, off-road vehicle
use, hunting and/or discharge of firearms, introduction of non-native
plants or animals, and other activities which might result in the
incidental take of listed species of wildlife.
C. MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES.
and the 2800 Acres will be shared by
follows:
Management actions for the BESA
the City and the Committee as
The City will:
A. Maintain all signs, fences~
B o
D.
E.
F.
and facilities associated
with the security of both sites, including those
installed or constructed in the future.
Respond to reports of unauthorized use with guard patrols
where possible.
Provide technical assistance to the Committee in the
application for grant monies where feasible.
Permit the various activities consistent with this plan.
Provide for' bike and equestrian trails consistent with
the Kern River Plan and the objectives of this plan.
Comply with applicable sections of both the federal and
state endangered species acts in order to prevent the
incidental take of listed species of plants and animals.
The Committee wi. 11:
A. Prepare a written annual plan for the BESA and the 2800
Acres.
B. Provide ecological review and management advice for any
future projects planned by the City. The Committee
members' wide spectrum of expertise will be shared
MANAGEMENT PLAN PAGE 4
cooperatively with the City in these coordination
efforts.
C. Establish working subcommittees to develop and implement
the goals and objectives of this plan.
D. Maintain all signs, fences, trails and other facilities
associated with the ecological management of both sites,
including those installed or constructed in the future.
E. Enlist community support for the various projects
undertaken in the 2 preserve areas.
F. Hold bi-monthly meetings (6 times/year) on the 4th
Thursday of every other month, beginning in June, 1989.
G. Develop a fire response plan for the BESA and the 2800
Acres that would be shared with both city and county fire
departments.
D. REVIEW OF PROPOSED ACTIVITIES. The City and the Committee agree
that uses and activities proposed for the BESA and the 2800 Acres by
or through either party shall be submitted to the other party for
review and comment. In order to accomplish this review process, the
City and Committee will:
1. Meet two times each year for major program review.
2. Submit written notice to the other party for review and
evaluation at least 45 days in advance of any specific
project.