Loading...
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.