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Challenges of Being an Urban Wildlife Refuge
“Stone Lakes represents an important addition to
the wildlife refuge system. Protection of its lands will
preserve greatly needed habitat for migratory waterfowl,
while the refuge’s proximity to large urban areas will
allow it to be an extremely valuable educational and
recreational resource.”
Congressmen Robert T. Matsui and
Vic Fazio
12/16/96 letter to Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt
Protecting Habitat and a Way of Life
In 1994, the main challenge facing the Refuge was
convincing the farming families located on lands within
the project boundary that they were not going to have
their farms taken away from them by the government. They
had other concerns as well, including the proliferation
of invasive species, poaching, trespassing, and an
increase in mosquito-carrying diseases. None of these
concerns have come to pass:
· Willing sellers have received asking price or above
for their acreage, and the Service is forbidden to
actively lobby or attempt to coerce landowners.
· The Service fights invasive species on a much broader
range than individual landowners reducing the spreading
of invasive species to adjacent lands, and an aggressive
mosquito control program conducted in partnership with
Yolo Mosquito Vector Control has not increased mosquito
populations in restored wetland areas.
· Some landowners within the boundary have opted for
conservation easements, and, in fact, the Service
prefers that the majority of lands within the boundary
remain in private ownership utilizing conservation
easements to protect both the farming industry and
wildlife habitat.
The Challenges of Urbanization
From skyrocketing land prices to a dramatic increase in
storm water run-off, today’s challenges facing Stone
Lakes National Wildlife Refuge are the result of rampant
urbanization in both incorporated and unincorporated
areas of Sacramento County.
Losing Land
· In 1994, an acre of land in or around the Refuge cost
between $2,000 and $5,000 depending on location. Today,
an acre runs anywhere from $30,000 to $140,000. The
staggering increase in land prices will make additional
expansion of the refuge through fee title nearly
impossible. If the Refuge is to ever fulfill its vision
of protecting 18,000 acres, it appears that the only
available options for expansion are through mitigation
banks, conservation easements, and donations.
· As more cattle grazing ranches and row-crop farms are
converted to housing developments, important foraging
and nesting areas for Special Interest and Endangered
species disappear.
Storm Water Run-off and Water Quality
· All storm water run-off and drainage from the
communities of West Laguna, Lakeside, the Stonelake
development, East Franklin Plan, and Laguna Ridge in Elk
Grove, and Anatolia in Rancho Cordova either currently
flows to the Refuge or will when construction is
completed.
· Elk Grove city leaders plan to build the fifth
largest retail mall and commercial center in America
over the Stone Lakes watershed and within six miles of
the Refuge.
· The increase of storm water run-off and drainage from
the combined development and impervious surface
construction over the Stone Lakes watershed has not been
quantified, nor has any collective study of water
quality been conducted.
More Than a Wildlife Refuge…A Jewel in Our Own
Backyards
It is unfortunate that some things must become rare to
be appreciated. As open space disappears in the
Sacramento Valley, its value to both residents and
visitors will go up. Therefore, the good news about
urbanization is the influx of residents who recognize
that the Stone Lakes area offers a unique educational
and recreational experience literally in their own
backyards. It is also a special interest destination,
providing economic value by bringing in tourism dollars
and local tax revenue. As the valley is built-out, Stone
Lakes will be more than a wildlife refuge; it will be a
sanctuary for those wishing to escape the noise and
frenzy of civilization, even if they only have a few
hours.
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