In what may be the first of its kind between a habitat lands management organization and a unit of local government, the Conservancy and Sutter County have signed a development agreement governing habitat construction and development activity. The agreement will facilitate long range planning and coordination between the two entities.
“We are very pleased this agreement was approved by Sutter County’s Board of Supervisors,” noted Anne Rudin, Conservancy President. “ It sets the stage for a good working relationship that should last many years.”
The agreement term is for 20 years, and covers Conservancy-owned mitigation land in the Sutter County portion of the Natomas Basin. A procedure for revisions is included in the agreement so that any additional Conservancy mitigation land acquisitions can be included.
The agreement, titled “Development Agreement Between The County of Sutter and The Natomas Basin Conservancy,” was approved by the Sutter County Board of Supervisors and the Board of Directors of the Conservancy. The Conservancy’s Site-Specific Land Management Plan, which details how each of the Conservancy’s preserves will be structured and used, was an instrumental part of the agreement.
The agreement provides for Sutter County to continue to exercise its authority over land use within its borders, and sets a clear plan for the Conservancy’s habitat development activity. This will help both the County and the Conservancy with long-range planning and budgeting.
The Conservancy owns approximately 1,300 acres of land in the Sutter County portion of the Natomas Basin.