Preserving Old-Growth Redwoods in Humboldt County

by Sev Williams | Apr 2, 2013 | CEQA Successes, Plants, Wildlife and Open Space

Headwaters Grove in Humboldt County spans 3,000 acres and contains redwood trees that are over 2,000 years old. This area was the largest unprotected old-growth redwood forest in the world and was seriously threatened by logging activities. Logging companies owned the...

Preserving California’s Threatened Walnut Woodlands

by Sev Williams | Mar 19, 2013 | CEQA Successes, Plants, Wildlife and Open Space

Chino Hills State Park, located in the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains in Orange County, is a 14,000 acre-park encompassing rolling, grassy hills and large stands of oaks, sycamores, and walnut trees. In 2007, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern...

Preserving Valuable Timberland in the Sierras

by Sev Williams | Jun 23, 2013 | CEQA Successes

Recognizing the need to ensure the long-term viability of the timber industry, the Legislature established the “Timberland Production Zoning” designation, allowing owners of TPZ lands tax relief between timber harvests. In 2008, Lassen County approved the rezoning of...

Requiring a Climate Action Plan in Stockton, an Area Suffering from Poor Air Quality

by Sev Williams | May 2, 2013 | CEQA Successes, Climate

In 2007, the City of Stockton adopted a new General Plan that allowed massive sprawl development in new “villages” at the fringe of the City. Community members were concerned that the Plan would lead to further deterioration of the City’s downtown and degrade the...

Preserving Critical Habitat for Endangered Species in Coachella Valley

by Sev Williams | Feb 18, 2013 | CEQA Successes, Plants, Wildlife and Open Space

The Palmwood Estates project would have created a huge resort and golf complex in the Coachella Valley near the popular Joshua Tree State Park. The Coachella Valley provides critical habitat for several endangered species, and the Palmwood area specifically serves as...

Preserving a Key Gateway to Lake Tahoe

by Sev Williams | Jan 3, 2013 | CEQA Successes, Plants, Wildlife and Open Space

Thanks to a lawsuit brought under the California Environmental Quality Act, major landowners agreed to preserve most of the near-pristine Martis Valley while allowing appropriate development adjacent to already-developed areas. Located just outside of Lake Tahoe,...