HomeMy WebLinkAboutLCPA 97-09; Kelly Ranch; Local Coastal Program Amendment (LCPA) (24)ca DEPT FISH AND GAM PAGE 82 a7/a6/2aoa is: sa 6194674239 -
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DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME
Swth Coast Region 4949 Wowridge Avenue San Dlego, Cslifemla 921 23 (868) 487-4201 FAX (868) 4674239
GRAY DAVIS, Oowm or
FILE COPY
July 3,2000
Ms. Sara Wan, Chairperson CaliforniaCoastalComrnission
22350 Carbon Mesa Rd.
Maliby CaEfbrnia 90265
Dear chairperson Wan:
Carlsbsd LCP Amendment 2-99D3, Kelly Ranch
As you know, the Dapartment of Fish and Game has worked extensivciy with the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, the Resources Agency, iocal gouet.ilments and private landowners, to
prepare conservation plans under the CaWbmh Natural CommUnity Conservation Planning
(Nccp) Act. We have worked diligcnt€y om the last several years with the City of carlsbad and
participating Carkbad landowners to prepare their Habitat Management Plan (HMP), Mch
ConstitUtes an NCCP subarea plan within thc Multipb Habitat Consdon Program (MHca) for northwestem San Diego County.
Th6 goal of NCCP is to establish an ecosystem consexvation program with 8 regional
scope to collscrvc sensitive and diverse biological resources, iocludq endangered species, WhiIe
dowing reasonable development cotlsistcllt with the adopted NCCP and local land usc policies.
"he conservation strategy addresses protection of core habitat areas, functional wildlik corridors
and babiiat Wags which will support the full array of native vegetation and animal species over
timc.
The basic ten& of coLlServation biology form the bundation of the Nccf approach to
t?murhg biological diversity. The preserve system should ficus on protecting large blocks of
contiguous habitat to sewe as core rescrves for wildlifd. The plan should avoid protecting
isolated, "postage stamp" sized habitat blocks as these hw greater edge eWs horn adjacent
human uses and can Bctuany result in highez mortality rates remdting m a net loss to species. Small
reserve areas are only effktive for speciality prcscrvcs fbr big& endangered species that are
fouad nowhere else. Core rmes should be close together and co~~ctcd through habitat
Wages that arc of dcient size to providc liveable wilcWfk habitat, not a mw, tenuous
.connection Establishing preserves on a regional, basis is much more cBcctiw than protecting
parctls on an individual, casc-by-case basis. A regional preserve systtm should contain a diverse
representation of physical and environmental waditiom, and should largely be protected from
si@canthumandistur;bance.
The City of Carkbad HMP rand the activc participation by Kelly Ranch examplifj. how thc
NCCP program is intended to work. It is a coopmrtiw cart among Meral, &ate and local
07/06/2000 15: 50 6194674239
_c
Ms. Sara wan
July 3,2000
Page 2
CA DEPT FISH AND GAM - PAGE 83
governments along with property owners to We sound resource presetVation, protection and
enhancement with development. Large projects, such as the Kelly Ranch and other coastal zone
projects, fit well with the region-wide MHCP. The Kelly Ranch plan as agrecd to by the City of
Carhbad, the property owner, and the wildlit& agencies results in a Ear superior biological conservation program than the previously approved 1985 ph
Prior to review by the Coastal Commission, the participating groups have conducted
lengthy negotiations I.esulting m a consensusbased resolution of biological and development
hues for a regional preserve system that fully meets the NCCP corntion standards. We
rcspdblly urge the Commission to participate in and support the development of regional preserve systems through the NCCP process.
If you have any questions regarding these comments, piease fix1 free to contact Mr. Bill
Tippets, at (858) 467-4212 fir more infbrmation.
C. F. Ra&k
Rcgioaal Manager
DeparbnetaofFishandGame RobeRZHight
Sacramento
CaMa Coastal Commission;
Peter Douglas, San Francisco Chuck Damm, San Dicgo