Meeting/Field Tour, BRBNA Conservation Partnership

Fri, Jun 11th 2010, 10:00am - 1:00pm
First open area off of Walker Ridge Road, near the intersection of Walker Ridge Road and Highway 20. Walker Ridge Road is well marked and located on the north side of Highway 20. The open area is on your left (west), not more than 50 yards down Walker Ridge Road.


The Blue Ridge Berryessa Natural Area Conservation Partnership will be hosting a tour of Walker Ridge for its next meeting on Friday, June 11.  The area is rich in biodiversity, with nearby Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC), and is the site of proposed wind energy development.  The Partnership has followed the wind energy proposals for this area for a number of years and it is an issue of major concern to many of our partners.  While the Partnership takes no position on the proposal, we seek to continue to provide a forum for information about the area, its important conservation values, and the status of wind energy development efforts.  On hand to share information will be:

Rich Burns, Field Manager for BLM in the Ukiah field office
Ashley Conrad-Saydah, Renewable Energy Project Manager, CA State Office, BLM
Ellen Dean (UCD herbarium curator and regional flora specialist), 
Craig Thomsen (Rangeland Ecologist at U.C. Davis)

The focus of the tour and talk will be:

1)  The habitat and biodiversity values of Walker Ridge and efforts to protect them.

2)  Proposal for Walker Ridge wind energy development:  The process by which Walker Ridge has become a wind energy site, where we are in that process and what steps remain.  What are the opportunities to influence the process?

3)  Bigger picture of wind energy development around the state/nation - how the environmental community is addressing conflicts between protecting habitat values and the need for green energy.  Where does Walker Ridge fit into this picture? 

Please RSVP so we will have an idea of how many will attend. Also bring a sack lunch.

We will meet at 10:00 a.m. at the first open area off of Walker Ridge Road, near the intersection of Walker Ridge Road and Highway 20. Walker Ridge Road is well marked and located on the north side of Highway 20. The open area is on your left (west), not more than 50 yards down Walker Ridge Road.  Let me know if you need more specific directions.

For more information, contact: 
Suzanne Easton, Director
BRBNA Conservation Partnership
(707) 265-9205