Political Action Education Committee

The Farm Bureau Political Action and Education Committee (PAEC) focuses on a variety of local, state and federal issues that affect agriculture. The educational component provides information to the public so that the story of agriculture can be heard and understood.  The political component works on numerous topics that include: land use, water, local government, taxes, air quality, state policy and federal legislation. The issues are dynamic and new topics are never in short supply. The PAEC committee meets monthly on the second Tuesday at the Farm Bureau office in Ukiah. If you are interested in participating, please contact us at 462-6664.

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The following are some of the issues the Mendocino County Farm Bureau Political Action & Education Committee (PAEC) have been working on to support our members since April.

Willits Bypass
Caltrans has purchased land to build the bypass and provide mitigation for the project which has impacted a number of MCFB members. One MCFB member, John Ford, worked with Caltrans in good faith to allow the sale of agricultural land for the project while retaining agricultural uses for some of the mitigated land. To that end he sold land to Caltrans on the  condition he would be granted a grazing lease for some of the mitigated land; Caltrans agreed and signed a lease with John Ford. Everything was progressing smoothly until the US Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) informed Caltrans that the proposed  management plan would have to be altered and the acreages allowed to be grazed would need to be significantly reduced   before ACE would grant the 404 permit (because the project involved wetlands, under the Clean Water Act (CWA) Caltrans needed a 404 permit) required to move forward with the project.   The loss of the 404 permit and the related postponement of the project would also cause Caltrans to not receive federal transportation funding. Since Caltrans is on a deadline to obtain all of the necessary permits, including the 404 permit,  Caltrans has altered the previous management plan and  has proposed to substantially reduce the amount of land that they had agreed to lease back to individuals with livestock grazing leases on the mitigated properties including John Ford. Since the decision to reduce grazing on the mitigated propertied will impact his  operation, John Ford did some research and found an ACE and US EPA memorandum dated May 3, 1990 regarding CWA Section 404 Regulatory Program and agricultural activities. This memo stated that ongoing agriculture is exempt from having to get a 404 permit. John pointed out to Caltrans that the land in question had been in constant agricultural use and was    therefore exempt under this MOU. When ACE was informed of  the ongoing agricultural use of the land should exempt  Caltrans from the requirement of having to get a 404 permit, ACE replied that since the present landowner, Caltrans, is not a farmer the exemption does not apply.

Devon Jones arranged a meeting in Willits on May 23rd with MCFB members and invited Caltrans, ACE, EPA, Department of Fish & Game, North Coast Regional Water Quality Board and others. The meeting was well attended, but ACE declined   stating they will be holding a public comment session at some point in July. MCFB will keep members informed of when any related documents are released for public comment.  At present John Ford and others are having to look for leases on other lands for grazing livestock in order to remain in business while working to continue to graze on the Caltrans properties.

State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) notice that water diverted for frost use is “unreasonable” downstream of Lake Mendocino and Lake Sonoma

In brief, the SWRCB has said in a notice dated May 19, 2011 that regardless of the diverters basis of right, all diversions for frost protection from the "Russian River stream system" including ground water, except upstream from Lake Mendocino and Lake Sonoma, is unreasonable unless the diverter is part of an approved Water Demand Management Plan (WDMP) and the WDMP has been approved by the SWRCB. In addition stream gauge monitoring locations that are approved by both the NMFS and CDF&G are required. MCFB and CFBF are actively working on this due to the added expense required of members and the precedent setting action of the notice. There will be much more to come on this.

Mendocino County Storm Water Pollution Prevention Procedure Ordinance (SWPPP)

MCFB, the Mendocino County Agriculture and Business Coalition (ABC), Employers Council, Builders Exchange and others have been working together and will be submitting comments to the county on this ordinance. As I reported in April, the way the ordinance is currently written agriculture and forestry are considered potential polluters and would be subject to fines.

Summary

Due to the financial straits of both our county and the state there will be many attempts to increase fees and regulations on landowners. Your active participation and membership in Mendocino County Farm Bureau is needed to help prevent excessive governmental intrusion into your business and property. One important way to help MCFB is to talk to your neighbors and friends that are not members, tell them the benefits of membership, what MCFB does for our members and ask them to join. The more members MCFB has the stronger we become and the more we are listened to.