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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBolsa Chica - Possible Land Exchange - US Fish and Wildlifein Mr. Bruce Babbitt, Secretary Department of the Interior 1849 C Street NW Washington D.C. 20240 Dear Secretary Babbitt, The City of Huntington Beach -surrounds the Bolsa Chica, the largest unprotected coastal wetland area south of San Francisco. This 1700 acre biologically diverse ecosytem is threatened with a development plan which calls for building on over 100 acres of federally designated wetlands and hundreds of acres of adjoining uplands and mesas. The Bolsa Chica is home to six endangered species of birds and several species of special concern. The loss of this invaluable natural area is of great concern to our city and the region. The loss of the Bolsa Chica is of such importance that we formed a special subcommittee to investigate possible funding mechanisms for acquisition and preservation. We understand that the United States Fish and Wildlife Service can acquire surplus federal lands, such as those available through defense base closures, for the purpose of exchange for lands in need of preservation. We believe that the Bolsa Chica is a prime candidate for such an exchange. The Western Regional Director of USF&WS has stated that the Service is working with the American_ Land Conservancy as well as other groups to enlist their help in putting together the necessary details of such an exchange. The City of Huntington Beach supports the USF&WS efforts and requests your assistance in the acquisition and preservation of the entire 1700 acres of the Bolsa Chica. The preservation of the Bolsa Chica as a National Wildlife Refuge through a land exchange would ensure its protection for generations to come. Sincerely, United States Department of the Interior FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE 911 N E llth Avenue Portland. Oregon 97232-4181 In Reply Refer To: ARW-RE Mr. Evan C. Henry Bolsa Chica Land Trust 207 21st Street Huntington Beach, CA 92648 Dear Mr. Henry: APR) 01 1994 Thank you for your letter of February 28, 1994, to Secretary Babbitt in which you encourage the Fish and Wildlife Service to acquire important coastal wetlands at Bolsa Chica. We appreciate your support in this effort and look forward to using your organization as a resource and ally as we consider the alternatives that will ultimately lead to the protection of this unique wildlife area. As you have suggested, one possibility is the use of excess military land as trading stock to foster the acquisition. We are currently looking at the feasibility of such exchanges at Bolsa Chica as well as other areas. As you have stated, these are very complicated and we may need additional authority to enter into them. We are working with the American Land Conservancy as well as other groups to enlist their help in putting together the necessary details of such an exchange. We accept your offer of help and will contact you directly once we determine the actual steps necessary to complete an exchange. In the interim, feel free to contact Richard Moore, our Regional Realty Chief, at 503-231-6209 if you have questions. Sincerely, Regional Director 0 • H-Item - 9/6/94 - Dave Sullivan RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve having the Mayor send a letter on behalf of the Council to the Secretary of the Interior, Bruce Babbitt, asking that he consider the Bolsa Chica for participation in a land exchange wherein the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service would acquire the Bolsa Chica in exchange for surplus federal lands created through the closure of Defense Department base closures. (See attached sample letter.) Addresses Secretary Bruce Babbitt Dept of the Interior 1849 C Street NW Washington D.C. 20240 Senator Barbara Boxer 112 Hart Senate Office Bldg Washington D.C. 20510 Senator Dianne Feinstein 331 Hart Senate Office Bldg Washington D.C. 20510 Rep.Dana Rohrabacher 1027 Longworth House Office Bldg Washington D.C. 20515 Mr. Michael Spearqk Western Regional Director U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 911 Northeast filth Avenue Portland, Oregonr 97232-4181 Mr. George Frampton Dept. Of Interior Asst. Secretary for Fish Wildlife and Parks 1849 C st. Northwest MS3156 Washington D,.C. 20240 C7 r- • Mr. Bruce Babbitt, Secretary Department of the Interior 1849 C Street NW Washington D.C. 20240 Dear Secretary Babbitt, The City of Huntington Beach surro/and270 h Bolsa Chica, the largest unprotected coastal wetland h of San Francisco. The Bolsa Chica is home to six endaspecies of birds and several species of special concern. Anow, currently there is a development plan for the Bolsa which would include building on 130 acres of wetlands acres of adjoining uplands and mesas. The loss of this ile natural area is of great concern to our city. Our cons been such that we established an acquisition fundinommittee to explore possible alternative strategies to p the Bolsa Chica. We understand that the US Fish and Wildlife Service can acquire surplus federal lands such as th se available through Defense Department base closures for the p rpose of exchange for lands in need of preservation. We believe that the Bolsa Chica is a prime candidate for such an exchange ue to the benefit of preserving this this significant biologic ly diverse ecosystem. The Western Regional Dire Service is currently looking at Bolsa Chica. The City of efforts and requests your preservation of the entire designation of the Bolsa Ch'c ensure- protection of this r Sincerely, -tor of USF&WS has stated that the a;t the feasiblility of such exchanges untington Beach supports the USF&WS assistance in the acquisition and 1700 acres of the Bolsa Chica. The !a as a National Wildlife Refuge would ous resource. r.-