The Pacific Forest and Watershed Lands Stewardship Council (Stewardship Council) is a private, nonprofit organization that was established in 2004 as part of the settlement of the Pacific Gas and Electric Company's (PG&E) bankruptcy. One of its primary goals is to ensure that over 140,000 acres of watershed lands throughout California are conserved for a broad range of beneficial public values. These values include outdoor recreation, sustainable forestry, agriculture, habitat protection, open space preservation, and the protection of historic values.
Located across 22 counties, the land encompasses some of California's most stunning and wild landscapes. The parcels – almost 1,000 in total – stretch from Shasta county in the north to Fresno County in the south, from the Sierra Nevada and Cascade ranges to the Eel River watershed in Mendocino County and the Carrizo Plains in San Luis Obispo County.
The Stewardship Council will be holding a series of community meetings at locations across the watershed lands in 2006. The purpose of the meetings will be to seek local input on the planning process and the research collected to date, as well as discuss potential land management concepts for these lands. These meetings will begin in March of 2006 and continue through April. Meetings are currently scheduled for the following dates and locations:
- Burney: March 20, 2006 – 6p to 8p
Veterans Memorial Hall
37410 Main Street, Burney - Redding: March 21, 2006 – 6p to 8p
Red Lion Hotel
1830 Hilltop, Redding - Auburn Area: March 23, 2006 – 6p to 8p
Lions Higgins Community Center
22490 E. Hacienda Dr.
Grass Valley, CA 95949 - Chester: April 3, 2006 – 6p to 8p
Location to be Determined - Quincy: April 4, 2006 – 6p to 8p
Quincy Elementary School
246 Alder Street, Quincy - Chico: April 5, 2006 – 6p to 8p
Oxford Inn & Suites
2035 Business Lane, Chico - Ukiah: April 11, 2006 – 6p to 8p
Holiday Inn Express
1720 N State Street, Ukiah
An additional series of community meetings will be held in late 2006.
For more information visit their website: www.stewardshipcouncil.org