USFW Bryan Winton, San Pablo Bay Refuge Manager and
Howard Stark Real Estate Specialist present.
Every Strawberry Homeowner who asked questions seemed to be against the refuge. Even Bryan Winton indicated he would be reporting back that he saw little reason to include this area in a preferred alternative. Bryan stressed that if you wanted out of the refuge, you should write letters saying you did not want to be included in any of the alternative drawn up during the Draft EIR where properties are chosen as in or out of the final Refuge Map.
In his own mind, Bryan listed 15 factors that weigh in as to whether a property should be in a Refuge:
1) How much acreage is it? He feels he needs a minimum size to manage efficiently.
2) What is the disturbance factor in the area?
3) What is value of the land?
4) Are their exterior threats – easement, does it make sense, etc.
5) Can we protect it? Is it manageable?
6) Are their conflicting public uses. Dog owners and bikers need places – does the Refuge conflict with those uses at that site.
7) USFWS first concerns is with wildlife – bird watching, environmental education, walking, enjoying nature. If nearby uses conflict the site may not be appropriate.
8) The conflicting uses must be run through a filter on each project
9) “Seems like Strawberry doesn’t fit all the criteria…”
Many concerns were expressed about dredging and pre-existing boating uses. USFWS kept repeating that dredging areas would not be included in a Refuge. Bryan repeated: “Marge Kolar has said we will not approach land owners where dredging is going on.”.
Land owners told of how their dredging had improved bird counts, seals, other wildlife…”
Bryan reminded the audience that “We are concerned about pickleweed, salt marsh harvest mice, clapper rails…Wildlife and endangered species are our concerns… Canadian geese that adopt to people are not our concern…”
Many concerns were expressed about the Marin Audubon Society:
“The Marin Audubon Society seems to have a tremendous sphere of influence. They seem to control everything. If we want to put a dock in, to dredge, to put a post in the water – we are opposed by the Audubon Society. They give us tremendously bad scars. Any reasonable person will say our dredging has benefited wildlife, but we always feel we have to defend ourselves.”
Bryan responded: “We have no control over Audubon…”
Bryan was quickly confronted by a homeowner who responded, “Didn’t
Audubon draw the maps that drew you in?”
“Yeah,” was his response.
Stark reiterated: “We have a $6-20 million dollar budget and we can only manage what we own… We won’t overspend in Marin… We can buy a lot of property at $50. an acre in Nebraska…”
Bryan, who does the day to day land management in the San Pablo refuge into which this Refuge would be placed, said: “I manage 13,000 acres now and am under staffed. I should be out managing land, turning pumps off and on and checking the land. Instead, I am answering phones and dealing with these issues. Unless I can manage effectively I won’t be supporting..”
USFWS has three divisions:
1) Law Enforcement
2) Ecological Service
3) Management
Even management is subject to Ecological Service. Ecological Services has come up with buffer zones when some property owner near a Refuge was doing construction. They forced the contractor to put up a sound buffer.
USFWS says they have no written documentation stating they have the power to establish a buffer within so many feet of a Refuge. However, if you are a nearby developer Ecological Services may tell you that you must set up a buffer….
Several owners repeatedly asked: How can we get out of the Study Area quickly?”
”You are stuck in the study area now. You must write lots of letters saying you do not want to be included in any alternative. Written comments will be used in the final decision made later in the process…”
Many complained about the poor notification system and how Audubon groups were notified and they (only 4 of 75 homeowners were some numbers stated) as homeowners were not.
An owner asked, “The Marin Supervisors helped get us in this mess by endorsing the Refuge. Can they get us out if we have them do an amended resolution?”
USFWS said they listen to local governments, supervisors, Congress people. “All inputs matter… You must write letters expressing your concerns. Your comments will be considered in our final evaluation or whether to include lands in a Refuge.”