The Environment

By Wendy A. Roberts

Even after many decades of over-extraction, our county's timber and farm lands, watersheds, scenic coastline and ocean eco-system remain our greatest assets. County government plays a stewardship role by enacting policies that champion environmental protection and prohibit abusive practices.

Water sources and watershed issues vary greatly in different parts of the county. There are 7 distinct watersheds in Mendocino County and I am committed to thoroughly studying each situation that arises before acting on any locally critical situation. County government has an important role to play by adopting policies that support agriculture and resource management while mitigating negative environmental impacts. We must also ensure that local situations are fully understood by the state officials who are responsible for revising water policy that impacts the county's residents and its economy.

Coast residents are rightly and fiercely protective of the ocean and ocean resources. The threat of off shore drilling is ever-present, along with other potential insults to the ocean environment. I will work with the other supervisors to ensure that the county and its residents continue to speak out against such threats and that this effort is coordinated with adjacent counties to amplify our message through a regional effort that addresses a global issue.

Implementation of the State's 1999 Marine Life Protection Act has become a forum for airing inherent tensions between the goal of restoring and protecting the ocean's fragile eco-system and that of preserving recreational opportunities and jobs that depend on harvesting ocean resources. Misunderstood and misconstrued by some as an attempt to "privatize" ocean resources, the MLPA Initiative is a public/private partnership between California state agencies and a group of environmentally focused private (not corporate) foundations. The single purpose of the implementation "initiative" is to bring diverse players to the table to establish a network of marine protection areas (MPAs) the full length of the California coast.

The theory behind MLPA is that by creating protected areas and giving the ocean a rest, it will be able to heal and maintain itself. In practice, how and where the protected areas are established will also have a significant impact on coastal recreational and economic activities. While far from perfect, the MLPA Initiative holds promise for creating a more participatory and science-based regional movement on behalf of ocean protection and for systematically providing public agencies with the support and information needed to implement state-mandated legislation to protect the ocean. While this is a State initiative, the issues addressed are global in nature. Recently, Mendocino County Supervisors successfully intervened on behalf of concerned citizens to extend the period for public input and improve representation of local stakeholders. It is important that the county continue to monitor the implementation process.