C. Private Partners
The General Plan anticipates citizen involvement in the development and implementation of the OWMP. Section XI (Education and Outreach) discusses public involvement in the OWMP’s preparation to date. Public participation will continue to be encouraged at the County Planning Commission, Agricultural Commission and Board of Supervisors’ workshops and hearings as the plan is finalized for adoption. Currently, no opportunities for specific partnerships have been identified, but opportunities exist for private acquisition and management of oak resources. Oak nurseries and management of oak woodlands within planned communities are examples. In addition, it is expected that advisory committees will be established as needed.
The El Dorado County Association of Realtors might be a starting point for exploring opportunities and mechanisms to establish a privately managed clearinghouse of landowners potentially interestcd in selling conservation easements to others (public and private) seeking oak woodland mitigation or conservation lands. Similar to other environmental programs (e.g., air quality trading credits), oak woodlands within the PCAs, OWCs and Highway 50 areas could bc categorically organized and offered on the open market as opportunities for oak woodland mitigation or other conservation programs.
