Fifty years ago the prescient ecologist, Aldo Leopold, introduced us all to the important concept of a “land ethic.” He reminded us that “…A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise.”
The Ecovillage respects Leopold’s ecological wisdom by committing to permanently preserve a full 90% of college land holdings into open space, agriculture, and park land. Entitlement of the Ecovillage will forever remove any potential for additional non-educational uses on PUC lands.
This willingness on the part of the private land owner to align its curriculum with eco-literate education and sustainability, while entering into permanent conservation easements as a condition of the Ecovillage approval, is fundamental to a fully sustainable community.
Public Trail Access
Existing Angwin and upvalley residents have long enjoyed the benevolence of PUC as it opened its extensive private hiking and biking trails to them.
As an entitlement of the Ecovillage, hundreds of acres of such trails have the potential to become permanently protected, managed and maintained as part of permanent open space lands. These lands include over 1,000 acres of forested land which provides extensive habitat for wildlife, including endangered species.
The forest conservation easement will also ensure the preservation of an important wildlife corridor helping to link Los Posadas State Forest with nearby Napa Land Trust protected areas.
Hillside Open Spaces
Many acres of college lands that are heavy with tree cover and serve as scenic corridor areas along Howell Mountain Road fall within Planned Development zoning limits.
As a conservation condition of the Ecovillage, effectively every acre of these lands immediately adjoining Howell Mountain Road would remain undisturbed and protected from hillside deforestation practices.
Conn Creek
This important jurisdictional waterway is fundamental to restorative ecological programs to improve and maintain the highest standards of water quality in Angwin. The creek will be protected, of course, but more than that it will be monitored for water quality and maintained to keep it free from debris and harmful chemicals. No direct discharge, unfiltered storm water drainages will be designed to enter Conn Creek from the Ecovillage or the college, in keeping with regulations.
Wetlands Delineation
All existing undeveloped areas of PUC land holdings will be mapped and presented to federal, state, and local regulatory agencies to ensure that wetlands remain protected. In addition, all ephemeral streams will be protected or fully mitigated for jurisdictional permitting compliance.
Because at least 75% of the Ecovillage is designated to be located on “adaptive re-use” property (i.e., land previously developed), no significant delineated wetlands will be disturbed by any residential or commercial construction.
Any management to reduce fire hazard will comply with all regulations that protect wetlands.
Ecoforestry
The careful management and prevention of any clearcut logging on over 1,000 acres of forest diversity and ecosystems conservation remains fundamental to the Ecovillage entitlement. The maintenance of a healthy forest for wildlife and native biotic life will enrich the site for all of us to enjoy. Rachel Carson once articulated succinctly the primary reason for preserving our forests when she said, "...Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts." The forests of the Howell Mountain area were among the first to be managed in Napa County, and have a resilience that reflects good growing conditions and productive soils. Both periodic logging and fires helped to influence the growth of forests in the area. Current dense regrowth has led to significant fuel loads that will require periodic entries to reduce the dangers posed by catastrophic fire.
Treatments to reduce and maintain low levels of fire hazard will mimic the natural disturbances with which the vegetation has evolved. Methods to recycle or use all green waste will be emphasized. Treatments focus on removal of small dead material and vegetation that fosters fire spread to tree crowns or produces embers. These treatments are simultaneously aimed at enhancing the aesthetics and sustainability of the community and habitats.