Mather Development and Preserve

Rob Leonard, Director Department of Economic Development and

Intergovernmental Affairs, Sacramento County

August 19, 2009

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 What are we trying to accomplish?

• Federal transfer of property to the County

• Produce critically needed jobs
• Preservation of 1,272 acres of environmentally
sensitive habitat
• Utilize both public and private investment to fund
construction of infrastructure
• Provide a funding mechanism to create and
permanently endow the Mather Preserve
• Provide necessary revenue to support Mather
Regional Park

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 Mather Background
• Mather AFB officially closed September 1993.

• 1993 Mather Internal Study Team proposes 793 acre preserve.

• 1997 Sacramento County Adopts Mather Field Specific Plan.

• 2004-2005 Mather Stakeholder Group (including regulatory agencies) holds a

series of stakeholder workshops that discusses future Mather development
and preserve.

• February 2006, the Stakeholder endorsed plan is presented to Sacramento

County Board of Supervisors. The plan consists of 1,070 acres of preserve
plus 110 acres of protected areas and is approved by BOS.

• February 2006 Critical Habitat designation is placed on the planned preserve

and protected area and other areas (approximately 1,500 acres total).

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2006 Mather Stakeholder Plan

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2006 Critical Habitat – Red Outline

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Development and Preserve Proposal

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Mather Preserve Evolution

1993 2006 August 2009

Preserve 793 1,070 1,272

Area (acres)

Protected 110 80
Area (acres)

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 Status of Federal and State Regulatory Agencies
▪ U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – EIS proceeding consistent with
Section 404 of the Clean Water Act.

▪ U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Multiple outstanding issues.

▪ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Awaiting submittal of Wetland

Management Plan from County pending resolution of issues with U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service.

▪ California Department of Fish and Game – Awaiting Mitigation Plan for

California Regulated Species from County pending resolution of
issues with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

▪ California Regional Water Quality Control Board - Awaiting 1600

Creek Bed Alteration Agreements from County pending resolution of
issues with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

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 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Issues

▪ Preserve and development boundaries

▪ Mitigation ratios
▪ Property transfer Biological Opinion

▪ South County Habitat Conservation Plan

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 Next Steps

▪ Solicitation for the Preserve Manager - County

▪ Resolve preserve and development boundaries –
County/USFW/Corps of Engineers
▪ Resolve mitigation ratios - County/USFW/Corps of
Engineers
▪ Complete Transfer Biological Opinion – Air Force/USFW,
Corps of Engineers/County

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