Wildlife refuge considered for western Stanislaus ranch land

By TIM MORAN
tmoran@modbee.com

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To the casual observer, the 1,600-acre Dos Rios Ranch might seem ordinary. Flat, some seasonal crops, empty fields and a pond or two in a flood plain.

But talk to Patrick Koepele, Central Valley program director for the Tuolumne River Trust, or John Carlon, president of River Partners, and they see something different: an opportunity to create a wildlife habitat park at the confluence of two of the valley's major rivers.

Dos Rios Ranch, owned by the Lyons family, sits at the southeast corner of where the Tuolumne River joins the San Joaquin River in western Stanislaus County. The property includes three miles of riverfront on the San Joaquin and three miles on the Tuolumne.

Wildlife refuge considered for ranch land

The two river conservation groups are involved in negotiations with the Lyons family to acquire the ranch, with the goal of converting it into wildlife habitat, with public access and flood control potential.

Carlon talks about creating space for threatened species such as the riparian brush rabbit, Swainson's hawk, elderberry beetles, least Bell's vireo, salmon and steelhead. "All our resource biology people are excited about the potential," he said.

"It's an amazing piece of property. It could be an exceptional asset to the community if we are able to acquire it," Carlon said.

A portion of the property could be con- verted to a public park, with hiking, bird watching, fishing and hunting activities, Carlon said.

"It depends on who provides the funding and what their goals are, and who manages it," he said.

The property could be used for flood control as well, Carlon said. Lowering levees on the ranch would allow it to flood during wet periods, taking pressure off surrounding land.

The property could be used to teach kids about river restoration, Carlon added. "It's so close to Modesto, ... it would make an ideal outdoor classroom."

The transition of the property would take place over time, to allow people in the area to adjust, Carlon said. For instance, farmers buying forage grown on Dos Rios Ranch would have time to find a new supplier, he said.

Workers in the agriculture community would be hired to do the river restoration work, which would take 10 to 15 years, Carlon said.

"River Partners are farmers and ecologists," he said of the 9-year-old, Chico-based nonprofit conservation group that works to restore Central Valley river habitat. "We are really sensitive to coming in and not making a negative impact."

Project could take decades

The project is in its early stages -- funding for the purchase hasn't been identified, nor has a public agency to manage the land.

The Lyons family supports the idea.

"The Lyons family has a long history of working with wildlife agencies and conservation groups," noted Bill Lyons Jr.

Many details need to be worked out, Lyons said, and the project may take as long as 20 years to be completed.

"We are in the very early stages of trying to gather support for it," Lyons said.

Carlon said the seller has reached an agreement to sell. "We are busy trying to come up with the money to close the deal."

State bond money for river parkways and flood control is one possibility, Koepele said, and there are other conservation programs that could provide money.

"We are meeting with fund managers, looking for matches to fit the project," he said. "I'm glad there are potential sources out there."

The goal is to put the land under public ownership, Carlon said.

"The whole San Joaquin Valley is under-represented in getting state and federal bond monies," Carlon said. "It is our tax money. It would be neat to see new public lands in and around Modesto."

Dos Rios Ranch could become part of the adjacent San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge, a 12,000-acre area now under restoration. That might take congressional action, however, Koepele said, because the Dos Rios Ranch lies outside the boundaries of the refuge.

Other potential owners or managers include the California Parks system, the state Department of Fish & Game, or the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Carlon said.

"We'd like to find a public resource agency willing to protect and manage the property," he said.

The property fits well into the Lower Tuolumne River Parkway concept proposed by the Tuolumne River Coalition, a collection of public agencies and conservation groups.

Koepele, whose Tuolumne River Trust group focuses on protecting and restoring the Tuolumne and its tributaries, said acquisition of the property could be a year or two away.

"We should know more in March, April, May," he said.

To comment, click on the link with this story at www.modbee.com. Bee staff writer Tim Moran can be reached at tmoran@modbee.com or 578-2349.