Tri-Valley Conservancy

“Monitoring is the regular and systematic gathering of information about a conserved property to detect changes and to ensure that the property is being used in accordance with the restrictions placed on it and/or management team. Each property, whether protected by a conservation easement or owned by TVC, will be monitored at least annually in a manner appropriate to the size and restrictions of the property. Monitors may include TVC staff, board or committee members, trained volunteers and relevant professionals.”

“Through its years of operation, TVC has acquired sixty deeds of perpetual agricultural or open space easements totaling 4,234 acres. These easements have no financial value since the development rights associated with the properties have been permanently "extinguished". Therefore, the easements are valued nominally at $1 each, for a total of $60 in these financial statements.Certain residential Developments within the boundary of the plan area are required to pay TVC mitigation fees at the time individual building permits are pulled (Ruby Hill Development in Pleasanton, CA) or in other cases at the time of final map approval. Such fees have been collected by the city of Pleasanton, and TVC anticipates revenues from the remaining seven plus residential lots still available in the Ruby Hill development. All monies received from Ruby Hill are restricted for use within the South Livermore Valley Area Plan (SLVAP). TVC uses the developer mitigation fees it receives from Ruby Hill to purchase conservation easements, to steward the portfolio of easements under its care and to cover its general and administrative operations.TVC accepts and holds conservation easements committing to annual stewardship in perpetuity, to enforce their terms and to building positive landowner and community relationships to support its conservation programs and enforcement actions. For every easement, TVC has a baseline documentation report prepared prior to closing and signed by the landowner at closing. The report documents the improvement conservation values protected by the easement and the relevant conditions of the property as necessary to monitor and enforce the easement(s). The easement properties are monitored regularly, at least annually, and documentation is kept of each monitoring activity. TVC maintains regular contact with owners of easement properties. Changes in land ownership are tracked. TVC strives to promptly build a positive working relationship with new owners of easement properties and informs them about the easement's existence and restrictions, and TVC's stewardship policies and procedures. Part of the stewardship effort requires TVC to take necessary and consistent steps to see that violations are resolved utilizing legal resources for enforcement and defense when necessary.”

“The primary purpose of the endowment account is to ensure property stewardship of TVC's easements and property interests by funding its legal, operating and monitoring activities in perpetuity.”