Victories

Settlement Reached on Diablo Grande Development

In Brief: Conservation easement and future habitat protection will protect vanishing species

Ending a long legal battle over development impacts on endangered species, conservation groups and Diablo Grande Limited Partnership, developer of the Diablo Grande development project, reached a mediated settlement agreement on September 30, 2004. The agreement allows construction to begin on approximately 2000 homes while acquiring and permanently protecting habitat for the endangered California red-legged frog and San Joaquin kit fox.

Elements of the compromise includes:

• The placement of 12,700 acres of undeveloped land on the Diablo Grande site into a wildlife conservation easement.

• A donation of $3 million to a third party conservation organization for future purchases of property within western Stanislaus County for conservation purposes and, more specifically, to protect habitat of the frog and the fox.

• An agreement ends future litigation over the project.

Protect Our Water and the San Joaquin Raptor/Wildlife Rescue Center were represented by Earthjustice in this legal action.

Updated: September 30, 2004