Diablo Canyon Lands

Diablo Canyon Lands

The Diablo Canyon Lands stretch along 14 miles of pristine coastline, in an area that has seen virtually no development other than the power plant and ancillary facilities, which these lands surround.  The over 12,000 acres owned by PG&E (or its affiliates), contain relatively undisturbed grasslands, coastal sage, oak woodlands and bishop pine forests.  These areas are currently managed by PG&E using innovative best management practices and a strong land stewardship program.

The Diablo Canyon Lands include the North Ranch (north of the power plant), South Ranch (directly south of the power plant) and the 2,400-acre Wild Cherry Canyon property to the southeast.  The Diablo Canyon Lands also include the public Point Buchon and Pecho Coast trails, as well as the Point San Luis Lighthouse, which is open to the public through docent led tours.

The Diablo Canyon Lands are located in the Irish Hills region of San Luis Obispo County, which has been the subject of significant conservation activity over the last two decades.  In 2000, the Nature Conservancy identified the Irish Hills as a top conservation priority in the state, noting the following:

The Irish Hills embrace the rugged, western portion of the San Luis Range, extending from the Pacific Ocean to Los Osos Valley, and from the town of Los Osos on the north to the San Luis Obispo Creek on the south.  The largely undisturbed and highly scenic site includes Montana de Oro State Park, the Hibberd Preserve [now owned by the SLO Land Conservancy], and scattered large private holdings, including PG&E properties surrounding the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant.

That same year, 74.66 percent of county voters supported the DREAM Initiative (Diablo Resources Advisory Measure, also known as Measure A). DREAM was an advisory ballot measure that called on county leaders and PG&E to set aside the Diablo Canyon Lands for habitat preservation, agriculture and public use upon closure of the plant.  This initiative was unanimously supported by the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors, PG&E and numerous community and environmental organizations. DREAM read as follows:

Shall the County Board of Supervisors recognize the Diablo Canyon Lands as an exceptionally precious coastal resource by adopting policies that promote habitat preservation, sustainable agricultural activities, and public use and enjoyment consistent with public safety and property rights once the lands are no longer needed as an emergency buffer for the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Plant after its remaining operating life?

Since Measure A’s passage, multiple conservation projects have been completed within the Irish Hills.  In 2001, The Nature Conservancy acquired approximately 1,000 acres along Davis Canyon, and over the next several years acquired and conserved the Andre, Basserti, Muzio, Yost and Miller properties, totaling nearly 1,900 acres. Additional properties have been conserved on the northwestern edge of the Irish Hills by the City of San Luis Obispo as part of its greenbelt protection program.  These acquisitions along with other protected properties (including the Hibberd Preserve, BLM lands, and Montana de Oro) nearly complete a path for a 20-mile interior trail connecting Avila Beach to Los Osos.  The last critical piece is Wild Cherry Canyon, which has been the subject of numerous (as of yet unsuccessful) conservation efforts.

Link to view high-resolution version of map

Vision, Goals and Recommendations

Through these vision statements, goals and recommendations, it is the intent of the DCDEP to promote the conservation of Diablo Canyon Lands consistent with recent public input at workshops and meetings and the passing of the DREAM Initiative.

Vision Statements

  • The 12,000 acres of Diablo Canyon Lands surrounding the DCPP are a precious treasure and a spectacular natural resource that should be preserved in perpetuity for the public and future generations, in acknowledgement of its significant resources values
  • The public should be ensured access to the Diablo Canyon Lands to the greatest extent possible, while protecting and preserving sensitive habitats, cultural sites and other resources
  • The use of Diablo Canyon Lands should be consistent with the safe, secure and monitored storage of spent nuclear fuel, until such time as it is removed from the site
  • The use of Diablo Canyon Lands should include activities that are consistent with wildlife and resource protection and visitor enjoyment including multi-use trails for hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian use and managed overnight camping
  • The preservation of sacred Native American sites should be assured
  • The request for land ownership by the local Native American community should be acknowledged and considered as a valid claim for historical reasons, while bearing in mind the overwhelming public testimony that the Diablo Canyon Lands be conserved and available to the public for managed use
  • The conservation activities on Diablo Canyon Lands should be coordinated with owners of other protected properties in the Irish Hills region, including State Parks, the US Bureau of Land Management, the Nature Conservancy, the Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County, and the City of San Luis Obispo

Goals

Land Stewardship

  1. The excellent stewardship of PG&E in preserving and maintaining the Diablo Canyon Lands should be recognized
  2. The existing biological, geological and archeological data should be made available by PG&E to conservation entities who may be future stewards of the Diablo Canyon Lands
  3. The preparation of a plan for the ongoing management, preservation and managed public access of Diablo Canyon Lands should be developed through a collaborative process with appropriate governmental and non-governmental organizations to assure all available funding is pursued and ongoing stewardship is maintained
  4. The preparation of the management/public access plan should include public input and take into consideration the use of the Diablo Canyon Lands may have on local traffic and safety
  5. The management/public access plan should include a multi-use non-motorized trail system for hikers, mountain bikers and equestrian use, possible overnight camping consistent with public safety, restricted access in the sensitive intertidal zone, rotational grazing, habitat restoration and protection of cultural sites
  6. The 1,200 acres near Point San Luis (See Figure 3) should be deed restricted in perpetuity for conservation and public access

Land Transfer and Use

  1. The transfer of the Diablo Canyon Lands to a conservation entity or entities should be promoted to ensure the protection of natural and cultural resources in perpetuity, public education and managed public access
  2. The Diablo Canyon Lands should be conserved prior to the completion of the decommissioning process, as appropriate
  3. The public announcement by PG&E of its intention to collaborate with interested parties to preserve the Diablo Canyon Lands should occur as soon as allowed by the CPUC
  4. The Diablo Canyon Lands should be owned and managed by a conservation entity or entities, such as State or National Parks, the Wildlands Conservancy, the San Luis Obispo Land Conservancy, a Native American non-profit or other governmental or non-profit conservation group experienced in land management, for resource protection and managed public use
  5. The long-term protection of ecological, scenic, and cultural resources and the well-being of local communities should be a primary consideration in determining the appropriate level of public access to the Diablo Canyon Lands
  6. The establishment of at least two multi-use trail extensions of the California Coastal Trail should be pursued which include both a trail along the coast and an interior trail through Wild Cherry Canyon and other protected Irish Hills properties
  7. The coastal section of the Diablo Canyon Lands should be protected to a higher degree, as needed to ensure the conservation of the more fragile marine, tidal, and coastal environment
  8. The interior sections of the Diablo Canyon Lands (including the lands associated with transmission lines) should allow for multiple compatible uses, including hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian use, and connections to the Irish Hills and Montana De Oro trail systems
  9. The use of Diablo Canyon Lands for motorized vehicles (other than in parking areas, access roads and for maintenance and management activities) and night-time recreational use (other than camping as may be allowed) should be prohibited as inconsistent with resource protection
  10. The use of Diablo Canyon Lands for camping should be permitted only to the extent it is consistent with the safety of the community and the protection of cultural and environmental resources
  11. The use of a small portion of the land north of the Harbor Terrace development should be considered for use by the Port San Luis Harbor District for boat storage
  12. The San Miguelito Mutual Water Company lease with HomeFed for waste water facilities should be evaluated for, at a minimum, screening, location and technology, as part of any land transfer of Wild Cherry Canyon
  13. The disposal of Diablo Canyon Lands should recognize PG&E’s fiduciary responsibility to their ratepayers and shareholders
  14. The acquisition of Diablo Canyon Lands from PG&E should consider a variety of funding mechanisms including: state bond funds, private donations, decommission-related permit mitigation measures, and compensatory processes via regulatory agencies such as the CPUC

Cultural Heritage

  1. The importance and legacy of the Native American community to the Diablo Canyon Lands, including methods to provide acquisition or access to those lands should be explored
  2. The preservation of cultural and archeological sites and artifacts, including burial grounds should be ensured
  3. The transfer, by easement or fee title, of a portion of the Diablo Canyon Lands for exclusive use by the Native American community should be considered, with protection by conservation easement or other such means that would allow limited development consistent with local zoning and the preservation of environmental and cultural resources in perpetuity

Recommendations

Diablo Canyon Decommissioning Engagement Panel

    1. Recommend that a letter to the CPUC be prepared seeking its permission for PG&E to proceed with conservation discussions (including property appraisals and Memorandum of Understanding) for the Diablo Canyon Lands, including Wild Cherry Canyon, with conservation entities, notwithstanding its “no action” order contained in Section 13 of Decision 18-01-022 dated January 11, 2018

Land Stewardship

      1. Recommend that the CPUC direct PG&E to ensure that a management/access plan for the Diablo Canyon Lands is developed when transferring land that at a minimum includes, a multi-use non-motorized trail system for hikers, mountain bikers and equestrian use, restricted access in the sensitive intertidal zone, rotational grazing, habitat restoration, protection of cultural sites and consideration of minimizing traffic through surrounding communities times of peak traffic
      2. Recommend that PG&E make all existing biological, geological and archeological data available to conservation entities upon land transfer
      3. Recommend that PG&E complete the deed restriction for the 1,200 acres near Point San Luis (see Figure 3) that would preserve the property in perpetuity for conservation and public access

Land Transfer and Use

    1. Recommend that the CPUC ensure that transfer of Diablo Canyon Lands that are subject to their authority is to a governmental, Native American non-profit and/or land conservancy entity or entities that are experienced in land management for the purposes of resource conservation and managed public access
    2. Recommend that PG&E publicly announce its intention to collaborate with interested parties to conserve the Diablo Canyon Lands as soon as allowed by the CPUC
    3. Recommend that a conservation entity or entities reinstate negotiations with PG&E/Eureka Energy and HomeFed and sign an option agreement or Memorandum of Understanding for the acquisition of land interests on Wild Cherry Canyon for public or non-profit conservation ownership and management
    4. Recommend that a conservation entity or entities begin the appraisal process of Wild Cherry Canyon, so that funding sources can be identified and pursued
    5. Recommend that a conservation entity or entities coordinate with the Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County, the Nature Conservancy, State Parks, Bureau of Land Management, the Andre Ranch owners, and PG&E on the design and creation of at least two multi-use trails that would include an interior trail and a coastal trail (including an extension of the California Coastal Trail)
    6. Recommend a conservation entity or entities begin negotiations with PG&E/Eureka Energy on the acquisition of the Diablo Canyon Lands (outside of Wild Cherry Canyon), for public or non-profit conservation ownership and management
    7. Recommend that PG&E evaluate the use of a small portion of the land north of the Harbor Terrace development for use by the Port San Luis Harbor District for boat storage

Cultural Heritage

    1. Recommend that the CPUC ensure any future owners of Diablo Canyon Lands develop management/access plans that ensure the protection, preservation of, and education about, cultural heritage and sacred Native American sites
    2. Recommend that the CPUC ensure that any land transfer to Native Americans be subject to a conservation easement that would allow limited development consistent with local zoning and the preservation of ecological, environmental and cultural resources
    3. Recommend that PG&E and the Native American community explore ways that both the goals of conservation and managed public use of the Diablo Canyon Lands and the needs of the local Native Americans can be achieved
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