Location: California

The 57,632-acre Honey Lake Project is the nation’s first Conservation Conveyance conducted under federal legislation which enables the U.S. military to transfer surplus property to not-for-profit groups to promote natural resource conservation.  The Army transferred Honey Lake to the Center for Urban Watershed Renewal (CUWR), along with the funds required to restore the property for subsequent transfer to the California State Lands Commission (CSLC) within a five-year period.  CUWR teamed with The Trust for Public Land, Baker, and The Bioengineering Group, a Baker subcontractor, to perform required services.  The four organizations formed the Honey Lake Conservation Team.

Baker’s responsibilities included developing the team and preparing its application for Honey Lake; performing program management; providing technical and legal support throughout Conveyance Agreement negotiations; conducting Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments and developing a community relations plan and an implementation plan for the preservation of historic and cultural resources; conducting a lake boundary survey; managing habitat and endangered species, which included creating a conservation plan for the Carson Wandering Skipper Butterfly; and monitoring an ordnance/explosives parcel for trespassers.

The team fulfilled its obligations and prepared Honey Lake for transfer to the state of California’s Wildlife Refuge System.  The property was successfully transferred to the CSLC almost two years ahead of schedule.