UC Davis will become a full, voting member of the joint powers authority that has begun to develop a plan to manage the 17,000-acre Conaway Ranch as a public resource.

The University of California Board of Regents authorized UC Davis' membership at its regular meeting this week. The joint powers authority was formed in June by a number of public agencies in Yolo County, including the Yolo County Board of Supervisors: the cities of Davis, Woodland, Winters and West Sacramento: and the Yolo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District. UC Davis has participated as a non-voting board member until the regents could consider the matter.

"This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for public agencies to secure a major local resource for the public benefit," said John Meyer, UC Davis vice chancellor for resource management and planning.

Conaway Ranch lies in east-central Yolo County, west of the Sacramento River between Interstates 5 and 80. It is used largely for growing rice, safflower, corn and other seasonal crops. It also has producing oil and gas wells. Half the property lies within the Yolo Bypass and Cache Creek Settling Basin, which provide flood control and wildlife habitat.

The property has significant water rights, including 51,000 acre feet of water per year from the river, 10,000 acre feet per year from Cache Creek and 21 deep groundwater wells.

It is owned by The Conaway Ranch Co., a subsidiary of National Energy and Gas Transmission Inc., which is owned by PG&E Corp. NEGT is in bankruptcy and has said it intends to sell the ranch.

Yolo County recently started eminent domain proceedings to buy the ranch, with the intention of selling it to the joint powers authority. The authority has been asked to develop a plan to manage the property so as to protect its status quo as a regional resource for water supplies, agricultural production, flood control, open space and rural recreation, and wildlife habitat.

"I'm delighted that UC Davis shares our interest in preserving the agricultural and environmental resources of the Conaway Ranch for the public's benefit and we welcome them to the authority board as a full-fledged member," said Mike McGowan, chairman of the Yolo County Board of Supervisors.

The board will consist of 17 people: the five members of the Yolo County Board of Supervisors, two members from each of the participating cities (Davis, Woodland, West Sacramento and Winters), two members from the Yolo County Flood Control and Conservation District, and two members from UC Davis.

All joint powers authority meetings are open to the public. The next meeting is set for Jan. 26, 2005, at 6 p.m., in the Atrium Training Room, 625 Court St., Woodland. Meeting agendas are posted online at http://www.yolocounty.org/org/bos/agendas/agendas.html.