The J.G Bowswell Co's proposed 36,000 acre community in Yokohl Valley will include a 17 acre reservoir. Photo courtesy of Bureau of Reclamation. .

The Tulare County Board of Supervisors are currently weighing out the decision to move forward on a plan that would extend commercial development into the Sierra foothills, while some citizens and environmental groups prefer that the land is preserved in its natural state.

The Yokhol Valley Ranch subdivision -a 36,000 acre community- was proposed several years ago by J.G. Boswell Co. The idea came as a result of what county officials observed was an enormous growth rate throughout the San Joaquin Valley in recent years, -a rate they expect to continue.

Preliminary plans state that Yokohl Valley Ranch's, would include 3 golf courses, homes, recreational facilities, a 450 thousand acre-feet reservoir and 260-foot dam.

According to a  2003 report from the Bureau of Reclamation, The Yokohl Valley reservoir would be located just 15 miles east of Visalia. It would receive additional water from Millerton Lake through the Friant-Kern Canal, being operated as a pump-back storage facility. This would be made possible thorough electrical power sources in Exeter. A power analysis suggested that the Yokohl Valley Reservoir would use more power to pump water into storage than could be generated with releases.

“[The project is] down the road and we don’t even know if it’s feasible. We’re still doing environmental studies," said 5th District Supervisor, Mike Ennis.

However, environmental groups have already jumped in with several defenses.

Terry Manning, a member of  the Tulare County Citizens for Responsible Growth, took account of the plan's appeal to out-of-county residents.

"It sounds very attractive. [If I were coming from a large city], I think I would give it a very serious look," he said.

"[With] the job opportunities in Yokohl Ranch I'm guessing most people [who will live in its parameters] won't be from the county. People who want to get away from the congestion of cities will want to come to the foothills. [Many would commute, and] that's pretty significant traveling. Air pollution is going to be the result of that," said Manning.

Manning lives in a Yokohl Dr., however, not particularly close to the proposed Yokohl Ranch vicinity. He feels the land contains some of the most beautiful and scenery the Central Valley has to offer.

"That's something that the county has got to value. I just think the board needs to consider both points of view. The people have told them: 'We want to protect the moral character of this county.' We said we wanted all the development to remain in the existing cities," Manning said.

Ennis and other supervisors have acknowledged this type of argument. They received several statements of disapproval from groups and individuals, at a February 26 meeting, in which the public was invited to voice their opinions on the project.

“A lot of times, when you have a meeting like that, it’s pretty effected by environmental groups. They come in and they want to run the show. Some of these groups like to take over and tie up projects," he said.

Most people argue the Ranch would, "use up valuable farmland, [whereas] It’s just grazing land and you try to preserve the beauty of it with development. Years ago we used to call extending into the foothills ‘smart growth,’” said Ennis.

“[The other] concern of everyone is water. People come in and they continue to say that we have a water problem. We know we have a water problem,” said Ennis.

Environmental studies are currently being conducted.

J.G. Boswell Co. receives federal subsidies for their water to be directed toward agricultural use. The company will be using this water to fill lakes in the Yokohl Ranch community.

Manning feels, "The Boswell Company is just about the biggest agriculture company in California and they use a great deal of water to grow crops that we all want and need. They need water to grow those crops, so my question is: if they're going to use that water for a town of 20 to 30,000 people, then what are they not using it for? How is this going to protect agriculture?"

He added, "They're going to be using water that's not particularly reliable in this area. If we (local citizens) have to live with Yokohl Ranch, I certainly hope the [planners are] considerate of the habitat in which they are building on, and especially the scarcity of water."

The Board of Supervisors is aware of these issues, Ennis said. He explained J.G. Boswell Company's plans for water compensation.

"They're making the lakes smaller in surface but deeper. It’s a good project –putting 24, 25 lots in 17 acres. [That’s] good utilization.” In addition, the moisture from the lake adds to clean air," he said.

Another primary concern of citizens is that the new development will cut into farmland, which our county has been primarily known for.

Manning addressed the county's growing population: "We've got to build something. [However], we don't need to build new towns. Those towns are right in the middle of the best farm lands. We [need to] hold our growth to something we can handle," he said.

Ennis and the other supporters take a different approach: "I would rather see growth on our marginal ground than see more construction [in the inner cities with home builders], which is using up farm land, [anyway]."

He added, "We are protecting our farmland. That’s why I ran for office: was to protect our farmland. The Valley Lands Plan: that’s our bible. If a project doesn’t score, it doesn’t go. We can’t do a project until we study it to death."

Manning said, "some people say that [SJV becoming one large city one day] is our future. I grew up in San Diego. It's a beautiful place to live but it's expensive. [For some people wanting to escape that] the central valley is a place to go. We have valuable agriculture."

Yokohl Ranch would bring in a large amount of outer-county citizens who would contribute to its economy and draw away from the economic future of existing cities, said Manning.

The board has considered the factors that make public unanimity for the project impossible, according to Ennis.

"You can’t get out and please everybody; [otherwise] you’ll never make decisions. I’m fighting for everyone and I see both sides. I think we, as a board, try to look at it from the standpoint of what is healthy for our county. We’re watching our money. We’re fiscally sound, and that doesn’t happen by accident,” said Ennis

According to 1st District Supervisor and Board Chairman, the project wouldn’t begin for another 2 or 3 years. The public’s concession is important for the Board to obtain -along with the results of feasibility studies being conducted- he said.

“When all the information is out and all the considerations are made we, [the board], are not exactly for or against it,” Ishida said. The construction phase won’t be underway until an official Environmental Impact Report confirms that the project is nature-friendly.