A development in harmony with nature?

Buena Vista Country Club (BVCC), Inc, proposes an 18-hole target golf course and support facilities in Santa Cruz County, California. Environmental concerns include federal and state listed endangered plant and animal species, and two habitats of concern to Santa Cruz County including the San Andreas Coastal Live Oak Woodland. An ecosystem management philosophy was developed to design the BVCC in an attempt to maintain the integrity of the site resources. Field research data was put into a geographical information system (GIS) and used to analyze project alternatives and develop a Conservation Plan (Plan). The Plan was developed to protect the endangered species through the implementation of a Habitat Conservation Plan (Salamander Reserve), to maintain the integrity of the biotic communities by establishing an Oak Preserve, and to implement the preferred golf course alternative. It integrates these components into a Plan. The question remains-would it work? The answer lies with the monitoring program and the ability of applied management to respond to the results of monitoring.