The House unanimously passed a bill by U.S. Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA) on Tuesday that moves a local California government agency a step closer to buying a Riverside federal land parcel that would help it continue to support the local community with programs on native gardening and conservation projects.
H.R. 3567 would enable the Riverside Corona Resource Conservation District to buy the 8.75-acre parcel from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) at its appraised value. In addition to educational outreach, the conservation district provides technical assistance to land owners and users and has assisted in research into invasive species such as the Glassy-winged Sharpshooter, which carries a disease that affects citrus orchards and vineyards.
“This bill is a win-win for the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Riverside Corona Resource Conservation District,” said Calvert.
The property has been run by the NRCS since 1998, and co-managed since 2002 by the NRCS and the conservation district. The bill states that NRCS operations may continue on the property at no charge to the federal government.
No federal funds for plant research have been obligated by the NRCS at this location since the NRCS acquired it, while the conservation district has dedicated $2.8 million to improvements and upgrades.