| | Published March 4th, 2009
| Wilder To Restore Wildlife in Moraga
| | By Sophie Braccini |  | | View from Mulholland Ridge to Saint Mary's college Photo Andy Scheck
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During its February 25th meeting, the Moraga Town Council crafted a resolution to accept a $50,000 restoration project submitted by Wilder Development to mitigate the environmental impact of their major housing construction in Orinda. The project calls for the creation of a pond on Mulholland Ridge, off of Donald Drive, that will help restore the natural habitat and improve drainage.
At a prior meeting, the Council refused the donation because it included no funds with which to maintain the pond after the first five years. This time around, the Town negotiated the funding of a $10,000 endowment for ongoing maintenance.
Warden Nicole Kosicki of the California Department of Fish and Game, which imposed the remediation requirement on Wilder, had originally opposed this solution since the agency wants to see concrete work being done with the remediation money. "Ms. Kosicki is a very tough negotiator," commented Mayor Dave Trotter, "we want to commend her flexibility. We would have liked more money for the endowment, but that's what we got."
In addition, Kosicki assured the Council that in the event of flood damage to the pond, the Town would not be responsible for restoring it and nature would be allowed to take its course.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA