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 n October 27, 1999, the Endangered Habitats League
(EHL) pre- sented its premier "Award of Excellence"
to San Diego County Supervisors Pam Slater and Dianne Jacob.
These awards honor their vision in putting together the San Diego
Multiple Species Conservation Program, which provides a home
for San Diego's wildlife and permanent open space for its citizens.
 The
Endangered Habitats League is a Southern California organization
dedicated to ecosystem protection, improved land use planning
and collaborative conflict resolution. The "Award of Excellence"
program recognizes outstanding contributions toward these goals.
Supervisors Jacob and Slater are the first recipients. They received
a plaque containing original artwork by noted wildlife artist
John Schmitt. Pictured are the California gnatcatcher, deer,
hawk and other inhabitants of the coastal sage scrub ecosystem.
The Multiple
Species Conservation Program, or MSCP, is a scientifically designed
preserve system which will eventually total 172,000 acres. It
will protect San Diego's natural heritage, balance development
with conservation, enhance quality of life through recreational
opportunities, and define San Diego's identity for generations
to come. Its creation was a long and difficult task, involving
competing interests, controversial issues and tough negotiations
with the state and federal governments. Supervisors Jacob and
Slater were the Board of Super-visor's representatives to the
MSCP. According to Dan Silver, EHL Coordinator, "It was
their perseverance and leadership which guided the program to
a successful conclusion."
The Endangered
Habitats League chose October 27 to make these awards as, on
that day, the Board of Supervisors received an annual report
on the MSCP, which demonstrated excellent progress in building
the preserve system.
Both Slater
and Jacob have been doing a lot of good things lately besides
the MSCP. Among the pluses are working to conserve Wrights Field,
opposing roads through Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve
("son of 680"), denying the extension for the Tecate
Wastewater Plant and Water District, and helping get the widening
of SR 94 off SANDAG's project list. Of course, the biggest issue
will be the upcoming General Plan 2020 update. 
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