Executive Director Jeff Sutton stated, "While we completely support the encouragement and enforcement of the Williamson Act, a state law providing incentives for landowners to keep their land in agricultural production, the recent actions on behalf of Yolo County are hardly worthy of commendation."

Two months ago, Yolo County suspended the Williamson Act for the second time in its history in order to approve an 18-hole golf course for the Cache Creek Casino.

Two weeks later, the same tribe announced that it would finance Yolo County's decision to seize the 17,300 acre Conaway Ranch at a cost of well over $60 million or more, Sutton stated.

While County Supervisor Mike McGowan hailed it as the "most stringless deal," the financing agreement was roundly criticized by members of the greater farming community and the Yolo County Taxpayers Association.

"If Yolo County was truly committed to protecting family farmers and their farmland, they would not have suspended farmland protections over community objections to build an 18-hole golf course," said Sutton. "The seizing of Conaway Ranch is just another example of violating private property despite objections by the local farming community. Their recent record of taking farmland out of production is not worthy of state recognition."

The mission of the Family Water Alliance is to educate the people regarding rural issues. FWA is a Sacramento Valley coalition of family farmers and community leaders concerned with the future of agriculture, private property rights, rural communities, and a balance between man and nature.