Yolo County

WHF maintains 9 preserves within Yolo County.

Gateway Preserve
Pope Ranch
Pope Ranch Expansion
Sacramento River Ranch Swainson's Hawk Preserve
Sacramento River Ranch VELB Bank
Sacramento River Ranch Wetlands Mitigation Bank
Liberty Island Conservation Bank
Fremont Landing Conservation Bank
Ridge Cut Giant Garter Snake Bank

Yolo County is situated in the southwest portion of the Sacramento Valley on the west side of the Sacramento River. Most of the county is flat and devoted to agriculture, but the western part is located on the edge of the Inner North Coast Range. Davis, Woodland, and West Sacramento are the largest populated areas in the County.

Gateway Preserve

The nearly 75-acre Gateway Preserve was created to offset development impacts to Swainson's hawk foraging habitat in the city of Woodland. The Preserve is located on County Road 19, north of Cache Creek, west of Woodland. Several crops are grown on Preserve property, especially winter wheat and alfalfa, which are compatible with Swainson's foraging habitat. The Wildlife Heritage Foundation acts as the Preserve Manager.

Habitats Found Within this Preserve

Grasslands

Pope Ranch Preserves

The Pope Ranch Preserves are located southwest of the city of Davis. Together, the two properties encompass approximately 677 acres and are protected by numerous conservation easements. The main Pope Ranch preserve consists of created freshwater marsh and upland habitat for the listed giant garter snake, but it also provides wintering habitat for a variety of migratory waterfowl. The Pope Ranch Extension (also called Pope Ranch North) consists of irrigated pasture that provides foraging habitat for the state-listed Swainson's hawk and upland game birds. Wildlands, Inc. owns and manages the preserves and WHF has oversight responsibilities.

Habitats Found Within this Preserve

Wetlands

Species Found Within this Preserve

Giant Garter Snake

Sacramento River Ranch Preserves

The River Ranch Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetle (VELB) Conservation Bank is north of Sacramento in Yolo County, California. VELB is listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act. The conservation bank and the 3,682-acre property are owned by Sacramento River Ranch, LLC. Wildlands, Inc. is the bank manager and operator. Phase I of the conservation bank, over which WHF holds the conservation easement, is approximately 76.0 acres. The goal is to ensure that the created VELB habitats within the bank are maintained in good condition such that they will continue to support the plants and wildlife species that the bank was established to protect in perpetuity. WHF will monitor the work of Wildlands, inc. on the site to ensure compliance with the terms of the conservation easement.

Species Found Within this Preserve

Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetle

Liberty Island Conservation Bank

The Liberty Island Conservation Bank is located on the north end of Liberty Island south of the city of Davis. The 148-acre Bank was created to provide habitat for several species of salmon and the Delta smelt. Ultimately, the Bank will create open water channels and associated wetland and riparian habitat. Liberty Island Holdings I, LLC owns and manages the Bank. WHF has oversight responsibilities.

Fremont Landing Conservation Bank

The Fremont Landing Conservation Bank is part of the larger River Ranch properties owned and managed by River Ranch LLC. The 100-acre conservation bank is located on the Sacramento River near the confluence with the Feather River, and was created to preserve habitat for several species of salmon. The Wildlife Heritage Foundation has oversight responsibilities.

Ridge Cut Giant Garter Snake Bank

The 186-acre Ridge Cut Giant Garter Snake Bank is located in northern Yolo County just east of the I-5 and I-505 convergence. It is owned by Teal Ridge, LLC and created to provide mitigation credits for impacts to the giant garter snake. Wildlands, Inc., is the Bank Manager and WHF has oversight responsibilities.