California Rangeland Trust Announces 1,900 Acres of Open Rangeland Permanently Conserved in Yolo County, California

Sacramento, Calif – June 12, 2018 – SACRAMENTO – 

This month, California Rangeland Trust announced the permanent protection of open rangeland through a 1,909-acre conservation easement on a portion of Rominger Brothers Farms in Yolo County. This marks California Rangeland Trust’s permanent conservation of over 318,000 rangeland acres across California.

“Farmers and ranchers like the Romingers are a perfect example of the benefits of privately-owned rangelands. They are a hardworking and passionate family who cares about every facet their land has to offer — to their community, to agriculture, and to the surrounding ecosystem,” stated Nita Vail, CEO of California Rangeland Trust. “In their decision to partner with the California Rangeland Trust and participating partners, the Romingers are permanently protecting a wildlife corridor, conserving the many natural resource benefits, and safeguarding the ranch’s beautiful open space for generations to come.”

“This rangeland is really close to urban populations. Not only is this part of a scenic viewshed – everyone in Davis, Woodland, and Sacramento can see these hills – it’s also part of the watershed. We need that clean water recharging the groundwater,” stated Bruce Rominger of Rominger Brothers Farms. “It’s important for the whole ecological system in this valley to keep these hills healthy, which is one of the many reasons we partnered with the California Rangeland Trust and participating organizations to keep the land intact.”

Rominger Brothers Farms is a diversified agriculture operation, leasing its rangeland for cattle and sheep grazing, producing tomatoes, rice, sunflowers, corn, wheat, almonds, walnuts, wine grapes, alfalfa, and more. To purchase the Rominger easement, the California Rangeland Trust partnered with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) through their Agricultural Conservation Easement Program and the California Strategic Growth Council’s (SCG) Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation (SALC) Program administered by the California Department of Conservation.

The SALC Program is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide program that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment—particularly in disadvantaged communities. The Cap-and-Trade program also creates a financial incentive for industries to invest in clean technologies and develop innovative ways to reduce pollution. California Climate Investments projects include affordable housing, renewable energy, public transportation, zero-emission vehicles, environmental restoration, more sustainable agriculture, recycling, and much more. At least 35 percent of these investments are located within and benefit residents of disadvantaged communities, low-income communities, and low-income households across California. For more information, visit the California Climate Investments website at: www.caclimateinvestments.ca.gov.

“The Romingers are conservation luminaries in California that we have partnered with on countless projects and issues across decades. Capping this work with the enduring quality of a conservation easement is a fitting addition to their legacy. We are proud to be partners with Romingers and the other fine groups involved with making this conservation concept a reality on the landscape,” stated Jeff White, Acting State Conservationist for NRCS.
“Agricultural conservation easements are a win for the environment, for the economy, and for the natural beauty of our state,” SGC Executive Director Randall Winston said. “We’re thrilled to support the Rominger family in protecting their land, ensuring that it will be able to produce and sustain life for generations to come.”

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The California Rangeland Trust is a non-profit organization founded by a group of innovative cattlemen and cattlewomen in 1998, to conserve the open space, natural habitat and stewardship provided by California’s ranches. They have helped permanently protect 318,021 acres of privately-owned rangeland.