Mitigation Project in San Benito County Protects 500 acres of Habitat on Working Cattle Ranch

(HOLLISTER) – JANUARY 5, 2021

Today, the California Rangeland Trust announced the permanent conservation of the 548-acre Roadrunner Ranch in San Benito County.

When utility companies perform construction projects or maintenance activities, they often need to mitigate for potential disturbances or losses to threatened or endangered species habitat by conserving a similar landscape in the surrounding area. Developed in accordance with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the conservation agreement on the Roadrunner Ranch is designed to help offset potential habitat impacts in 34 Northern California counties as part of Pacific Gas & Electric’s (PG&E) Multiple Region Habitat Conservation Plan.

Located just four miles outside of Hollister, CA, the Roadrunner Ranch encompasses grasslands and wetlands that provide habitat for 14 special-status species including most notably, the California tiger salamander, California red-legged frog and the San Joaquin kit fox.

“California’s private, working landscapes are home to a variety of threatened and endangered species,” said Michael Delbar, California Rangeland Trust CEO. “By conserving ranches like the Roadrunner Ranch, we are helping to ensure that plants and wildlife have ample habitat to live and thrive.”

This conservation agreement ensures the Roadrunner ranch will continue to function as a working ranch in perpetuity, just as it has since 1939. The property is currently leased to a long-term tenant who uses the property as grazing land for cattle. Well-managed grazing preserves and improves the quality of habitat and highlights the symbiotic relationship between agriculture and environmental stewardship. By conserving this vibrant landscape, the Rangeland Trust is forever ensuring the growth and prosperity of the flora and fauna that call the Roadrunner Ranch their home.