Author: Alyssa Rolen

Photo of oak tree at sunset

2021 Year in Review

What a remarkable year it has been! As we bounced back from the challenges of 2020, we renewed our commitment in 2021 to work harder than ever and closer than ever to continue to fulfill the promises made to our landowner partners, our communities, and our donors who make everything possible. Below is a beautiful snapshot of what can happen when we refuse to let anything hinder progress toward conserving the lands we need and love.

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Celebrating Our Ranching Roots

Celebrating Our Ranching Roots at A Western Affair 2021 October 29, 2021 by Alyssa Rolen Earlier this month, friends of the California Rangeland Trust gathered at A Western Affair 2021 to celebrate our state’s ranching roots and the pivotal role ranching plays in the growth of healthy communities. Few know

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Cattle graze on Roadrunner Ranch in San Benito County

Roadrunner Ranch

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. In 2020, 548 acres of the ranch were forever conserved through a conservation agreement held by the Rangeland Trust.

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Creekview Northern Preserve

In 2020, the California Rangeland Trust conserved 87 acres of open space in West Roseville, known as the Creekview Northern Preserve. The Rangeland Trust partnered with the land development and homebuilding company Anthem United who funded the conservation easement on the property to mitigate potential environmental impacts associated with the development of the 500-acre Winding Creek Community, a new residential area being constructed nearby.

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Sunset photo of the Flying M Ranch

Flying M Ranch

The Flying M Ranch extends over 24 square miles of the Merced Grasslands, one of the largest and most intact vernal pool-grasslands habitats in the world. In 2021, 845 acres of the ranch were conserved through a conservation agreement in partnership with the Rangeland Trust. The conserved acreage joins an additional 5,000 acres previously conserved by the Myers family in partnership with the Nature Conservancy.

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Mendenhall Ranch on Palomar Mountain

Mendenhall Ranch

Mendenhall Ranch San Diego County Endangered Species Habitat on Palomar Mountain Forever Conserved In 2020, the California Rangeland Trust permanently conserved of 117 acres of the Mendenhall Ranch on top of Palomar Mountain in San Diego, County. The conservation agreement, held by the Rangeland Trust, prevents the sale of smaller

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View of the ACWMA Ranch

Alameda County Waste Management Authority Ranch

The Alameda County Waste Management Authority (ACWMA) Ranch is a working cattle ranch that contains the perfect habitat for endangered species like the San Joaquin kit fox, burrowing owl, California red-legged frog, California tiger salamander, and many others. The property has been owned by ACWMA since the early 1990’s.

In 2018, California Rangeland Trust partnered with Golden Hills Ecological Preserve to develop a mitigation agreement on the ranch

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Wind turbines on Sweet Ranch

Sweet Ranch

The Sweet Ranch is a working cattle ranch nestled on low, rolling hills coated in nutrient-rich grasses that are perfect for cattle grazing. The ranch has been owned by the Sweet family since 1915 when they purchased it from Sanford University. Several generations later, the property is still home to the Sweet family, their cattle operation, sheep, and grain crops. The ranch provides critical habitat for federally listed species including the San Joaquin kit fox, California red-legged frog, and tiger salamander, as well as the American badger and the burrowing owl. To mitigate potential negative impacts to these important species, the Sweet family worked with California Rangeland Trust to not only conserve the ranch, but to enhance its wildlife habitat.

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