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This 42.7-acre Preserve is located in unincorporated Sacramento County, California, approximately two miles north of the Sacramento International Airport. The Preserve was created to protect the giant garter snake (Thamnophis gigas), listed as threatened under both the federal and State endangered species acts. The Preserve and surrounding land are owned by the Sacramento Count Airport System (SCAS) and are located in a fairly flat agricultural area. It consists of 9.7-acre parcel (formerly a freshwater marsh that was restored) and a 33-acre parcel (formerly under cultivation for rice) on which habitat for created for the giant garter snake. Both restoration and habitat conservation activities were completed in 2007 by companies under contract with SCAS.
The Preserve, as now created and restored, includes freshwater marsh wetlands, freshwater marsh slough-like channels, and
seasonal wetlands. Ten acres of upland habitat was created to provide basking and hibernation habitat for the giant garter
snake. Some adjacent (to the Preserve) properties have been historically leased for rice production purposes. However,
because this practice attracts bird species that are hazardous to aircraft, this use is being restricted or discontinued as
current leases expire. The Preserve is within the boundaries of the Natomas Basin Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) but the
Preserve is not covered by this plan.
 Because of the diverse habitats on the Preserve, both natural and created, there is a large variety of species currently and potentially on site. In
addition to the giant garter snake, two other special-status animals have been observed on adjacent lands and have the
potential to occur on the Preserve. They are Swainson's hawk (Buteo swainsoni) and western burrowing owl (Athene
cunicularia). Although no special-status plant species have been identified during surveys of the Preserve, at least two have the potential to occur on site, given their proximity. They are rose-mallow (Hibiscus lasiocarpus) and Sanford's sagittaria (Sagittaria sanfordii). As is typical, many non-native and invasive plant and animal species also occur on the Preserve, including wild oats (Avena fatua), yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis), and Medusahead (Taenatherum caput-medusa).
CNLM's relationship to the Prichard Lake Preserve is three-fold: to manage the endowment, to hold the Conservation Easement, and to manage the Preserve according to management objectives and as guided by local, state
and federal environmental laws and with science-based stewardship. The primary management objectives for the Preserve are to
maintain the restored marsh as habitat for native species; maintain suitable areas—including the created upland areas—as
desirable habitat for the giant garter snake; and to minimize the attraction to wildlife whose usage is a hazard to aircraft.
Conversion of adjacent rice fields to a mosaic of wetland and upland habitats is considered to render the Preserve less
attractive to hazardous (to aircraft) species such as ibis, herons, and egrets. A major management tool at this Preserve is
control of the water levels.
For more information about this preserve, contact:
Judah Grossman
Preserve Manager
e-mail: jgrossman@cnlm.org
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