Area: 964 Acres
Location: Dixon, Solano County
Date Acquired: 2008
Acquisition Type: CNLM holds a conservation easement to protect imperiled species and habitats that exist on the preserve in perpetuity.
Key Habitats: California Annual and Perennial Grassland, Vernal Pool
Species of Special Interest to CNLM: vernal pool tadpole shrimp (Lepidurus packardi), Conservancy fairy shrimp (Branchinecta conservatio), vernal pool fairy shrimp (Branchinecta lynchi), Delta green ground beetle (Elaphrus viridis), California tiger salamander (Ambystoma californiense).
Introduction
The Burke Ranch Preserve is located in unincorporated Solano County, south of the city of Dixon, California and is owned and managed by Westervelt Ecological Services. The Center for Natural Lands Management (CNLM) accepted a conservation easement on this property in February of 2008. The conservation easement ensures that the land will not be developed for other purposes and will be managed to support the flora and fauna that the Preserve was established to protect. CNLM’s role, in perpetuity, is to monitor the Preserve to ensure that the terms of the conservation easement are fulfilled.
Conservation Significance
Burke Ranch Preserve is comprised primarily of vernal pools and swales and associated grasslands. Vernal pools — seasonal, rain-filled wetlands — are a unique and threatened habitat which have been reduced by about 90% in California due to the pressures of increasing urbanization and agricultural conversion of open space lands. The habitat value of the Preserve is enhanced by its proximity to other preserves in which CNLM holds a conservation easement including Campbell Ranch and Michael Remy, as well as the University of California’s Jepson Prairie Preserve.
Our Work
The landowners (Westervelt Ecological Services) are responsible for management of the Preserve. The management goals include preserving the diversity and richness of vernal pool species present on the Preserve, protecting the property from the effects of adjacent land uses or unauthorized activities that may adversely impact the Preserve, managing the property to minimize the encroachment of invasive, exotic species, maintaining conditions to support the life cycle of the special-status species on site, and repairing or restoring any problems with the Preserve that would impact the imperiled species or habitats. CNLM holds a conservation easement over the Preserve and is responsible for monitoring, enforcement, and defense of the Preserve to ensure that the sensitive habitats and species are protected in perpetuity.
Public Access
Due to the vulnerability of the species and habitats that exist on this preserve, it is not open to the public.
Contact
For more information on Burke Ranch or Center for Natural Lands Management, please contact Cathy Little, Regional Preserve Manager, Email: cLittle@cnlm.org or (760) 731-7790 extension 209
For information regarding mitigation bank credits, contact Travis Hemmen of Westervelt Ecological Services at (916) 646-3644 or themmen@westervelt.com