The Yolo Habitat Conservancy is an arm of county government whose chief job, so far, is to oversee a coherent approach to mitigation for impacts of development and other land disturbances. Projects that degrade or eliminate habitat for certain plant and animal species can get permits to do so by following habitat conservation plans developed by the County and approved by the state and federal wildlife agencies.
The mitigation plan covers the valley portion of the county and ensures preservation of habitat for severalmbirds, notably Swainson’s hawk, white-tailed kite, burrowing owl, bank swallow, and tricolored blackbird. The Conservancy has been quietly enrolling properties, mainly agricultural, into its mitigation land bank. Nearly all such properties have included alfalfa fields or other cultivated lands suitable for Swainson’s hawks to hunt in.
The other big job of the Conservancy is to carry out the parts of its conservation plan that go beyond compensation for loss of habitat, and seek better protection of natural and semi-natural lands throughout the county that are not subject to development. These include important landscapes for birds, including streamside forest, oak woodland, wetlands, and prairie grassland.
Late last year the board of directors of the Conservancy designated a committee for help and advice on carrying out this latter mission. The voting members of the committee include representatives from the county, its four incorporated cities, the Yocha Dehe Wintun nation, farmers and wildlife conservation organizations. As someone who took part in the work of an earlier version of the committee, I was glad to be appointed, and intend to be Yolo Audubon’s voice there. Point Blue Conservation Science also has a representative. The committee had an introductory meeting (on Zoom, of course) in January. It is gearing up gradually.
Information about the Conservancy and the habitat conservation plan that it administers can be found at yolohabitatconservancy.org.
Michael Perrone, YAS Conservation Chair