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The Conservancy announces the completion of a series of three land exchanges designed to consolidate preserves and reduce fragmented habitat lands. The effort was completed over a period of three and one-half years, and was done to secure land with superior biological resources and to enhance the value of existing habitat land for the species covered under the Natomas Basin Habitat Conservation Plan (NBHCP).

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Recently, Sacramento Congresswoman Doris Matsui toured the Conservancy’s Fisherman’s Lake Preserve Area with fellow Members of Congress Mike Thompson of California and Collin Peterson of Minnesota. Peterson chairs the House Agriculture Committee, which is heavily engaged in the 2007 Farm Bill, legislation which will impact the Conservancy and many others in the habitat lands and rice farming community. Congresswoman Matsui wanted to show Peterson and Thompson the interface between rapidly-advancing urbanization in her District of South Natomas and Natomas’ open agricultural fields, with the Conservancy’s habitat lands serving as a buffer between the two. She also facilitated an on-site discussion between the Members of Congress and Conservancy managers regarding a number of key agricultural and habitat land issues.

At its Annual Open House earlier this summer, the Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District (SYMVCD) awarded the Conservancy its “Ecology Award.” In a resolution by the Mosquito District’s Board of Directors, the Conservancy was given the award for “outstanding commitment and implementation of ecological mosquito reduction measures through BMPs [best management practices] that resulted in a significant reduction or elimination of mosquito production...”

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On a five-year old Conservancy managed marsh preserve in the Conservancy’s Central Basin Reserve Area, two of the Natomas Basin Habitat Conservation Plan’s (NBHCP) covered species have nested. The nest findings are very significant in demonstrating the efficacy of the NBHCP in mitigating for the loss of habitat by development.

 As the photos attached show, there are white faced ibis and tri-colored blackbirds nesting on a Conservancy-constructed managed marsh preserve. For the white faced ibis, there had been no records that the bird nested in the Natomas Basin, despite many years of effort trying to find such activity.

The Conservancy’s year-end 2006 financial statements have been audited. The auditor’s report was presented to the Conservancy’s Board of Directors at its May 2, 2007 regular meeting. A copy of the audit report can be downloaded from the Conservancy’s web site (see “Helpful Documents” on the left-hand column of the home page, then click on “Annual Reports” to find the Annual Audits of Year-end Financial Statements).

Recently, the Conservancy held a celebration for three noteworthy happenings:

•Land Acquisition Achievement.
•Reserve Consolidation.
•Founding Leaders Retire.

The Conservancy announces its intention to employ a Field Services Supervisor to assist in the management of its growing mitigation land holdings. This position is responsible for maintaining habitat land for which the Conservancy is responsible. A position description and posting is attached for downloading. Qualified and interested parties are asked to submit a resume and written expression of interest to the Conservancy’s Executive Director (Mailing information is posted on the attached).

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With some considerable pleasure, the Conservancy announces completion of a land exchange that will enhance the biological values afforded the species covered in the Natomas Basin Habitat Conservation Plan (NBHCP). The consummation of this transaction concludes an effort of over two years. In exchange for the Conservancy’s 242-acre Brennan tract, the Conservancy received 388 acres in two separate parcels known as the Nestor and Bolen West tracts.

The satellite photo shown here reveals changes in the Natomas Basin since last year’s satellite photo. The Conservancy purchases these “bird in the sky” photos each year, overlaying on them the approximate boundaries of the Conservancy’s land holdings. This provides the Conservancy with an excellent historical record, year by year, of the sanctuaries it has acquired for the benefit of the covered species in the Natomas Basin Habitat Conservation Plan (NBHCP). Others are using them as well to track general growth and development in the Natomas Basin.

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