Recent Transactions

1) Bureau of Land Management-Sprague Land Exchange: In April of 2006, conservation partners helped close an exchange that was 7 years in the making.  In the transaction, many scattered parcels of BLM in Kings, Kern and San Luis Obispo counties were exchanged for a bigger parcel of equal value located in Tulare County.  In addition to negotiating and maintaining individual buyers in contract for 7 years, Conservation Partners also acted as the link between BLM and the buyers in solving conflicts, any of which could have prevented the exchange from happening.  This resulted in a win-win situation in which private farmers and ranchers acquired government land which they could use as part of the ranches and farms and BLM acquired roughly 1,000 acres of land with significant conservation value.

2) Solano Land Trust- McConeghy and Ebey-Laughtin acquisition: Conservation Partners acted as the legal counsel and advisor for Solano Land Trust in creating an easement over the 300-acre McConeghy Farm, which straddles the Kidwell Road exit on Interstate 80.  Months later, Conservation Partners assisted the City of Davis, City of Dixon and Solano Land Trust in the purchase of an agricultural conservation easement on the 146-acre Ebey-Laughtin property.  McConeghy Farm and Ebey-Laughtin properties were then combined for resale. The property subject to the easement was purchased by conservation-minded buyers with the intent to keep the property in its agricultural status in perpetuity. 

3) Audubon- Alexander acquisition: This was perhaps the quickest conservation transaction ever. Conservation Partners helped Audubon acquire the 105-acre Alexander property in 10 days.  The Alexander property is home to the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher and Vermillion Flycatcher. 

4) Solano Land Trust’s acquisition of the 4000 acre King - Swett Ranch:  In addition to managing this extensive open space for public access and continued grazing, the red-legged frog and other threatened habitat will be preserved and enhanced in a unique, long-term relationship with the former owner.

5) Solano Land Trust’s acquisition of agricultural conservation easements on 7 farms/ranches totaling more than 5200 acres since 2003.

6) Audubon California’s acquisition of 1662 acres of the Sprague Ranch near Kernville, CA.  The acquisition doubled the size of Audubon’s Kern River Preserve, home to a rare cottonwood willow forest and a Mecca for birds and birders.

7) Mendocino Land Trust’s acquisition of a Redwood Conservation Easement on the historic Ridgewood Ranch near Willits, CA, home of Seabiscuit.

Mitigation Projects:

• Wilcox Ranch, Solano County – vernal pools
• North Suisun Mitigation Bank, Solano County – Vernal pools
• Merritt Ranch, Yolo County – Swainson’s hawk

Other Projects

1) Stewardship Plan – As part of a team, prepared an extensive stewardship plan for the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District.

2) Agricultural Conservation Easement Plan – As part of team, prepared a detailed agricultural conservation easement plan for the Solano Land Trust.

3) Land Trust Policies and Procedures – Prepared policies and procedures for several land trusts regarding conflicts of interest, mitigation arrangements and stewardship.