The Conservancy recently completed acquisition of two parcels that have been integrated into its habitat lands inventory. The 181-acre Huffman West tract and the 136-acre Huffman East tract are contiguous, and also connect with other Conservancy preserves. This connectivity further advances the Conservancy’s efforts to assemble the HCP-required 2,500-acre contiguous reserve.
Both tracts lie in the southerly portion of Sutter County, just north of Riego Road and west of Power Line Road. They join up with the Conservancy’s Atkinson tract on the south and Bennett South tract on the north to make a substantial stretch of land all under the Conservancy’s ownership. Both tracts lie in the Swainson’s hawk zone, and the Huffman East tract borders significant giant garter snake populations discovered by the Conservancy two years ago.
The Huffman West tract is dedicated to the production of upland crops to support Swainson’s hawk populations. A significant portion of Huffman West has historically been in alfalfa production.
The Huffman East tract has historically been dedicated to rice prodcution, and some rice production will likely continue in order to keep adjacent agricultural drains charged with water needed to support adjacent giant garter snake populations.
Combined, the two tracts bring the Conservancy’s total acreage count to just over 3,400.
Note: Visit the “Helpful Documents > Preserve Maps” section for a full map of Conservancy preserves.