Construction activity on the Conservancy’s Cummings tract.
The Conservancy’s 2004 restoration and enhancement construction efforts were largely focused on the Conservancy’s Cummings tract. The Cummings tract project resembled last year’s work on the nearby Natomas Farms tract (see previous story) in that it attempts to connect the habitat values of Fisherman’s Lake with those of the Sacramento River.
When completed, the Cummings tract restoration and enhancement construction project will provide an extension of the riparian corridor along the Sacramento River for Swainson’s hawk benefit, along with new upland foraging area. The newly-created marsh complex on the easterly portion of the tract will provide expanded and diversified habitat opportunities for the giant garter snake. It is hoped that giant garter snakes now found in Fisherman’s Lake will help colonize the new Cummings tract preserve.
After construction, the preserve will provide 40 new acres of wetland habitat (including 10.97 acres of wetlands-associated uplands), and 25.84 acres of uplands, including 4.23 acres of riparian woodlands and 21.61 acres of Swainson’s hawk foraging crops. The total project is 66.84 acres in size and is expected to be intensively used by both Swainson’s hawk and giant garter snakes.