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Sunday, September 13, 2026

Some Private Land-Saving Deals

MENDOCINO:

https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/places-we-protect/the-nature-conservancy-in-california-1959-angelo-coast-range-reserve/
located nw of Cahto peak, 7500 acres total. 3100 acres was transferred to Nature Conservancy by the Angelo family keeping a life estate; some is owned by the federal BLM. In 1994, NC transferred its land to the UC Natural Reserve System
https://ucnature.org/reserves/angelo-coast-range-reserve/
https://share.google/saMzXBdgwXCjS31Fw

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SIERRA AND LASSEN COUNTIES: NE OF LAKE TAHOE--Loyalton Ranch Acquisition Returns Ancestral Lands to Washoe People
11/2025: The Wildlife Conservation board approved a $5.5 million grant to the Wášiw-šiw Land Trust
https://wasiw-siwlandtrust.org/
to support the purchase of 10,274 acres at Loyalton Ranch, a historic return of ancestral lands to the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California (Tribe) in the northern Sierra Nevada.
The Loyalton Ranch acquisition, a culmination of a four-year collaboration between the Tribe, the Northern Sierra Partnership and the Feather River Land Trust, https://www.frlt.org is part of the Tribe’s plan to reclaim and steward lands across the northern Washoe homelands, with the purchase expected to close in early 2026.

MAP:
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/6905668bd5531875588490a7/t/698b69c324ab903f8a8c615d/1770744259303/We%CC%81lmelti%C9%81+Preserve+Map+%281%29+%281%29.jpg

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TULARE COUNTY/HERSHEY RANCH:

October 29, 2025
Partnership with Tule River Indian Tribe Protects Critical California Wildlife Habitat
The Conservation Fund recently partnered with the Tule River Indian Tribe to conserve over 17,000 acres in the foothills of the southern Sierra Nevada. The project is now the largest ancestral land return in California’s Sierra Nevada foothills and is nestled between the Tule River Reservation and Giant Sequoia National Monument,
--State of CA contrib $8 million to buy 14,673 acres Hershey Ranch; also bought was 2357 acre Carothers ranch
https://www.kvpr.org/environment/2025-01-08/tule-river-tribe-to-buy-back-14-000-acres-of-ancestral-land

MAP:
https://www.conservationfund.org/our-impact/projects/connecting-indigenous-lands-in-the-southern-sierra-nevada/


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KLAMATH RIVER:

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/CNRA/bulletins/3fc0376
‘Salmon Everywhere’ One Year After Klamath Dam Removal by Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary Pacificorp.
This bulletin was sent at 11/18/2025 
A little more than a year after the historic removal of four hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River, California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) scientists are seeing salmon reoccupying just about every corner of their historic habitat.

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SISKIYOU--The Wildlands Conservancy has expanded Beaver Valley Headwaters Preserve in Siskiyou County through a 14,177-acre acquisition that strengthens habitat for salmon, steelhead, and beaver
https://wildlandsconservancy.org/preserves/beavervalleyheadwaters

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SAN DIEGO https://wildlandsconservancy.org/preserves/santamargaritarivertrail
1384 acres saved 2018
For several decades the Fallbrook Trail Council has maintained 18 miles of equestrian and hiking trails on this former water district property. The Fallbrook Trails Council and The Wildlands Conservancy are now partners in maintaining this trail

MOJAVE DESERT
https://wildlandsconservancy.org/stories/saving-the-mojave-desert
From 1999 to 2004, Wildlands purchased 587,000 acres of fragmented land throughout the vast Mojave landscape that was destined for destruction and development, and donated them to the U.S. Department of the Interior for permanent conservation.

We now steward 25 preserves across California, Oregon, and Utah, protecting 208,000 acres.


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PLACER COUNTY--CLOVER VALLEY  



the clover valley preseve is 402 acres in the town of Rocklin
Protected in 2025 by Conservation Easement jointly held by Placer Land Trust and Placer County

https://www.facebook.com/reel/592233920331098/?mibextid=9drbnH

https://placerlandtrust.org/clover-valley/

Clover Valley was under intense pressure from development for decades, with approvals and entitlements in place for 500+ single-family homes and a roadway across the valley floor. For years, community members rallied together to hold off the construction of subdivisions, roads, and highways that would destroy this last wild place. Finally in 2025, working with the original landowner as a willing seller, Placer Land Trust and Rocklin-based Jessup University purchased and protected the land through a conservation easement.

Jessup University found an opportunity to save Clover Valley through their discussions with the landowner, and negotiated the purchase of 402 acres of the valley floor at a discounted price of $10M. In 2022, Jessup chose to partner with Placer Land Trust to draw on our fundraising and land protection expertise and to ultimately hold a conservation easement on the property.

Early grant-seeking efforts were largely thwarted by California’s budget deficit, which effectively dried up public conservation funding. In a nail-biting final push, Placer Land Trust rallied local agencies and organizations in an extraordinary collaborative partnership. Placer County Office of Education, Placer County, the City of Rocklin, and City of Lincoln all made significant contributions to the fundraising effort.

Individuals also contributed over $1.3M, and hundreds of people wrote to elected officials or spoke at public meetings advocating for saving Clover Valley. Finally, in Spring of 2025, funds were secured to place a permanent conservation easement on the valley. The easement is to be jointly held by Placer Land Trust and Placer County, and ensures that the valley will be protected forever.



SCC 09-2026

3 Coastal Land Deals

https://scc.ca.gov/2026/09/04/coastal-conservancy-public-meeting-in-fort-bragg-september-17/

SAN LUIS OBISPO: disburse up to $5,000,000 to ytt Northern Chumash Nonprofit to undertake the yatspansini wayaktspu Conservancy Acquisition, consisting of acquisition of 357 acres of the Alexander Ranch north of Cayucos. Total price of $18 million includes $7 million from the State Dept. of Conservation.
http://scc.ca.gov/webmaster/ftp/pdf/sccbb/2026/0917/20260917Board10_yatspansini%20Acquisition.pdf

SAN LUIS OBISPO: disburse up to $42,000,000 to the Wildlands Conservancy to acquire the fee title and leasehold interest in the approximately 2,060-acre Wild Cherry Canyon property within the Diablo Canyon lands from PG&E subsidiary Eureka Energy.
http://scc.ca.gov/webmaster/ftp/pdf/sccbb/2026/0917/20260917Board12_Wild_Cherry_Acquisition_staff%20rec.pdf

SANTA CLARA COUNTY: disburse up to $14,500,000 to the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority to undertake the Coyote Valley Landscape Linkage Acquisition, consisting of acquiring approximately 417 acres of land located in Coyote Valley in Santa Clara County.
http://scc.ca.gov/webmaster/ftp/pdf/sccbb/2026/0917/20260917Board15_Coyote_Valley.pdf

Wednesday, July 29, 2026

WCB 8-2026

Meeting of Calif. Wildlife Conservation Board
August 27, 2026

preliminary agenda:
https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/CNRA/bulletins/421d21e

FULL AGENDA WITH MAPS
CENTRAL VALLEY:

155 acres, Daugherty Hill Wildlife Area, Expansion 20 (Stocker) $697,000.Yuba County
acquisition of 155± acres of land by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) located near the community of Bangor.

23 acres, Crocker Meadows Wildlife Area, Exp. 4 (Williams) $5,000. Plumas County
acquisition of 23± acres of land by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife located near Beckwourth.

14,177 acres, Beaver Valley Headwaters Preserve (AP Ranch) $11,500,000. Siskiyou County
grant to The Wildlands Conservancy to acquire 14,177± acres located near Callahan.

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SF BAY:

80 acres, Politsuwi $700,000. Lake County
grant to Tribal EcoRestoration Alliance to acquire 80± acres located in Lakeport.

436 acres, Knoxville Wildlife Area, Expansion 3 $1,000,000. Napa County
acquisition of 436± acres of land by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) for a cooperative project with the Land Trust of Napa County, located near the community of Middletown.

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NORTH COAST:

3946 acres, Folsom Ranch (Mendocino Land Trust) $4,083,500. Mendocino County
grant to Mendocino Land Trust for a cooperative project with The Conservation Fund, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Sherwood Band of Pomo Indians, Cahto Tribe of the Laytonville Rancheria, and Potter Valley Tribe to acquire 3,946± acres located 10 miles northeast of the City of Willits.

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SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA;

1093 acres, Mojave Reserve $7,500,000. San Bernardino County
grant to the Mojave Desert Land Trust to acquire 1,093± acres located near the community of Yucca Grove.

Friday, June 26, 2026

SCC 6/2026

SOME NORTHERN CALIFORNIA LAND DEALS

State Coastal Conservancy meeting 6/18/2026

121 acres in HUMBOLDT: Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $1,600,000 to California Trout, Inc. to augment a Conservancy grant totaling $5,500,000 to expand the scope of the Elk River Habitat Restoration Project to include acquisition of the 121.5-acre Shanahan Ranch in Humboldt County.
http://scc.ca.gov/webmaster/ftp/pdf/sccbb/2026/0618/20260618Board03E_Elk_River_Staff_Augment.pdf

94 acres in SAN MATEO: Consideration and possible approval of the Pedro Point Headlands Disposition Plan and authorization to transfer, free of charge, three State-owned parcels at Pedro Point Headlands in San Mateo County to the United States Government to be managed by the National Park Service, for open space preservation, natural resource protection, and public access as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
http://scc.ca.gov/webmaster/ftp/pdf/sccbb/2026/0618/20260618Board17_PPH_Disposition.pdf

Wednesday, April 29, 2026

SCC 2026-04



COASTAL CONSERVANCY: PUBLIC MEETING IN SEAL BEACH – APRIL 23, 2026

https://scc.ca.gov/2026/04/10/coastal-conservancy-public-meeting-in-oakland-april-23

WEST COYOTE HILLS, 483 ACRES IN NORTH ORANGE COUNTY: Disburse up to $1,600,000 to the Watershed Conservation Authority for the West Coyote Hills Acquisition, which consists of acquiring approximately 483 acres of West Coyote Hills in Orange County, City of Fullerton. TOTAL PRICE IS $95 MILLION.
http://scc.ca.gov/webmaster/ftp/pdf/sccbb/2026/0423/20260423Board03K_WestCoyoteHills_Acquisition.pdf
Addendum: Public Comment
http://scc.ca.gov/webmaster/ftp/pdf/sccbb/2026/0423/scc%20meeting%204.26.2.%20%20Consent%20Calendar%20item%20K_Redacted.pdf

MENDOCINO COAST 672 ACRES: disburse up to $1,500,000 to Trust for Public Land to undertake the Shaahnaa’ Lhook’ Acquisition, consisting of acquiring 672-acres in Branscomb, Mendocino County.
http://scc.ca.gov/webmaster/ftp/pdf/sccbb/2026/0423/20260423Board14_Shaahnaa%27_Lhook%27_Staff_Rec.pdf

SANTA CRUZ 4 ACRES: disburse up to $1,000,000 to the Homeless Garden Project to undertake the Natural Bridges Farm Acquisition, consisting of the acquisition of approximately 4 acres of working agricultural land to be permanently dedicated to public benefit purposes, including the protection of working agricultural land and open space, in Santa Cruz County.
http://scc.ca.gov/webmaster/ftp/pdf/sccbb/2026/0423/20260423Board16_Natural_Bridges_Farm_Acqusition.pdf

WCB 2026-05

Notice of Meeting of the WILDLIFE CONSERVATION BOARD
Thursday, May 28, 2026, 10:00 a.m.

Preliminary Agenda Items
https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=243999&inline=&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Agenda with maps:
https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=245232&inline=&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery


NEW PARKS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA:

San Felipe Valley Wildlife Area, Expansion 8 (Nelson) $360,000 , San Diego County
acquisition of 114± acres of land by CDFW as an expansion to CDFW’s San Felipe Valley Wildlife Area located near Oak Grove in San Diego County.

San Felipe Valley Wildlife Area, Expansion 9 (Molloy) $174,000 , San Diego County
acquisition of 38± acres of land by CDFW as an expansion to CDFW’s San Felipe Valley Wildlife Area located near Oak Grove in San Diego County.

Hidden Valley Wildlife Area Utility Easement $0 , Riverside County
granting a utility easement and associated access easements over 10± acres of land from CDFW to the Southern California Edison Company for the purposes of constructing a new overhead transmission line through the Hidden Valley Wildlife Area, located near the city of Riverside in Riverside County.

Skyline North Phase II $5,900,000 , San Diego County
grant to the Endangered Habitats Conservancy to acquire 1,226± acres located near the unincorporated community of Jamul in San Diego County.

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IN THE SIERRA NEVADAS:

Park Ranch $8,000,000 in Alpine County
grant to Western Rivers Conservancy and Alpine County to acquire 1,688± acres located adjacent to Markleeville in Alpine County.

Monday, February 9, 2026

SCC 2/2026

3 Land Deals in the SF Bay 

https://scc.ca.gov/2026/02/05/coastal-conservancy-public-meeting-in-oakland-february-19/

disburse up to $2,000,000 to the Marin Audubon Society to complete the Greater Bahia Wetlands Acquisition, which consists of acquiring the approximately 323-acre Leveroni property located along the Petaluma River in Marin County
http://scc.ca.gov/webmaster/ftp/pdf/sccbb/2026/0219/20260219Board05_GreaterBahiaWetlandsAcquisition.pdf

disburse up to $3,050,000 to the Sonoma Land Trust for the Osprey Hill Ranch Acquisition Project, consisting of acquisition of a 365-acre ranch in Sonoma County
http://scc.ca.gov/webmaster/ftp/pdf/sccbb/2026/0219/20260219Board16_Osprey_Hill_Ranch_Acquisition.pdf

disburse up to $2,000,000 to the Peninsula Open Space Trust to acquire the 196-acre San Gregorio Ranch in San Gregorio, San Mateo County.
http://scc.ca.gov/webmaster/ftp/pdf/sccbb/2026/0219/20260219Board19_San_Gregorio_Ranch_Acquisition.pdf

Thursday, February 5, 2026

WCB 2/2026

NEW DEALS BY THE CALIFORNIA WILDLIFE CONSERVATION BOARD!

WCB preliminary agenda: 2/26/2026
https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fnrm.dfg.ca.gov%2FFileHandler.ashx%3FDocumentID=240068%26inline=%26utm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/0101019be8788941-ad863861-49a2-4086-8005-408f16226d11-000000/5dta33i7bts4YsOLhn3-Ftk4yTMtIBDXdZhrItaY_zg=441

https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=242420&inline



SAN DIEGO:

10 ACRES: Rancho Jamul Ecological Reserve, Expansion 7 (Brown) $230,000 San Diego County
acquisition of 10± acres of land by CDFW for the protection of Quino checkerspot butterfly as an expansion to CDFW’s Rancho Jamul Ecological Reserve located in Jamul, in San Diego County.

Rancho Jamul Land Exchange $0 San Diego County
exchange of 1± acres owned by CDFW for 4± acres owned by Jamul Indian Village of California, a federally recognized sovereign tribe, to serve as an expansion of CDFW’s Hollenbeck Canyon Wildlife Area, located near the community of Jamul.

85 ACRES: Sycuan Peak Ecological Reserve, Expansion 10 $280,000 San Diego County
acquisition of 85± acres of land by CDFW as an expansion of CDFW’s Sycuan Peak Ecological Reserve, located near the community of Jamul in San Diego County.

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CENTRAL COAST 5652 ACRES: Spanish Ranch $900,000, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara Counties. Grant to California Rangeland Trust for a cooperative project with U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service and Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation to acquire a 5,652± acre conservation easement for the protection of a mosaic of habitats supporting tule elk, California condor, San Joaquin kit fox, and giant kangaroo rat, located in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties. WITHDRAWN FROM THIS MONTH'S MEETING

EAST SF BAY 315 ACRES: Curry Canyon Ranch $645,000 Contra Costa County
acceptance of a USFWS grant and the approval to subgrant these federal funds to the East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservancy, and to consider a Wildlife Conservation Board grant to East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservancy, to acquire 160± acres in fee and a conservation easement over 155± acres totaling 315± acres located near the city of Clayton in Contra Costa County.




Tuesday, December 2, 2025

SCC 11/2025

New Coastline Parks

November 20th Full Meeting Agenda:
https://scc.ca.gov/2025/11/07/coastal-conservancy-public-meeting-in-oakland-november-20/

HUMBOLDT 7 ACRES: disburse up to $431,500 to Friends of the Dunes to acquire 6.52 acres of property adjacent to the Humboldt Coastal Nature Center at 150 Stamps Lane for public access, in Manila, Humboldt County.
http://scc.ca.gov/webmaster/ftp/pdf/sccbb/2025/1120/20251120Board03F_NatureCenter_Expansion.pdf

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY 62 ACRES: disburse up to $980,000 of grant funds from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County to acquire the 62 acre Watsonville Slough Mini Ranch property located within the Middle Watsonville Slough wetlands complex
http://scc.ca.gov/webmaster/ftp/pdf/sccbb/2025/1120/20251120Board06_Watsonville_Slough_Farms_Mini_Ranch_Acquisition.pdf

HUMBOLDT KING RANGE/MATTOLE CONNECTOR: 255 ACRES: disburse up to $800,750 to Sanctuary Forest, Inc. to: (1) acquire the 255-acre Ta’che—Nóó-nih Yaash Property ... transfer the property to the InterTribal Sinkyone Wilderness Council.
https://scc.ca.gov/webmaster/ftp/pdf/sccbb/2025/1120/20251120Board08_Ta'Che%E2%80%94Noo-Nih_Yaash_Acquistion.pdf

NOTE: The September 18 meeting of the Coastal Conservancy featured no land purchases

Wednesday, November 5, 2025

WCB 11/2025

Notice of Meeting WILDLIFE CONSERVATION BOARD

Thursday, November 20, 2025, 10:00 a.m. Mira Costa College San Elijo Campus 3333 Manchester Avenue Cardiff, CA 92007

Preliminary Agenda Items:

https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=238025&inline


Marble Peaks $800,000, in Siskiyou County
grant to The Nature Conservancy to acquire 455± acres of land and associated water rights for the protection of coho salmon habitat along one mile of Miners Creek, located near Etna

Indian Joe Springs Ecological Reserve, Expansion 1 $36,000, in Inyo County
acquisition of 40± acres of land by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) as an expansion to CDFW’s Indian Joe Springs Ecological Reserve located near Trona

Spanish Ranch $900,000 in San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara Counties
grant to California Rangeland Trust for a cooperative project with U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service and Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation to acquire a 5,652± acre conservation easement

Pellon Murrieta Acquisition (Section 6) $610,750 in Riverside County
grant federal funds to Western Riverside County Regional Conservation Authority to acquire 91± acres located in Murrieta

Loyalton Ranch $5,500,000 in Lassen, Sierra Counties
grant to Wášiw-šiw Land Trust for a cooperative project with the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California, Feather River Land Trust, and the Northern Sierra Partnership, to acquire 10,273± acres

Battle Creek Ranch Acquisition $15,050,000 in Tehama County
grant to River Partners for a cooperative project with Department of Water Resources to acquire 1,715± acres of land located near Red Bluff




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