Area: 808 acres
Location: Northern California
Date Acquired: 1999
Acquisition Type: CNLM holds a conservation easement as well as a long-term agreement to protect the imperiled species and their habitats on the preserve, including biological monitoring. The preserve is owned by third party.
Key Habitats: Vernal Pools and California Annual and Perennial Grassland
Species of Special Interest to CNLM: California tiger salamander (Ambystoma californiense), Vernal pool fairy shrimp (Branchinecta lynchi), Western spadefoot toad (Spea hammondii) and Legenere (Legenere limosa)
Introduction
The Fitzgerald Ranch Preserve was established in September 1999 under a Conservation Bank Project Agreement between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Lane Family Trust. This Preserve was created to ensure the conservation of vernal pool habitats.
Conservation Significance
This Preserve is comprised of a low sloping to flat rangeland that is crossed by a seasonal creek and dotted with over 500 vernal pools. Oak trees are also scattered throughout easement. The habitat supports the federally and state threatened California tiger salamander (Ambystoma californiense), and the federally threatened vernal pool fairy shrimp (Branchinecta lynchi). The western spadefoot toad (Spea hammondii), a species of special concern, and legenere (Legenere limosa), a California Native Plant Society (CNPS) List 1B plant, are present as well.
Our Work
The goal for the Fitzgerald Ranch Preserve is to ensure the biological values of the landscape are maintained. The primary strategy used is implementation of a grazing program.
Public Access
Due to the vulnerability of the species and habitats that exist on this Preserve, it is not open to the public.
Contact
For information on Fitzgerald Ranch or Center for Natural Lands Management, please contact Eric Olson, Preserve Manager at eolson@cnlm.org or 760.731.7790 extension 206.