Area: 1,295 Acres
Location: Six miles southwest of Coalinga, Fresno County
Date Acquired: 2006
Acquisition Type: CNLM does not own the preserve, but we do hold a conservation easement to protect imperiled species and habitats that exist on the preserve in perpetuity. The Preserve is owned and managed by Wildlands, Incorporated.
Key Habitats: Annual Grassland, Perennial Grassland, Juniper and Valley Foothill Riparian.
Species of Special Interest to CNLM: San Joaquin kit fox (Vulpes macrotis mutica)
Introduction
The Kreyenhagen Preserve was established in 2006 for the purpose of protecting habitat for kit foxes and providing mitigation credits designed to offset adverse impacts to this species that occur elsewhere. This Preserve is owned and managed by Wildlands, Incorporated and the Center for Natural Lands Management (CNLM) was granted a conservation easement in 2006, and is responsible for enforcement, defense, and monitoring of the conservation easement.
Conservation Significance
The Kreyenhagen Preserve provides habitat for the San Joaquin kit fox (Vulpes macrotis mutica) and other special-status species. The ephemeral Jacalitos Creek winds through the southern and eastern portions of the property, providing enough moisture to support cottonwood trees (Populus fremontii) and other riparian vegetation along its banks. Open grasslands are found along much of the southern and western aspects of ridges and flatter terrain adjacent to major drainages. A low-density juniper woodland-savanna is found in some areas of the bank, especially along major drainages in the northern part of the site.
Diablan sage scrub is found on many of the north- and east-facing slopes. This vegetation type is characterized by a low to moderate density shrubland and is dominated by a mix of shrubs, including California sage (Artemisia californica), common saltbush (Atriplex polycarpa), yellow mock aster (Eastwoodia elegans), goldenbush (Ericameria linearifolia), and California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum). Herbaceous cover is often comprised of mostly non-native annual species including soft chess brome (Bromus hordeaceus), red brome (Bromus madritensis), and wild oats (Avena spp.). However, in some years, a variety of native forbs dominate the herbaceous cover.
Our Work
The primary goal for the Preserve is to maintain and enhance habitat for kit foxes. Wildands Incorporated uses cattle grazing to keep vegetation height and biomass optimal for kit foxes and their prey.
Yearling cattle graze the entire site with concentrated use within the flatter terrain and along streams and drainages. Cattle are provided water at stock tanks in the northern portion of the conservation bank and along Jacalitos Creek. Although Jacalitos Creek is ephemeral, springs along the creek provide a year-round supply of water.
Public Access
Due to the vulnerability of the species and habitats that exist on this preserve, it is not open to the public.
The Kreyenhagen Hills Conservation Bank can provide mitigation solutions to landowners, businesses, government agencies, and land trusts. For price information for kit fox credits, contact Julie Maddox of Wildlands, Inc. at (916) 435-3555.
Contact
For more information about Kreyenhagen Hills Conservation Bank or Center for Natural Lands Management, please contact Bobby Kamansky, Preserve Manager at bkamansky@cnlm.org or 760.731.7790 extension 222.