“Farmers and ranchers play a huge role in Placer County, providing $140 million in economic benefit,” said Placer County Supervisor Shanti Landon. “They’re part of our heritage and need to be part of our future.” 

Local leaders have taken steps to ensure agriculture will continue to be part of the county’s economy. With the development of the Placer County Conservation Program, urban growth will happen in balance with the conservation of 47,300 acres of working lands and wildlife habitat. Through this balanced planning effort, residents will continue to enjoy the rural landscape, as well as suburban amenities.   

“Growth is going to continue to happen, but the Placer County Conservation Program requires its system of open spaces to include agricultural operations in perpetuity. The Program will be integral to our community,” said Landon.

The Placer County Conservation Program aims to conserve 47,300 acres of working lands and wildlife habitat to balance future urban growth. Photo courtesy of Placer County

Conservation easements on working farms and ranches are a critical part of the Program’s strategy to conserve open space across western Placer County. For a landowner who wants to ensure agricultural lands for future generations, a conservation easement could be a good tool. Conservation easements restrict properties from being developed but allow for continued agricultural operations, such as cattle grazing, rice production or orchard management. Land needs to contain wildlife habitat or natural features such as streams or wetlands to be eligible for an easement. 

Tyler Rose, a biologist and project manager for the Placer County Conservation Program, works with landowners who have conservation easements on their lands. Oak woodlands, vernal pools, wetlands and streams are important habitats the Program seeks to conserve for dozens of native species. Rose develops a tailored management plan for each easement and works with land owners to implement practices such as erosion control, rangeland monitoring and invasive species management.

“We look at conserving broad habitats that help a range of species,” said Rose. “Each easement has a conservation purpose, and we work with the landowner to make sure their activities are aligned with that purpose.” 

Rose notes conservation easements on orchards can be managed to ensure that water quality standards are met since they’re part of the watershed. But equally important, orchards provide movement corridors for wildlife. 

“While orchards are not the primary habitat for the Program’s protected species, they can serve as movement corridors for wildlife — providing valuable habitat connectivity,” said Rose. 

Conservation easements don’t require habitat restoration, but some landowners choose to do so. 

Rich Ferreira, owner of Side Hill Citrus in Lincoln, was an early participant in the county’s conservation efforts and is actively working to restore a streamside wetland that’s on a portion of the conservation easement he entered into. 

Rich Ferreira, owner of Side Hill Citrus, was an early participant in the county's conservation efforts. He grows native plants among his citrus trees to support pollinators. Photo courtesy of PCCP

Family-owned and operated, Side Hill Citrus was established on 17 acres in 1975. Today, it has expanded to 47-acres and provides organically-grown mandarins and other citrus to people across northern California and the United States. 

The easement on the ranch enables Ferreira to grow 5,000 mandarin trees on part of the property while protecting the riparian corridor from development and other harmful impacts. 

“The restoration area receives water year-round and is pretty narrow and steep. It’s not good for mandarins, but it’s a good location for wildlife,” said Ferreria.

He started the restoration project in 2000, and he’s now in his fourth phase. To date, he has planted 800 trees on the easement, as well as a variety of other native plants, including ceanothus, buckeye, elderberry, redbud, manzanita and buckwheat. This year, he’s planting 3,000 native plants and clearing out invasive tree species. Every year, he works on a different part of the streamside wetland.

“The plants give native species places to get nectar and habitat,” said Ferreira. “I’m proud that I’ve never cut down an oak tree on my land.”

Native white sage grows near mandarin trees at Side Hill Citrus in Lincoln, CA. Native plants provide food and habitat for pollinators. Photo courtesy of PCCP

While he received funding from the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service and Sierra Nevada Conservancy in the past, this current restoration work is being supported by the Xerces Society and the local Resource Conservation District. 

The Placer County Conservation Program is looking to work with more farmers and ranchers like Ferreria. 

“Some people are concerned with the amount of land that’s being taken out of agricultural production. Our goal is to keep them in operation. We want to see agricultural lands and wildlife habitat stay intact, while keeping development contained along the urban corridor,” said Rose. “This is a tool for farmers and ranchers to use.”

"Some people are concerned with the amount of land that's being taken out of agricultural production. Our goal is to keep them in operation. We want to see agricultural lands and wildlife habitat stay intact." - Tyler Rose, Placer County Conservation Program. Photo courtesy of PCCP