About the Conservancy
Mission
Our mission is to preserve habitat land in San Joaquin County for wild birds, fish, animals and plants.
History
We are small group of county residents who came together in the summer of 2007 with the shared concern that we need to start protecting the many wild places where wild animals and native plants still thrive. Ironically, many of those moving into new subdivisions here do so partly because of the beautiful river-delta, grassland and habitat friendly farmland we hope to preserve.
Plans
We have decided to begin our process by buying property near existing protected areas such as county-administered wildlife preserves or agricultural land with wildlife conservation easements. Larger preserves make better habitat and are less costly to manage that scattered small parcels.
Our First Projects
We are currently working to acquire a lovely 4.65-acre piece of riparian habitat land on the Mokelumne River, which we hope to buy in partnership with the County Parks Department, and donate as an annex of the Woodbridge Wilderness Area, where it will be open for hiking, bird-watching and fishing, undeveloped except for unpaved foot trails. We have earmarked this property to be publicly dedicated to Waldo Holt.
We have also been offered the donation another 8.5-acre parcel on the Mokelumne. This place is currently surrounded by agricultural land, with no access by road, and is little visited by people. Birds, turtles and small mammals thrive here, along with a variety of native plants as well as steelhead and other fish along the overhanging bank.