SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - A critical stretch of the Cosumnes River – the only undammed river on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada – is now permanently protected and slated for ecological restoration. Sacramento Valley Conservancy and Westervelt Ecological Services are celebrating the acquisition of the 204-acre Johnson Cosumnes Mitigation Bank, which fills an important gap in river frontage within the more than 51,000-acre Cosumnes River Preserve near Galt and south of Elk Grove. The preserve contains some of the finest remaining floodplain and riparian habitat in California’s Central Valley.

Westervelt will own and manage the property, restoring former agricultural land into a thriving floodplain ecosystem. Planned restoration activities include lowering or removing select sections of agricultural berms to reconnect the river with its historic floodplain, creating pilot channels that support natural flow patterns, and establishing native vegetation across wetlands and riparian habitats.

By allowing seasonal floodwaters to move freely through the site once again, the restoration will improve habitat diversity, support native fish and wildlife, enhance water quality and strengthen the region’s network of protected lands. Valley oak, cottonwood and willow will once again line meandering river channels, providing shade and habitat that benefit native fish, including juvenile Chinook salmon and Central Valley steelhead.

The restoration is also designed to improve thermal refuge by increasing shade, restoring natural flow patterns and enhancing connections to cooler water. 

To reduce the risk of fish stranding, the project incorporates multiple interconnected channels that allow fish to move more freely between the restored floodplain and the Cosumnes River during changing water conditions.

“This property is a critical wildlife linkage in the Cosumnes River corridor, and Sacramento Valley Conservancy is thrilled to partner with Westervelt to protect it in perpetuity,”  said Kelly Hopkins, executive director, Sacramento Valley Conservancy. “This acquisition represents another important step in our effort to connect and restore the remaining Valley oak riparian habitats that once covered much of California’s Central Valley.” 

“Restoration at this scale isn’t something any one organization can accomplish alone,”  said Travis Hemmen, president/general manager of Westervelt Ecological Services. “Conservation partners like the Sacramento Valley Conservancy, other Cosumnes River Preserve Partners, and critical support from our state and federal resource agencies make projects like this possible. We bring the private capital, but sustainable conservation only happens when dedicated partners share a long-term commitment to the land.”

The Johnson Cosumnes Mitigation Bank will generate mitigation credits that can be purchased by public agencies and other project proponents to offset impacts to wetlands, riparian habitat and other sensitive natural resources in the region.

Sacramento Valley Conservancy will hold the permanent conservation easement on the property, ensuring it remains protected for habitat conservation and ecological restoration. Together, Sacramento Valley Conservancy and Westervelt have permanently protected more than 1,350 acres within the Cosumnes River floodplain, including the recent Zacharias and McDonald Ranch projects. The partners remain committed to acquiring additional priority properties to expand protected lands and strengthen the ecological integrity of the Cosumnes River Preserve.

About the Sacramento Valley Conservancy: Established in 1990, the Sacramento Valley Conservancy is a nationally accredited land trust committed to protecting the Sacramento region’s natural beauty, character and biodiversity. The Conservancy achieves this through the dedicated stewardship of natural and working lands, open spaces, and scenic areas, and has protected over 18,000 acres in the region. 

The Conservancy collaborates with landowners, developers, agencies, and communities to protect lands essential for wildlife, local food production, and opportunities for outdoor recreation and education.