Arrowhead Grasslands Preserve
Location
Sacramento, CA
Resource
Waters, Agricultural Impacts, Valley Grassland
Solution
Custom
KEY FACTS
Location
- Alameda County California
Area
- 5743 acres
Key Habitat types
- Waters
- Agricultural Impacts
- Valley Grassland
The Arrowhead Grasslands Preserve is located within the South Sacramento County Habitat Conservation Plan (SSCHCP) Area, west of Wilton, California, and encompasses more than 5,000 acres of contiguous grassland and seasonal wetland habitats. The property has historically been used for livestock grazing, a land use that has largely preserved the area’s open character and allowed native and seasonal wetland features to persist across the landscape. Due to the limited intensity of past land use, the preserve currently supports a high-quality mosaic of grassland, wetland, and aquatic resources characteristic of the region.
The preserve contains extensive vernal pool complexes and associated grasslands distributed throughout the site. Wetland features include vernal pools, seasonal wetlands, drainage swales, and ephemeral drainages, as well as Laguna Creek, which traverses the property and enhances landscape connectivity. Together, these habitats provide important hydrologic and biological functions, supporting regional biodiversity and delivering meaningful conservation value within the SSCHCP planning area.\
Arrowhead Grasslands Preserve provides habitat for a variety of sensitive and special status species, including Swainson’s hawk (Buteo swainsoni), as well as federally listed vernal pool crustaceans such as the vernal pool fairy shrimp (Branchinecta lynchi) and California linderiella (Linderiella occidentalis). The preserve’s existing habitat conditions, scale, and intact landscape context make it well suited for conservation and mitigation purposes. The site is available for mitigation through the SSCHCP Dedication In Lieu of Fee Program, offering a streamlined and reliable option for permanently conserving high value habitats while supporting regional development goals. Long term protection will be ensured through recorded conservation easements across the preserve.
Benefits of Mitigation at the Arrowhead Grasslands Preserve
- Provides more than 5,000 acres of SSCHCP Land Cover Types, including Valley Grassland, Vernal Pool, and Seasonal Wetlands within Preserve Planning Unit 7 of the SSCHCP Area
- Supports SSCHCP modelled habitat for 18 protected wildlife species
- Delivers permanent conservation value through recorded easements and mitigation via the SSCHCP Dedication In Lieu of Fee Program
Our Partners
South Sacramento Habitat Conservation Plan (SSHCP) – The South Sacramento Habitat Conservation Plan (SSHCP) is a regional conservation program established to protect and manage wildlife habitat across a large portion of the Sacramento Valley while supporting responsible development.