SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A 960-acre vernal pool conservation bank has been established in Solano County by Westervelt Ecological Services (WES), adding additional preservation of vernal pool species in the Solano-Colusa core vernal pool area.

The Burke Ranch Conservation Bank is located 10 miles south of the City of Dixon. Adjacent to two other conservation banks in the county, the site is just north of the Jepson Prairie ecological preserve and will assist in implementing Solano County’s habitat conservation plan.

At just under 1,000 acres in size, the site is one of the largest vernal pool conservation banks in the county. Indigenous to the property are vernal pool fairy shrimp, tadpole shrimp, and conservancy shrimp. The site may also support California tiger salamander, Burrowing owl, and Swainson’s hawk. It is the only bank to have documented the presence of the Federal Endangered Species Act -listed Delta Ground Green Beetle.

"Burke Ranch Conservation Bank is an asset to the collective Solano-Colusa core vernal pool area as it offers both vernal pool and species mitigation, ensuring the preservation of our delicate ecosystems," said Craig Denisoff, vice president at WES.

The bank is currently approved to sell vernal pool preservation credits to developers in Solano county and other locations on a case-by-case basis.

Conservation banks can be used to offset impacts to threatened or endangered species. Private developers and public agencies can purchase bank credits for their projects instead of developing their own mitigation plans.

A division of The Westervelt Company, WES provides mitigation banking and habitat planning services to landowners, government agencies, non-profit agencies, and land trusts. In just under 2 years, the company has established 3 mitigation banks: 2 in the Sacramento Valley and 1 in Alabama. 6 mitigation banks in California and 3 in other states are currently in development.

WES staff has been involved in the development of over 30 mitigation banks and large-scale projects in the Sacramento region over the past 10 years.

For more information on mitigation banking, please visit the National Mitigation Banking Association at www.mitigationbanking.org. Individuals interested in more information about Burke Ranch Conservation Bank should visit www.westervelt.com/wes.