Post by Westervelt Ecological Services

A new floodplain restoration project in Sacramento County! WES is pleased to share that the Johnson Cosumnes Mitigation Bank is now approved with credits available. The first mitigation project in the state to be allowed to utilize the CEQA Statutory Exemption for Restoration Projects under CDFW’s Cutting the Green Tape Initiative, this 217-acre project will provide floodplain and riparian habitat credits along one of the last remaining free-flowing rivers in California. Currently in agricultural production and vulnerable to flooding, the property will undergo restoration beginning this fall. Construction activities will lower and remove portions of an existing agricultural berm, allowing the river to reconnect with its historic floodplain. As natural hydrologic processes return, native vegetation will establish and mature, creating habitat for a diverse array of wildlife and improving overall ecosystem function. The Bank site is permanently protected through a conservation easement held by the Sacramento Valley Conservancy, with long-term management funding provided by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to ensure the site is maintained in perpetuity. The Johnson Cosumnes Mitigation Bank represents an important step toward restoring floodplain processes, enhancing habitat connectivity, and supporting the long-term health of one of California's last free-flowing rivers. Learn more about Johnson Cosumnes Mitigation Bank- https://lnkd.in/eHS5k_X5 #restoration #conservation #sacramentocounty #habitatrestoration #floodplainrestoration