A Win for Blue Oaks

In June 2022, the Northern California Regional Land Trust and its public and private partners completed a transaction that was three years in the making, resulting in the permanent protection of 457 acres of blue oak woodland.

Our team at the Land Trust feels incredibly privileged to announce the permanent protection of the Dixon Ranch Preserve, covering approximately 457 acres of blue oak woodland in the Mud Creek watershed, situated in the Sierra foothills northeast of Chico. This conservation easement was made possible through collaboration between the State of California Department of Transportation, Butte County Association of Governments, Northern California Regional Land Trust, and the landowners. Lying at the heart of the Dixon Ranch, the Preserve encompasses robust oak stands that provide important habitat for wildlife and support biodiversity. Under the easement, these woodlands will continue to support grass-fed cattle ranching as well as being proactively managed for natural and assisted blue oak regeneration, with the goal of nurturing a resilient oak population center here at a time when this keystone species is facing challenges across its native range.

The Dixon Ranch Preserve is the newest acquisition in a growing aggregation of conserved lands in the foothills east of Chico, where multiple agencies and nonprofits have recognized the importance of protecting these tributary watersheds from the quickening pace of urban development and residential expansion. In addition to supporting urban air and water quality, these conserved lands provide open spaces that are critical for wildlife migration and adaptation to the impacts of a changing climate. The Land Trust commends the landowners' commitment to conserving and stewarding the Preserve, and looks forward to a long and productive partnership as they undertake management of this important habitat investment alongside sustainable ranching operations.