EDGEFIELD, S.C. — NWTF members and employees joined representatives from the American River Conservancy for a tour of the El Dorado Ranch conservation project July 15. This decade-long project aims to secure 7,200 acres of formerly privately owned oak woodland in an effort to establish the first wildlife area in El Dorado County, California.
The NWTF California State Chapter has donated $25,000 to support the acquisition of the final 3,000 acres of the ranch. This conservation project will enable public access to the El Dorado Ranch for wildlife-based recreation in an area where wild turkeys and other fish and game species call home.
“This land acquisition is important as housing developments continue to push through the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, and ensuring wildlife recreation and conservation in this important ecosystem is crucial,” said Krista Modlin, NWTF district biologist for California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.
The goal of this project is to finalize the purchase of the ranch by June 2026. Shortly after closing, the American River Conservancy will transfer ownership to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, which will manage the ranch as a wildlife area. Once complete, the property will be open to the public for wildlife-related recreation, including hunting, hiking and wildlife viewing. Additionally, this property is adjacent to the Cosumnes River, the last hydrologically connected river on the west slope of the Sierra Nevada.
Current partners of the project include California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Wildlife Conservation Board, Sierra Nevada Conservancy, California Natural Resources Agency, California Wildlife Foundation, El Dorado County, The Conservation Alliance, Point Blue Conservation Science, California Native Plant Society, United Auburn Indian Community, El Dorado Miwok Tribe and hundreds of individual supporters.
For more information on the American River Conservancy and the El Dorado Ranch conservation project, visit their website here.
About the National Wild Turkey Federation
Since 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested over half a billion dollars into wildlife conservation and has positively impacted over 23 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. The NWTF has also invested over $9 million into wild turkey research to guide the management of the wild turkey population and to ensure sustainable populations into perpetuity. The organization continues to deliver its mission by working across boundaries on a landscape scale through its Four Shared Values: clean and abundant water, healthy forests and wildlife habitat, resilient communities, and robust recreational opportunities. With the help of its dedicated members, partners and staff, the NWTF continues its work to provide Healthy Habitats. and Healthy Harvests. for future generations.
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