In August of 2003, biologists for the U.S. Geological Survey found a giant garter snake (Thamnophis gigas) in a restored marsh that was designed and constructed by Wildlands, Inc. The marsh is part of a mitigation preserve north of Sacramento, California, owned by the Natomas Basin Conservancy and created under the requirements of the Natomas Basin
Habitat Conservation Plan (NBHCP). Cay Goude of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said, "Given that the giant garter snake is afforded federal protection under the Endangered Species Act, it is critical that mitigation efforts produce results.