Project-Specific Mitigation

Wildlands has the full-service capabilities to provide habitat mitigation solutions for larger projects by developing project-specific preserves. Wildlands has provided solutions for transportation, flood control, public utility, renewable energy, and larger private projects.

Wildlands undertakes all aspects of developing mitigation for our clients, including purchasing and owning the land, entitling the mitigation with the multiple permitting agencies, and taking on the responsibility of ensuring the mitigation properties remain suitable habitat in perpetuity.

Wildlands has the financial capability to acquire lands in advance and on behalf of our project proponent clients. Our approach allows our client’s projects to fully comply with their permits, stay on schedule, on budget, cap liability, avoid lawsuits, and create value for the project.

Wildlands Full Delivery/Fixed-Cost Project-Specific Mitigation Approach

  • Acquire and certify mitigation property with permitting agencies
  • Undertake all real estate due diligence
  • Develop and implement interim and long-term habitat management measures
  • Secure agreement with third party conservation easement and endowment holders
  • Own and manage mitigation lands in accordance with conservation easement
  • Fund required endowment
  • Eliminate our client’s obligations, costs and liabilities associated with providing mitigation

For additional information on our Project-Specific Solutions
or to discuss your permits, please contact Julie Maddox at
916.435.3555 or jmaddox@heronpacific.com

Project Highlights

Aitken Ranch Mitigation Preserve

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) required extensive wetland, riparian, and endangered species mitigation for construction of the Highway 65 Bypass in fast-growing Placer County, California. Wildlands, working in cooperation with Caltrans, identified, acquired, permitted, and obtained regulatory agency approval for the Aitken Ranch Mitigation Preserve. With mitigation arranged at an operating preserve before impacts, Caltrans was able to obtain needed permits in a timely manner. Cost savings are estimated at $15 million compared to other mitigation options.

Mojave Desert Preserve

Wildlands acquired and protected over 3,100 acres of key Mojave Desert private lands in California on behalf of a large scale renewable energy project. The Mojave Desert Preserve assisted the developer in complying with multiple habitat mitigation permit obligations within the agency specified timelines for a fixed-cost and with no trailing responsibilities. The Mojave Desert Preserve is protected and managed with a permanent conservation easement and non-wasting endowment. By taking on these obligations, Wildlands allowed the developer to focus on their project with an environmentally preferable, fixed-cost solution.

Imperial County Burrowing Owl Preserves

Wildlands has successfully established several California Department of Fish and Wildlife-approved habitat preserves in Imperial County, California. Several hundred acres are dedicated to the western burrowing owl, a California species of special concern. On behalf of our clients, Wildlands identified and acquired suitable lands, and obtained agency approvals to comply with project permit obligations. Properties with high quality burrowing owl foraging and nesting habitats were selected based on the results of biological field surveys and regional analysis, and included areas known to support high numbers of owls identified as high priority for conservation. Favorable results from recent site surveys provide evidence that the lands are being used as intended by providing foraging habitat for the burrowing owl.

  1. California Coastal Gnatcatcher
  2. California Tiger Salamander
  3. Chinook, Coho Salmon & Steelhead
  4. Coachella Valley Milk Vetch
  5. Coastal & Alluvial Fan Sage Scrub
  6. Contra Costa Goldfields
  7. Delta Smelt & Longfin Smelt
  8. Desert Bighorn Sheep
  9. Desert Tortoise
  10. Flat-tail Horned Lizard
  11. Freshwater & Intertidal Marsh
  12. Giant Garter Snake
  13. Joshua Tree & Desert Dry Wash Woodland
  14. Least Bell’s Vireo
  15. Meadowfoam
  16. Mesquite Woodlands
  17. Mohave Ground Squirrel
  18. Mojave Fringe-Toed Lizard
  19. Oak Woodlands
  20. Ridgway's Rail
  21. Riparian & Floodplain Wetlands
  22. Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse
  23. San Bernardino Kangaroo Rat
  24. San Joaquin Kit Fox
  25. Santa Ana River Woollystar
  26. Seasonal Wetlands & Ephemeral Drainages
  27. Southwestern Willow Flycatcher
  28. Swainson’s Hawk
  29. Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetle
  30. Vernal Pool Fairy Shrimp & Tadpole Shrimp
  31. Vernal Pools
  32. Western Burrowing Owl