Overview

The Cosumnes River Preserve consists of over 50,000 acres of wildlife habitat and agricultural lands owned by seven land-owning Partners. The Partners include The Nature Conservancy, Bureau of Land Management, California Department of Fish & Wildlife, Sacramento County Regional Parks, Department of Water Resources, Ducks Unlimited, and the California State Lands Commission. The Preserve is centered along the Cosumnes River, its floodplains and riparian habitat. This habitat is buffered by a variety of agricultural operations. The Preserve provides numerous social, economic, and recreational benefits to local communities and to people residing in the larger Sacramento and San Joaquin areas. The habitat supports wildlife, including birds that migrate throughout the Pacific Flyway.

History

The Cosumnes River Preserve was established in 1987 through a pioneering partnership between The Nature Conservancy, Bureau of Land Management, Ducks Unlimited, and other local, state, and federal agencies. This collaboration marked a major milestone in California conservation by protecting one of the last unregulated rivers in the Central Valley.

Over the years, the Preserve has grown through land acquisitions, restoration projects, and community support. Historic ranching and farming lands have been preserved and integrated into a landscape that supports both wildlife and people. The ongoing legacy of the Preserve is rooted in collaboration, habitat protection, and a commitment to future generations.

Mission

The mission of the Cosumnes River Preserve Partnership is to collaboratively protect, restore, and manage land and water to conserve Central Valley native plant and animal species, while also providing a diverse public with opportunities for environmental education, outdoor recreation, and scientific research.

Vision

The Cosumnes River Preserve Partnership envisions the permanent protection of floodplains, wetlands, valley oak riparian forests, vernal pool grasslands, and compatible agricultural lands within the lower Cosumnes River watershed and the upper Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The Partnership will continue to utilize inter-disciplinary programs that integrate environmental protection, restoration, and long-term land management with education, stewardship, science, and public policy strategies to sustain a dynamic mosaic of habitats that support native plant and animal species. The Partnership will reduce potential barriers and provide opportunities so that all people may appreciate the flora and fauna of the Cosumnes River Preserve.

Partners in Preservation

The Preserve is managed through a unique partnership of public agencies and nonprofit organizations. Together, we work to implement sustainable management practices and ensure the long-term health of this special place.