Protect Your Land
Conservation Options for Landowners
We work with landowners and other partners across Sutter, Yuba, and Colusa
counties to protect land permanently — while it stays in private ownership, in production, and in the family.
counties to protect land permanently — while it stays in private ownership, in production, and in the family.
Conservation Options for Landowners
Ways to protect your land
Our staff works with landowners to preserve the natural landscape and protect wildlife habitat, water quality, and historic resources — while promoting traditional uses such as agriculture, hunting, and forestry.
Conservation easement
A voluntary legal agreement that permanently limits development while you keep ownership, farm the land, and pass it on. Easements can be purchased, donated, or a combination of the two.
Most common option
Fee title acquisition
In some cases we acquire property outright — by purchase or donation — and manage it ourselves, as we do at North Butte and the West Butte Schoolhouse.
For high-value habitat or historic sites
Donation by will
You can specify in your will that a conservation easement or the property itself be given to a qualifying organization upon your death, reducing the taxable value of your estate.
See Legacy Giving →
50 acres
Minimum acreage — larger parcels typically get priority
~2.5 years
Typical time to complete, including grant applications
In perpetuity
How long the protection lasts, with annual monitoring
501(c)(3)
A qualified charitable organization, so gifts may be deductible