UPE22-0073 Halo Ranch Mitigation Bank

The Halo Ranch Mitigation Bank project, identified by Permit Sonoma File Number UPE22-0073, is a land-use initiative located at 4551 Lakeville Highway in Petaluma, California. Approved on January 8, 2026, the project grants a Use Permit to Halo Ranch, LLC and Dave Brazil to establish and operate a mitigation bank on a 241-acre parcel. The primary objective is the rehabilitation and enhancement of approximately 122 acres of critical habitats, specifically consisting of 59.85 acres of tidal wetlands, 42.75 acres of seasonal wetlands, 4.42 acres of riparian habitat, and 0.70 acres of non-perennial stream. The project was conducted under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and concluded with a Mitigated Negative Declaration, finding no significant adverse environmental impacts provided that specific mitigation measures are implemented. Project oversight is managed by Robert Aguero of the Sonoma County Permit and Resource Management Department, with regulatory coordination involving the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Performance is measured against strict habitat and hydrology restoration standards, with monitoring periods extending five years for seasonal wetlands and riparian habitats, and ten years for tidal wetlands and Wheat Creek. Compliance requires ongoing onsite inspections of exclusion fencing and vegetation success, with final acceptance contingent upon written approval of habitat assessments and surveys from state and federal biological agencies.