Zacharias Ranch Mitigation Bank Tidal Restoration

Westervelt Ecological Services is the project sponsor for the Zacharias Ranch Mitigation Bank Tidal Restoration, a project aimed at restoring approximately 500 acres of seasonally farmed agricultural land to floodplain and tidal marsh habitat. Located along Snodgrass Slough between Lambert Road and Twin Cities Road in southwestern Sacramento County, the project involves breaching farm berms to reintroduce tidal waters, excavating 31,000 linear feet of interior tidal channels, creating habitat mounds, and planting native vegetation such as tule and valley oak. The work is scheduled to occur over two construction seasons, with earthmoving and planting taking place from August to October 2025, followed by the breaching of the farm berm in the summer of 2026. The project is managed by Sacramento County and is classified as a forecast under solicitation number PLNP2022-00319. It has been granted a Notice of Exemption under CEQA Guidelines Sections 15183(a) and 15317, as it is consistent with existing zoning and general plan policies. Key administrative components include the rescission of a Williamson Act contract and its replacement with an Open Space Easement Agreement. Environmental compliance is monitored through specific protocols for archaeological and tribal cultural resources, with oversight provided by the Sacramento County Planning and Environmental Review office. No federal acquisition clauses or specific contract pricing were identified in the provided documentation.