MADERA, Calif., Sept. 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Westervelt Ecological Services (WES) announces the approval of the Buck Ridge Conservation Bank, a 1,160-acre species habitat project in Madera County, California. Approved by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the bank provides conservation credits to offset impacts to listed species and support mitigation requirements under state and federal wildlife regulations. Credits are immediately available to offset impacts to California tiger salamander, western spadefoot, hairy Orcutt grass, Swainson’s hawk, and vernal pool fairy shrimp.
Located in the eastern San Joaquin Valley and Sierra Nevada foothills, Buck Ridge protects annual grasslands, vernal pools, and seasonal wetlands in a region where these natural landscapes have been substantially reduced by agriculture and urban development. In addition to the credited species, the Bank also contributes to the region’s biodiversity by providing habitat for other listed and sensitive wildlife. Its permanent protection offers developers, public agencies, and infrastructure projects a reliable option for meeting mitigation requirements while contributing to regional conservation goals.
Species documented at Buck Ridge Conservation Bank, from left: a juvenile California tiger salamander, western spadefoot, and light morph Swainson’s hawk.
The Bank site is permanently protected through a conservation easement held by the California Rangeland Trust, with long-term management funding held by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to ensure its ecological functions are maintained in perpetuity.
For more information about the Buck Ridge Conservation Bank or credit availability, contact Amanda Dwyer at (925) 783-9924 or [email protected].
About Westervelt Ecological Services: Westervelt Ecological Services is a recognized leader in mitigation and conservation banking solutions, dedicated to restoring and preserving wetlands, streams, and critical wildlife habitat. A division of The Westervelt Company, a nearly 140-year-old land stewardship organization based in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, WES delivers mitigation banking and restoration solutions that support responsible development across the United States. To learn more visit www.wesmitigation.com.
Contact:
Amanda Dwyer | Sales and Business Development Manager
(925) 783-9924 | [email protected]
Sasha Korolkov | Project Manager
(916) 827-6508 | [email protected]
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/333edac2-ba8f-4d7f-b210-3f64a5edb93b
