About
A land trust for two watersheds, since 1989.
ARC was founded by neighbors of the South Fork American River who saw what was coming and decided to do something about it. Thirty-seven years later, we're still here. So is the land.
1989
Year founded
30,000+
Acres protected to date
15,000+
Acres ARC actively manages
Accredited
Land Trust Accreditation Commission
Mission
Healthy ecosystems in two watersheds.
ARC serves our communities by ensuring healthy ecosystems within the upper American and upper Cosumnes River watersheds — through land conservation, stewardship, and education. The mission has not moved in 37 years. The methods have.
Values
What guides the work.
Protection and restoration
Open space, biodiversity, and habitat — preserved and restored, in perpetuity.
Connecting people to land
A protected landscape is a public landscape — accessible, knowable, lovable.
Watershed health
Watershed health contributes to human and economic health. The same water touches everything.
Environmental literacy
You can't steward what you don't understand. Education runs through every program.
Community relationships
Long, slow, trust-based partnerships — with neighbors, donors, agencies, and tribal communities.
Responsibility & integrity
Sound finances, ethical conduct, responsible governance. Land Trust Accreditation Commission verified.
Accreditation
Verified by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission.
We are proud to have earned accreditation from the Land Trust Accreditation Commission. Accreditation is a rigorous, independent verification that a land trust meets national standards for sound finances, ethical conduct, responsible governance, and the lasting stewardship of protected land. The seal is not a logo — it's a discipline.
Staff
The team that does the work, every day.
Thirteen staff members across conservation, stewardship, education, development, and operations. Reach any of them through info@arconservancy.org or 530-621-1224.
Elena DeLacy
Executive Director
Marshall Gorham
Land Protection Specialist
Melissa Lobach
Development Director
Kelly Croffoot
Chili Bar & Farm Manager
Julie Allen
Public Outreach & Office Manager
Cathy Mueller
Stewardship Manager
Autumn Gronborg
Forest Restoration Manager
Yaseen Nasiri
Accounting Specialist
Sabrina Clark
Forest Health Technician
Laura Polkinghorn
Stewardship Assistant
Ryann Savino
Education Program Manager
Jena Brasil
Stewardship Coordinator
Joe McNeilly
Education Coordinator
Board of directors
Twelve volunteer directors, governing the work.
Kyle Pogue
President
Scott Vail
Vice President
Howard Levenson
Secretary
Julie Marston
Treasurer
Steve Clark
Director
Christina Salomon
Director
Lee Van Pelt
Director
Marcus Christian
Director
Randy L. Barrow
Director
Jeremy Meyers
Director
Kris Kiehne
Director
Karen Quidachay
Director
Annual reports
The receipts.
Audited financials, program impact summaries, and donor recognition for the most recent three fiscal years.
Job opportunities
Want to do this work for a living?
ARC posts open roles on the join-us page — most recently a Chili Bar Park Assistant. Internships are also available; for either, call 530-621-1224 or email us directly.