Protected lands · El Dorado Ranch
When Phase 5 closes, El Dorado Ranch becomes the first State Wildlife Area in El Dorado County — 7,178 acres of blue oak woodland, grassland, and stream corridor, just one hour from Sacramento.
7,178
Total acres at full acquisition
2,000+
Acres of blue oak woodland
California's most at-risk ecosystem
$14M
Total acquisition cost
$8.5M
Secured · $5.5M still needed
The place
As you approach a hilltop you find yourself looking over the single largest area of protected blue oak woodland in El Dorado County. The sounds of the Sierra Nevada foothills emerge: the distant calls of acorn woodpeckers, the screech of a red-tailed hawk, the trickle of a nearby stream, the hushed rustle of oak trees. Some would choose to build homes and private estates on this land. We have other plans.
Acquisition timeline
Each phase has its own funding stack — Wildlife Conservation Board, California Natural Resources Agency, Sierra Nevada Conservancy, El Dorado County, and donors big and small.
Phase 1 · Aug 2013
Funded by the Wildlife Conservation Board, CA Natural Resources Agency, and the Conservation Alliance.
Phase 2 · Oct 2016
Funded by the Wildlife Conservation Board, CA Natural Resources Agency, and the County of El Dorado.
Phase 3 · Nov 2018
Funded by the Wildlife Conservation Board, CA Natural Resources Agency, and the County of El Dorado.
Phase 4 · Dec 2023
Funded by the Wildlife Conservation Board, CA Natural Resources Agency, and the Sierra Nevada Conservancy.
Phase 5 · In progress
$8.5 million secured. $5.5 million still needed to close. The final piece of the puzzle.
What's at stake
Blue oak woodland is one of the largest and most threatened ecosystems in the state — under-protected by law and constantly pressured by development. The land also stores planet-warming carbon in its oak and foothill pine stands; protects habitat for western pond turtle, fall-run chinook salmon, and acorn woodpecker; reconnects wildlife corridors broken by roads and fencing; and builds resilience against the mega-fires and climate volatility now reshaping the Sierra.
What permanent protection means here
2,000+ acres of one of California’s most at-risk ecosystems, secured against development.
Streams that feed the Cosumnes River — clean water for downstream communities and salmon runs.
Reconnecting fragmented habitat for native turtles, hawks, deer, and chinook salmon.
Active fuel management and forest stewardship to reduce the risk of catastrophic mega-fire.
Recognition of the Miwok people whose ancestral homelands include this place.
Once transferred to CDFW management, the land becomes a permanent State Wildlife Area open to all.
Phase 5 · In progress
ARC is pursuing philanthropic gifts, grants, and other funding sources for the total acquisition and stewardship cost of $14 million. With $8.5 million secured, we are working to raise the remaining $5.5 million. Every tax-deductible contribution to ARC for this campaign goes directly to the El Dorado Ranch acquisition.
$8.5M
of $14M secured
$5.5M still needed to bring this acquisition home.
Be on the list when this becomes a wildlife area
The next 2,997 acres are the last step in protecting this land. When complete, the entire ranch will be transferred to CDFW for management as a State Wildlife Area — for the benefit of all.