New Projects Approved!

Westervelt Ecological Services (WES) is thrilled to announce the approval of two new conservation banks by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in Colusa County, California. The Sacramento River VELB Conservation Bank and the Harmony Conservation Bank are set to provide a combined 78 acres of riparian habitat dedicated to the valley elderberry longhorn beetle (VELB, Desmocerus californicus dimorphus), a species listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act. These projects mark a significant milestone in habitat restoration efforts, ensuring the survival of this unique beetle species and promoting biodiversity in the Sacramento Valley.

The restoration activities at both sites will focus on creating a shrub-dominated environment, featuring elderberry shrubs and native plants such as box elder, Fremont’s cottonwood, valley oak, California wild grape, arroyo willow, and Coyote brush. Protected in perpetuity by a conservation easement and funded by an endowment for long-term management, these banks represent a collaborative effort between WES, USFWS, Ducks Unlimited, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

For more information on both projects, please visit our project pages - Harmony VELB Conservation Bank and Sacramento River VELB Conservation