Located south of the San Joaquin River in Antioch, California, Pacific Gas & Electric Company’s (PG&E) Antioch Dunes Safe Harbor Agreement Habitat Restoration Site consists of two 6-acre parcels of land that flank the Sardis parcel of the Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge. This land primarily serves to house two large electric transmission towers that carry power lines for PG&E, but they also provide riparian and inland dune habitat for numerous wildlife.
Strong partnerships lead to successful projects with positive impacts.
Its proximity to the refuge has allowed employees to work closely with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) staff for several decades. Together, they have enhanced habitat on both the refuge and PG&E land for three federally-endangered species: the Contra Costa wallflower, Antioch Dunes evening primrose, and Lange’s metalmark butterfly. This partnership was formalized in 2010 when PG&E entered into a Safe Harbor Agreement. This voluntary agreement allows PG&E to continue its habitat enhancement for these three endangered species as well as its routine maintenance of the transmission towers.
When surveys of refuge land and the PG&E land revealed heavy infestations by invasive plants, the team immediately got to work to control these species so that native plants could better thrive. Although these species – including tree-of-heaven, winter vetch, yellow starthistle, and ripgut brome – can be tenaciously difficult to control, the team has been able to reduce invasive species cover by 26%. Weed-pulling volunteers from many local partners, including the California Conservation Corps, the Contra Costa County Weed Management Area, the California Invasive Plant Council, the California Native Plant Society, and local high school students, have made this possible. Development of an Integrated Vegetation Management plan by the PG&E team, refuge staff, and a Certified Pest Control Advisor is hoped to help the team to accelerate control and eradication of invasive species.
PG&E’s Antioch Dunes program is an example of how strong partnerships with nearby conservation projects can lead to strong, successful projects with greater positive impacts.
| Categories: | Invasive Species, Species Management |
|---|---|
| Company Name: | Pacific Gas & Electric |
| Site Location: | Antioch, California |
| Partners: | Alameda-Contra Costa County Weed Management Area, Brenton VMS, California Invasive Plant Council (Cal-IPC), Grassroots Green Network, USFWS Antioch Dunes NWR, USFWS Endangered Species Division, USFWS Partners for Fish & Wildlife Program |
| Certification Since: | 2011 |
| WHC Index Link: | Search for project |
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