Trust secures 488 acres

Trust secures 488 acres
By Danny Bernardini
Posted: 09/29/2009

Nearly 500 acres of prime agricultural land in the Dixon Ridge area is now protected after five years of work by the Solano Land Trust and other partners to secure an easement.

The 488-acre conservation easement, known as Miles/Kidwell, was purchased for $4.4 million and is outside of Dixon, just north of the Milk Farm sign on both sides of Interstate 80.

Using local, state and federal funds, the purchase was a joint venture between the land trust, the city of Dixon, city of Davis, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the California Department of Conservation.

"This project proves that cities can control their borders by creating greenbelts such as the one that exists between Dixon and Davis," Dixon Mayor Jack Batchelor said in a press release. "This collegial relationship has enabled both cities to protect our precious farmland which supports the economy of both Solano and Yolo counties."

The property will join the 196 acres of McConeghy North/Ebey Laughton easement and the 254-acre McConeghy South easement in the Dixon-Davis greenbelt, all part of a local conservation plan, which has been supported by Solano County supervisors since 2007.

The Kidwell Family historically owned and farmed both the Miles and Kidwell farms, and, with this easement, the current owner of the Kidwell farm, Denny Kidwell, repurchased the Miles Farm. The farms will be merged under this easement, according to Audrey Peller, land transaction specialist with Solano Land Trust.

Because of its rich soil, the area is ideal for row crops like alfalfa, wheat, tomatoes and corn. Along with the potential to grow crops, the area has also been targeted several times in the past for development.

Nicole Byrd, land trust executive director, pointed to the Association of Bay Area Governments' studies indicating that Solano County will lose 16,000 acres of farm and grazing land by 2020.

The NRCS targets properties under the greatest threat of development and then works through partnerships with the state of California and local groups, like Solano Land Trust, to find the money to protect high-quality farmland in priority areas, such as Solano County.

"All of the partners involved in the Dixon-Davis greenbelt are making a significant difference in changing not only those dire projections, but the continued long-term viability of agriculture in Solano County and the state," Byrd said.