About
Mallard Farms Conservation Bank recognizes the importance of conserving and protecting fish and wildlife while at the same time enabling our cities to grow.
Learn MoreBy working in tandem with developers and public agencies, we allow cities and towns to grow responsibly, while meeting their environmental obligations under California and federal laws.
Through the purchase of conservation credits, developers and public agencies satisfy their environmental mitigation credits without having to venture outside their areas of expertise in order to create, enhance, restore or preserve habitat.
Because Mallard Farms Conservation Bank is already in existence and overseen by experts in creating and maintaining such habitats, the purchase of regulatory agency-approved conservation credits relieves the developer or public agency from long-term environmental obligations after their project is complete.
Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot,
Blue Bird Club owner (Mallard Farms Member) Peter Murariu
Jeff Cavanaugh
California Attorney General (then Assemblyman) Rob Bonta
Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot,
Blue Bird Club owner (Mallard Farms Member) Peter Murariu
Jeff Cavanaugh
California Attorney General (then Assemblyman) Rob Bonta
Wildlife
The absence of a single animal can destroy an entire ecosystem.
New developments and the warming of the planet make it harder and harder for already fragile ecosystems to survive. In order to protect these ecosystems, we’ve made Mallard Farms as pristine and natural of an environment as possible. In this way, we create an environment where vulnerable animals can once again thrive.
Here are the most important animals that call our farm home.
(Oncorhynchus Tshawytscha)
The Chinook Salmon is known for its silvery sides and blue-green spots on the back and top of its head. One of the most endangered species of fish, the Sacramento River Winter-up Chinook Salmon spawns in the Sacramento River and surrounding tributaries before making the journey out to sea. Due to conservation banks such as ours, the Chinook Salmon has been experiencing a comeback in recent years, although there’s still much work to be done.
(Hypomesus transpacificus)
Unique to California, the Delta Smelt iconic for its luster and cucumber-like smell. The Delta Smelt is both one of the most beloved and endangered fish in the Bay Area. Drought, water diversions, invasive species, and pollutants have Delta Smelt swimming for their lives. Luckily, the 700 acres of marsh found in Mallard Farms create an ideal area for Delta Smelt to procreate and thrive in.
(Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)
Central Valley Spring-run Chinook Salmon differs from Sacramento River Winter-run Chinook Salmon in slight differences in size, shape, and color. Spawning times and areas differ as well with Central Valley Chinooks being found in counties as north as Shasta County and as south as Fresno. While at one time these fish inhabited the entire Central-Valley of California, recent droughts have forced these fish to abandon former breeding grounds. Adult Spring-run Chinook Salmon love cooling off in tributary streams just cooler than 70 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer making Mallard Farms one of the most active Chinook Salmon hangouts in California.
(Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Central Valley steelheads are win-run fish that begin their trek upstream between December and February. Due to dam construction and water diversions, 95% of former habitats are no longer accessible. This poses a big risk for steelheads seeing as how they love intricate habitats that allow them to conceal themselves under clay and debris in order to avoid predators and feed on small fish, insects, and even frogs.
(Acipenser medirostris)
Green Sturgeons are the most mythical fish you’ll find in the waters of California. Sturgeons can live up to 60 years and grow to be eight feet long. They live for so long because after spawning they don’t die like salmon, but rather can go on to migrate and spawn several more times before dying. Although seemingly indestructible, Green Sturgeons require precise habitats to spawn in. Doing so in a habitat with temperatures outside of 11-20 degrees Celcius can cause death and deformities. At Mallard Farms we provide these majestic fish an area where they can develop in an environment best suited for their needs.
(Spirinchus thaleichtys)
Longfin Smelts distinguish themselves from the closely related Delta Smelt by its long pectoral fins. Longfin Smelt are also incredibly resilient, able to tolerate waters that have high levels of salinity. These smelt live short lives living only 2-3 years but make the most of their lives by laying between 5,000-24,000. Longfin Smelts were once found in a range of habitats from coastal lagoons and bays, to sloughs and estuaries. The loss of wetlands and sloughs have led to a decline in Longfin Smelt. Luckily Bay-Delta outflow has ushered these fish towards ideal rearing habitats in Suisun where Mallard Farms is located.
The absence of a single animal can destroy an entire ecosystem.
New developments and the warming of the planet make it harder and harder for already fragile ecosystems to survive. In order to protect these ecosystems, we’ve made Mallard Farms as pristine and natural of an environment as possible. In this way, we create an environment where vulnerable animals can once again thrive.
Gregg Huffman, Terry Huffman, Jeff Cavanaugh. and California House of Representatives member John Garamendi and staff members.
(Oncorhynchus Tshawytscha)
The Chinook Salmon is known for its silvery sides and blue-green spots on the back and top of its head. One of the most endangered species of fish, the Sacramento River Winter-up Chinook Salmon spawns in the Sacramento River and surrounding tributaries before making the journey out to sea. Tidal marshes, such as Mallard Farms, are important to young, out migrating Chinook Salmon, as well as other salmonids listed below.
(Hypomesus transpacificus)
Unique to California, the Delta Smelt iconic for its luster and cucumber-like smell. The Delta Smelt is one of the most endangered fish in the Bay Area. Drought, water diversions, invasive species, and pollutants are all likely impacts on Delta Smelt. The 650 + acres of marsh found in Mallard Farms provide significant nutrient export to the open waters of Honker Bay, which has historically been important in the Delta Smelt’s life history.
(Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)
Central Valley Spring-run Chinook Salmon differs from Sacramento River Winter-run Chinook Salmon in slight differences in size, shape, and color. Spawning times and areas differ as well with Central Valley Chinooks being found in counties as north as Shasta County and as south as Fresno. While at one time these fish inhabited the entire Central-Valley of California, recent droughts have forced these fish to abandon former breeding grounds.
(Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Central Valley steelhead are winter-run fish that begin their trek upstream between December and February. Due to dam construction and water diversions, 95% of former habitats are no longer accessible. As with salmonids, tidal marshes, such as Mallard Farms, are important to young, out migrating steelhead.
(Acipenser medirostris)
Green Sturgeon can live up to 60 years and grow to be eight feet long. Young green sturgeon feed primarily on small crustaceans. As they grow, green sturgeon begin to prey upon a wider variety of benthic invertebrates such as crabs, clams and shrimp. All of these invertebrates have been documented in abundance within Mallard Farms.
(Spirinchus thaleichtys)
Longfin Smelt distinguish themselves from the closely related Delta Smelt by their long pectoral fins. Longfin Smelt live 2-3 years and, like Delta Smelt, their short lifecycle makes them vulnerable to short-term changes in their environment. The loss of wetlands and sloughs may be contributing to the decline in Longfin Smelt. Reduction in freshwater outflows, entrainment losses to water diversion, and changes in food organisms are also thought to play a role. Tidal wetlands at Mallard Farms, and the export of nutrients from those wetlands to Honker Bay should provide significant benefits to Longfin Smelt.
Wildlife
The absence of a single animal can destroy an entire ecosystem.
New developments and the warming of the planet make it harder and harder for already fragile ecosystems to survive. In order to protect these ecosystems, we’ve made Mallard Farms as pristine and natural of an environment as possible. In this way, we create an environment where vulnerable animals can once again thrive.
Here are the most important animals that call our farm home.
(Oncorhynchus Tshawytscha)
The Chinook Salmon is known for its silvery sides and blue-green spots on the back and top of its head. One of the most endangered species of fish, the Sacramento River Winter-up Chinook Salmon spawns in the Sacramento River and surrounding tributaries before making the journey out to sea. Due to conservation banks such as ours, the Chinook Salmon has been experiencing a comeback in recent years, although there’s still much work to be done.
(Hypomesus transpacificus)
Unique to California, the Delta Smelt iconic for its luster and cucumber-like smell. The Delta Smelt is both one of the most beloved and endangered fish in the Bay Area. Drought, water diversions, invasive species, and pollutants have Delta Smelt swimming for their lives. Luckily, the 700 acres of marsh found in Mallard Farms create an ideal area for Delta Smelt to procreate and thrive in.
(Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)
Central Valley Spring-run Chinook Salmon differs from Sacramento River Winter-run Chinook Salmon in slight differences in size, shape, and color. Spawning times and areas differ as well with Central Valley Chinooks being found in counties as north as Shasta County and as south as Fresno. While at one time these fish inhabited the entire Central-Valley of California, recent droughts have forced these fish to abandon former breeding grounds. Adult Spring-run Chinook Salmon love cooling off in tributary streams just cooler than 70 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer making Mallard Farms one of the most active Chinook Salmon hangouts in California.
(Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Central Valley steelheads are win-run fish that begin their trek upstream between December and February. Due to dam construction and water diversions, 95% of former habitats are no longer accessible. This poses a big risk for steelheads seeing as how they love intricate habitats that allow them to conceal themselves under clay and debris in order to avoid predators and feed on small fish, insects, and even frogs.
(Acipenser medirostris)
Green Sturgeons are the most mythical fish you’ll find in the waters of California. Sturgeons can live up to 60 years and grow to be eight feet long. They live for so long because after spawning they don’t die like salmon, but rather can go on to migrate and spawn several more times before dying. Although seemingly indestructible, Green Sturgeons require precise habitats to spawn in. Doing so in a habitat with temperatures outside of 11-20 degrees Celcius can cause death and deformities. At Mallard Farms we provide these majestic fish an area where they can develop in an environment best suited for their needs.
(Spirinchus thaleichtys)
Longfin Smelts distinguish themselves from the closely related Delta Smelt by its long pectoral fins. Longfin Smelt are also incredibly resilient, able to tolerate waters that have high levels of salinity. These smelt live short lives living only 2-3 years but make the most of their lives by laying between 5,000-24,000. Longfin Smelts were once found in a range of habitats from coastal lagoons and bays, to sloughs and estuaries. The loss of wetlands and sloughs have led to a decline in Longfin Smelt. Luckily Bay-Delta outflow has ushered these fish towards ideal rearing habitats in Suisun where Mallard Farms is located.
President of the Huffman-Broadway group, a pre-eminent environmental consulting firm located in San Rafael, CA. Prior to founding Huffman-Broadway Group, Terry was the US Army Corps of Engineers’ (Corps) Chief Wetlands Scientist at the Corps’ Environmental Laboratory and he is credited with pioneering the wetland delineation methodology in use by the Corps and EPA today.
Jeff is a life long landowner of Mallard Farms. After organizing with the surrounding landowners in 2010 to form Mallard Farms Conservation Bank, Jeff has acted as bank sponsor and project manager.
