Board approves partial rescission of Williamson Act contract to create 214‑acre mitigation bank easement

The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors on Oct. 21 approved a partial rescission of a Williamson Act contract for a 214‑acre parcel in the Delta community and accepted an open‑space easement to enable a floodplain riparian mitigation bank. Planning staff said the property is undeveloped agricultural land along the Cosumnes River and Laguna Creek.

Leanne Mueller of the Department of Planning and Environmental Review said open‑space uses are not normally compatible under the county's existing Williamson Act contracts but that the Williamson Act statute permits rescission of a contract and entry into an open‑space easement when the board makes required findings. Staff reported the Agricultural Advisory Committee recommended approval with agricultural mitigation. The project was found exempt from CEQA.

Westervelt Ecological Services is the project applicant; staff said the easement would facilitate restoration and enhancement of aquatic and terrestrial habitat and formalize conservation protections on that piece of land. The board approved the partial rescission and the open‑space easement agreement following staff presentation and public hearing where no members of the public spoke.

The action preserves an open‑space easement over the 214‑acre parcel, while other portions of the original Williamson Act contract remain in effect for adjacent acreage.