DAVIS, Calif. — The city of Davis has completed the purchase of a $1.3 million agricultural conservation easement covering 217 acres of farmland along its southern boundary in Solano County, permanently protecting the property for agricultural and open space uses.
The city announced the acquisition Nov. 3, saying the transaction closed Sept. 30, 2026. The property is located along Hamel Lane, adjacent to the Davis city limits, and includes portions of both forks of Putah Creek.
According to the city, approximately 80% of the land is planted in row crops, while the remainder is used for cattle grazing and a homestead.
The city will co-own the agricultural conservation easement with the Solano Land Trust, which will be responsible for monitoring the property in perpetuity.
The acquisition protects land with prime agricultural soils and a connection between the old North Fork and South Fork of Putah Creek.
“This purchase was a unique opportunity to protect the only remaining parcel that connects the old North Fork of Putah Creek to the South Fork of Putah Creek,” Mayor Donna Neville said in a statement.
“Without the special open space parcel tax funded by Davis taxpayers, the City would likely not have been able to help protect this spectacular piece of farmland and open space.”
The property was owned for decades by the Hamel family before being purchased several years ago by the Tyson family, according to the city.
The $1.3 million conservation easement was financed through a combination of local funding, state grants and contributions from the Solano Land Trust.
Approximately 10% of the purchase price came from the city’s special open space protection parcel tax, known as Measure O, and open space development impact fees.
The remaining 90% was funded through state grant money and contributions from the Solano Land Trust. The city did not specify the individual amounts provided by the state and land trust.
The state’s contribution came through the California Strategic Growth Council’s Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation program, administered in collaboration with the California Department of Conservation.
The program, known as SALC, supports the permanent protection of agricultural land and is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative funded through the state’s cap-and-trade program.
According to the city, the program directs funding toward efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, strengthen the economy and improve public health and environmental conditions, particularly in disadvantaged communities.
The acquisition adds another property to the city’s network of protected agricultural land and open space surrounding Davis.
The city maintains an Open Space Program that includes information about conservation easements and a map of protected properties around the community.
The map accompanying the city’s announcement identifies the newly protected property along Hamel Lane, south of Davis, and shows the approximately 217-acre conservation area.
The city said the Solano Land Trust will monitor compliance with the easement’s conservation requirements on an ongoing basis.
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