SFC Announces 1,063 Acres of Newly Protected Land Through the Ekarnas Hemman Homestead of the Oaks Conservation Easement
September 5, 2026 – O’NEALS, CA – Sierra Foothill Conservancy (SFC) is thrilled to announce the completion of the Ekarnas Hemman Homestead of the Oaks Conservation Easement in Madera County. This 1,063-acre property is the newest addition to SFC’s portfolio of conserved lands, bringing our total protected acreage to 69,214 acres. This 
conservation easement was made possible through the generous donation of the partnering landowner, Paul Sidenblad, with project development supported by competitive grant awards from Sierra Nevada Conservancy and California Council of Land Trusts.
Pictured: Spring water flow in Fine Gold Creek
Located southeast of Coarsegold in SFC’s Highway 41 Focus Area, the property is directly adjacent to SFC’s Millar Conservation Easement and a neighboring conservation easement held by California Rangeland Trust. Protecting this property expands a vital corridor of 5,150 acres of conserved lands, supporting watershed health, wildlife movement, working rangelands, and scenic open space on Road 200 for visitors and residents connecting to Hwy 41.
The property protects significant ecological and cultural resources. Along Fine Gold Creek, multiple bedrock mortars demonstrate the property’s deep cultural heritage. Additional historic resources on the property include rock walls, the Walker Cemetery, and a spur of the Minarets and Western Railroad, which operated from 1921 to 1933.
Ekarnas Hemman contains diverse and high-value foothill habitat and water resources. Rolling annual grassland, Blue oak woodland, rare Valley Foothill and Montane hardwood riparian habitat, along with fresh emergent wetlands. These communities support an exceptional diversity of oaks, ranging from 300-year-old valley oaks along the Fine Gold Creek corridor to the live oak and blue oak stands that occupy the mid-slope and upper-slope riparian zones. The property also includes 1.2 miles of Fine Gold Creek, 0.2 miles of North Fork of Fine Gold Creek, 3.4 miles of tributary creeks and streams, seasonal wetlands, springs, seasonal ponds, and other important water resources within the Upper San Joaquin Watershed.
Pictured: Protecting scenic viewsheds and open space
These newly protected habitats support a wide range of native plant and wildlife species including the Western pond turtle, Western spadefoot, American badger, Foothill yellow-legged frog, Valley elderberry longhorn beetle, Mariposa pussypaws, and Orange lupine. The property also contains suitable habitat for the California tiger salamander.
“I first encountered Sierra Foothill Conservancy at their Fine Gold Open Preserve Day shortly after I purchased the first of my five parcels in 2013. I was immediately impressed with SFC staff, their extensive knowledge and deep love for the land. Once I had closed on the last of the parcels, it was an easy decision to conserve them with SFC. As expected, everyone involved in the conservation process was friendly, professional, and knowledgeable about the 
process. It has been a pleasure to work with them throughout. If I should be fortunate enough to obtain more contiguous parcels, I will not hesitate to ask SFC to help conserve them.” - Paul Sidenblad, Landowner
By conserving this land, Ekarnas Hemman permanently protects more than 1,000 acres of grazed rangeland, riparian areas, oak woodlands, and foothill open space from future development and land use conversion.
Pictured: Cattle grazing the working landscape
Conservation of this landscape supports a sustainable and productive cattle grazing operation. Sustainable grazing supports the land’s natural carbon sequestration and storage, protects water supply and water quality, promotes biodiversity, aids in wildfire fuels 
reduction, and sustains valuable pollinator habitat. The integrity of the grazing operation is also bolstered by the presence of other conserved rangeland adjacent to the protected property.
Pictured: Granite outcropping with Interior Live Oak
SFC is deeply grateful to our partnering landowner for their generous donation of the Ekarnas Hemman Conservation Easement. The landowner’s vision to conserve the ranch’s natural resources, preserve its historic and cultural significance, cultivate educational and research opportunities on the property, and ensure its protection for future generations is in alignment with SFC’s mission and long-term vision.
If you or someone you know is interested in completing a conservation easement, please contact SFC’s Land Conservation team at 209-742-5556 or sfc@sierrafoothill.org. Conservation easement projects are complex real estate transactions that require time and resources to complete. Starting early is often advantageous, especially for landowners working within tax planning timelines or other important deadlines.
All photos contributed by SFC staff.
Source: Sierra Foothill Conservancy
