CA Department of Conservation

What CA Department of Conservation does

The California Department of Conservation (DOC) is a cabinet-level state government agency under the California Natural Resources Agency, founded in conjunction with the 1965 Williamson Act and headquartered in Sacramento. DOC administers land conservation, geological resources, oil/gas/geothermal regulation, and mine reclamation programs across all 58 California counties, organized through five operating divisions: the California Geological Survey (CGS), Division of Land Resource Protection (DLRP), Division of Mine Reclamation (DMR), California Geologic Energy Management (CalGEM), and the State Mining & Geology Board.

DOC's core technology portfolio includes the WellSTAR well tracking and reporting system, the California Important Farmland Finder (CIFF), the CGS Information Warehouse, the Williamson Act Enrollment Finder, and the DOC Data Viewer — GIS-based platforms that provide public access to over 40 years of biennial farmland conversion data across 50.6 million acres in 51 counties, plus statewide oil/gas/geothermal well records. The agency also administers an extensive grant portfolio including the Regional Forest and Fire Capacity (RFFC) Program, Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation (SALC), California Farmland Conservancy Program (CFCP), Agricultural Land Mitigation Program (ALMP), Transformative Climate Communities (TCC), Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program (MLRP), Watershed Coordinator Program, and Working Lands and Riparian Corridors Program.

DOC is funded through California state budget appropriations, the November 2024 Proposition 4 Climate Resilience Bond ($10 billion approved by voters), and California Climate Investments cap-and-trade auction proceeds. Its go-to-market is non-commercial: programs are delivered through local government partnerships (counties and cities), Resource Conservation Districts, Groundwater Sustainability Agencies, tribal organizations, and community-based nonprofits. Primary customer segments include private agricultural landowners (16 million acres enrolled under Williamson Act contracts), California counties and cities, Resource Conservation Districts, regional fire resilience organizations, and Groundwater Sustainability Agencies. Leadership transitioned on January 6, 2025, when Jennifer Lucchesi was sworn in as Director, succeeding prior leadership after serving as Executive Officer of the State Lands Commission.

Name

CA Department of Conservation

Legal name

California Department of Conservation

Website

https://conservation.ca.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

The California Department of Conservation is a state agency administering land conservation, oil/gas/geothermal regulation, mine reclamation, and geological survey programs across California through five divisions and a portfolio of grant programs funded by state appropriations, climate bonds, and cap-and-trade proceeds.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Conservation Services

NAICS

Administration of Conservation Programs (92412), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241), Support Activities for Forestry (1153)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

State/Provincial Environmental Protection & Natural Resources Administration (BPAIABAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration (BPAIAMAH), Watershed Protection & Water Quality Services (AFAMAMAB), Disaster Risk Reduction Services (Flood Mitigation, Erosion Control, Landslide Stabilization) (AFAMAMAJ), Conservation, Restoration & Biodiversity Services (Habitat, Wetlands, Riparian) (IMAMAJAH), Forest Ecosystem Services & Carbon/Conservation Programs (AFAMAAAJ)

Keywords

• Land conservation programs
• Natural resource management
• Agricultural conservation grants
• Geological survey services
• Oil gas regulation

Headquarters

HQ city

Sacramento

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. State Government Funding: Funded through California's state budget appropriation process as a cabinet-level agency under the Natural Resources Agency.
2. Proposition 4 Climate Bond: California voters approved $10 billion Climate Resilience Bond in November 2024, with specific allocations including $200 million for Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program, $36 million for Healthy Soils Program, and $38 million for SWEEP for fiscal year 2025-2026.
3. California Climate Investments (CCI) Fund: Revenue from cap-and-trade auction proceeds funding agricultural land conservation programs including SALC and RFFC programs.

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The California Department of Conservation administers state-level land conservation programs, regulates oil/gas/geothermal operations (via CalGEM) and mining reclamation (via DMR), conducts geological surveys (via CGS), and issues competitive grants for agricultural conservation, climate resilience, watershed restoration, and forest health. Its offerings include the Williamson Act land conservation framework, GIS-based data tools (WellSTAR, Important Farmland Finder, Well Finder), and multiple grant programs funded through state appropriations, climate bonds, and cap-and-trade revenues.

Product overview

The California Department of Conservation operates multiple divisions (CGS/Geology, DLRP/Land Resource Protection, DMR/Mines, CalGEM/Oil Gas & Geothermal) offering a portfolio of data tools, mapping platforms, and grant programs. Core products include WellSTAR (well tracking database), California Important Farmland Finder (CIFF), DLRP Interactive Mapping Tools, and various GIS data viewers. The department administers numerous grant programs including the Regional Forest and Fire Capacity Program, Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program, California Farmland Conservancy Program, Agricultural Land Mitigation Program, Transformative Climate Communities Program, Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program, Watershed Coordinator Program, and Working Lands and Riparian Corridors Program for land conservation and climate resilience purposes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• California Farmland Conservancy Program (CFCP): A statewide grant program that supports local efforts to establish agricultural conservation easements and land improvement projects for preserving agricultural land resources.
• Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program (SALC)
• Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program (MLRP)
• Regional Forest and Fire Capacity (RFFC) Program
• Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) Program

Products and services

• WellSTAR (Well Statewide Tracking and Reporting System)
• California Important Farmland Finder (CIFF)
• Well Finder
• CGS Information Warehouse
• Williamson Act Enrollment Finder
• Regional Forest and Fire Capacity (RFFC) Program
• Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation (SALC) Program
• California Farmland Conservancy Program (CFCP)
• Agricultural Land Mitigation Program (ALMP)
• Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) Program
• Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program (MLRP)
• Watershed Coordinator Program
• Working Lands and Riparian Corridors Program
• Williamson Act Program (California Land Conservation Act)
• Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program (FMMP)

Quantifiable outcome

• 16 million acres of agricultural and open space land protected under Williamson Act contracts
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Resource Conservation Districts (various)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2023Round 3 of Working Lands and Riparian Corridors Program awarded $2.4 million to RCDs in San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Ventura, Santa Cruz, and Siskiyou counties for watershed restoration.
• Inner Coast Collaborative (ICC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partnership of Napa County RCD, Clear Lake Environmental Resource Center, Colusa County RCD, Solano County RCD, Sonoma RCD, and Yolo County RCD coordinated by Napa County RCD. Working on capacity building, planning, project development, and demonstration projects in Napa, Colusa, Solano, Sonoma, and Yolo Counties.
• North Coast Resource Partnership (NCRP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partnership awarded $13,560,000 through RFFC Program to support rapid increase of wildfire, forest, and community resiliency projects in the North Coast region.
• State Coastal Conservancy (SCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentral California regional partner awarded $20,280,000 through RFFC Program to develop regional priority plans, conduct vegetation management, and build capacity for fire resiliency.
• Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSierra-Cascade-Inyo Region partner awarded $23,170,000 through RFFC Program to increase regional capacity for forest health and fire resiliency projects across the Sierra Nevada.
• Inland Empire Resource Conservation District (IERCD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSan Bernardino Mountains area partner awarded $5,695,000 through RFFC Program for project development, capacity building, and regional priority planning for fire resilience.
• Irvine Ranch Conservancy (IRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrange County and coastal Southern California partner awarded $4,220,000 through RFFC Program for regional fire resiliency strategies and community engagement.
• RCD of Greater San Diego CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreater San Diego County partner awarded $5,355,000 through RFFC Program for regional priority planning and fire protection projects.
• Indigenous Stewardship NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide partner awarded $4,553,763 through RFFC Program to grow Indigenous-led cultural burning and stewardship practices to improve biodiversity and ecosystem resilience.
• Karuk TribecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide tribal partner awarded $1,198,522 through RFFC Program to develop Taayvávan Iptáamax prescribed fire training center and expand tribal stewardship infrastructure.
• San Jose University Research FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWatershed coordinator grantee awarded $300,000 to build coalitions for groundwater sustainability in Salinas Valley basins through the Sustainable Groundwater Management Watershed Coordinator Program.
• CA Land Stewardship InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWatershed coordinator grantee awarded $272,680.45 to work with GSA and community partners in Ukiah Valley for groundwater recharge, stream revegetation, and Fish Friendly Farming program.
• Kings River Conservation DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWatershed coordinator grantee awarded $300,000 to prepare and implement Early Action Plan for safe drinking water and nitrate reduction in Kings and Tulare Lake basins.
• Pixley Irrigation District GSAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWatershed coordinator grantee awarded $300,000 to coordinate implementation of subbasin GSPs, facilitate wildlife-friendly land retirement and recharge actions in Tule Subbasin.
• Watershed Research and Training Center (WRTC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide RFFC block grantee awarded $14,300,000 for technical capacity building, peer networking, and coordination to advance wildfire resilience best practices.
• California Fire Safe CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide RFFC grantee providing technical assistance to fire safe councils, helping start new councils, and deploying regional coordinators for wildfire prevention.
• California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDOC works in cooperation with CNRA to implement the Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program (SALC) as part of California Climate Investments.
• Strategic Growth Council (SGC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDOC works with SGC to implement SALC Program, which is a component of SGC's Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program (AHSC).
• California Strategic Growth CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDOC administers the Transformative Climate Communities Program on behalf of SGC, which has awarded over $424 million to disadvantaged communities since 2018.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• California Department of Fish and Wildlife: Sister California Natural Resources Agency department responsible for wildlife, habitat, and conservation enforcement. Closely comparable as a California cabinet-level natural resource regulator administering grants, easements, and species programs alongside DOC's land conservation portfolio.
• California State Water Resources Control Board: Sister California environmental agency regulating water quality and allocation. Directly comparable as a state-level regulator administering grant programs tied to SGMA implementation, watershed health, and groundwater sustainability—overlapping with DOC's MLRP and Watershed Coordinator programs.
• California State Parks: Sister California Natural Resources Agency department managing state park units and recreation. Comparable as a sister state agency that combines direct land management with grant programs and stewardship contracts in conservation areas.
• California Coastal Commission: California state agency regulating coastal land use, conservation easements, and public access. Comparable as a state-level land-use regulator with overlapping jurisdiction on open-space protection and conservation easement programs administered by DOC.
• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service: Federal agency delivering farm bill conservation programs, working-lands grants, and watershed partnerships nationwide. Comparable to DOC as the largest U.S. provider of agricultural conservation grants and easements, with overlapping RCD-style delivery partners in California.
• U.S. Forest Service: Federal agency managing national forests and administering forest health and fire-resilience grants. Comparable to DOC's RFFC, fire-resilience, and forest health program portfolio, and a federal-level partner counterpart for California's forest programs.

Regional players

• Texas General Land Office: Texas cabinet-level agency administering state lands, mineral rights, and coastal resources. Comparable as a large U.S. state agency that combines land/energy resource stewardship with conservation and grant programs analogous to DOC's multi-divisional portfolio.

Direct peers

• Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development: Oregon state agency administering land use planning, farmland preservation, and coastal management. Highly comparable as a state-level department specifically focused on land conservation and development regulation—matching DOC's DLRP division focus on agricultural preservation and growth management.
• Washington State Department of Natural Resources: Washington state agency managing state trust lands, forestry, and conservation easements. Comparable to DOC in combining forest/fire management (akin to RFFC), agricultural and open-space protection, and geologic/mineral regulatory oversight through a single cabinet-level department.
• Florida Department of Environmental Protection: Florida's primary state environmental agency overseeing land conservation, water resources, and regulatory programs. Comparable as a state cabinet department administering conservation easements, grant funding, and resource regulation across multiple program areas similar to DOC.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/calconservation
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/calconservation
• Facebookfacebook.com/calconservation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/calconservation
• Instagraminstagram.com/calconservation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments3 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CA Department of Conservation