Protecting lands and wildlife

As one of California's largest landowners, PG&E has a long history of managing lands and waters in a responsible and environmentally sensitive manner. This includes protecting threatened and endangered species and their habitats, managing watershed lands that PG&E has committed to preserve, maintaining forest lands to minimize the threat of wildfire and managing vegetation around our overhead power lines so that customers experience fewer outages.


Partners in Land Stewardship


The PG&E Land Conservation Commitment permanently protects 140,000 acres of PG&E-owned watershed lands across the Sierra and Cascade mountain ranges through the donation of conservation easements to qualified conservation organizations.

Donees are identified by the Pacific Forest and Watershed Lands Stewardship Council, an independent nonprofit organization. A portion of these watershed lands will be donated to local and state organizations. Find our more about how PG&E supports conservation, visit Understanding the PG&E land conservation commitment.


Keeping birds safe


PG&E has an important responsibility to protect birds, both to comply with state and federal laws and to maintain electric service reliability. Our work is guided by the PG&E Avian Protection Plan to protect migratory birds while improving system safety and electric reliability for customers.


The PG&E plan is one of the most comprehensive in the nation. We expanded it by developing an Eagle Conservation Plan to reduce impacts to eagles, including measures that make power poles safer for birds and eagles.


Minimizing the impacts of our operations


As we upgrade and maintain gas, electric and power generation facilities to meet customer needs, we recognize the critical importance of protecting threatened and endangered species and their habitats. Examples of our efforts include:


  • Safe Harbor Agreements. PG&E maintains Safe Harbor Agreements with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for PG&E-owned land at two locations: Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge in Contra Costa County and Tulare Hill in Santa Clara County. Through these agreements, PG&E is working to protect species such as the Lange's Metalmark butterfly, Antioch Dunes evening primrose, Bay Checkerspot butterfly and Metcalf Canyon jewelflower
  • Habitat Conservation Plans (HCPs). We continue to implement our San Joaquin Valley Operations and Maintenance HCP, a 30-year permit covering our gas and electric operations and maintenance activities in California's San Joaquin Valley. The HCP's provisions cover 23 wildlife and 42 plant species and enable PG&E to maintain our operations in a way that protects these species and the habitats on which they depend. We are developing additional HCPs and other programmatic permits for our operations. Visit Habitat Conservation Plan

Maintaining sustainable utility corridors


We strive to achieve a sustainable landscape that preserves the beauty and character of local communities, while working with our customers to provide education around safe landscaping near power and gas lines. Our efforts include:


  • Managing trees, brush and other vegetation within utility corridors
  • Keeping the area around gas pipelines safe and clear for first responders
  • Training our employees and contractors in integrated vegetation management to promote biodiverse rights-of-way
  • Communicating with customers about safe landscaping near gas and electric lines

To learn more, visit Utility Arborist Association.


A Right of Way Steward Utility Founder


PG&E earned the distinction of "Right-of-Way Steward Utility Founder," and industry leader, for excellence in integrated vegetation management within electric transmission right-of-way corridors, rigorous vegetation standards, community relations and sustainable environmental-based activities. Visit rowstewardship.org.


Providing access to coastal lands


Our Diablo Canyon Power Plant is located on one of the most scenic coastlines in the country. We manage the plant's roughly 12,000 acres of land and the waters near the shore. The area is home to many species of plant and wildlife, including:


  • American peregrine falcon
  • Brown pelican
  • Southern sea otter
  • Northern elephant seal

Our active stewardship of this natural resource includes:


  • Livestock grazing. This use of land reduces the number of invasive plants, resulting in a healthier habitat for native plants
  • Recreational use. We invite the public to enjoy the beauty of the central California coast while hiking two trails on the Diablo Canyon property:
    • The 3.3-mile Point Buchon Trail
    • The 3.75-mile Pecho Coast Trail. Docent naturalists, some of whom are Diablo Canyon Power Plant employees, lead group walks for visitors. The docents have a wealth of information to share about the history, cultural resources and biological diversity of the area. Find out more and make reservations for a hike. Visit PGE Trails!

Providing outdoor recreation


PG&E maintains numerous recreational areas around the state that provide the public with opportunities to enjoy outdoor activities including:


  • Camping
  • Boating
  • Picnicking
  • Hiking

View the locations of PG&E recreational areas, make reservations and find additional details. Visit PG&E Recreational Areas.