Historic Cattle Ranch Preserved in Bridgeport Valley

Local Ranchers preserve additional Working Agricultural Lands in Bridgeport Valley

Bridgeport Valley, in northern Mono County, once known as “Big Meadows”, is one of the largest mountain meadow areas in California. Settled by miners and ranchers 150 years ago, local ranchers in Bridgeport Valley now face rising pressures to develop and subdivide their land. Recently, Centennial Livestock has preserved 718 acres of working agricultural lands with a conservation easement. This important new easement extends conserved private agricultural lands all the way to the northern end of the valley and is an important part of the larger Centennial Ranch holdings, 6,390 acres of which are already under conservation easement thanks to these forward thinking cattlemen. “Conservation easements provide future generations the assurance that scenic open spaces and historical livestock grazing of range and pastureland are maintained for perpetuity,” said Dave Wood, who owns the property along with John Lacey and his son Mark Lacey. “I can think of no other area in California more deserving of protection than the Majestic Bridgeport Valley.”

Preserving working agricultural lands provides multiple benefits to the local economy by ensuring continued agricultural operations and maintaining the natural balance of ranchland. “This means the perpetuation of agriculture,” said Mark Lacey, who owns the property along with his father, John Lacey and partner Dave Wood. “It’s important to preserve and maintain the history of the area and the legacy of the cattle. The only way to protect the land is to not put houses on it.” The conservation easement is a voluntary, permanent, land protection agreement. The landowners retain title and management of their property, while designating how their land may be used now and in the future.

The property that is now under easement was one of the earliest ranches in the valley and has been utilized for livestock production for 150 years. Under previous ownership, the property was also used for raising horses, sheep, and lamb, however in the years since that time the operation has shifted to cattle. “I have a great love for the Bridgeport Valley. I grew up out there as a kid. I always dreamed of owning a piece of it and keeping it in conservation and running livestock in an economic way for future generations,” said owner John Lacey.  Visitors travelling Highway 395 enjoy the outstanding vistas of the Sierra Nevada mountains, and the open ranchland of the valley below.

“The ESLT board and staff are thrilled to be partnering with these long-time landowners,” said Karen Ferrell-Ingram, Executive Director of Eastern Sierra Land Trust. “These cattlemen and their families have been working the land from Olancha to Bridgeport and providing food for people since the early days.  Their work helps keep our valleys green and our rural lands productive and beautiful.”

The project was made possible by a number of funding agencies, including the Department of Conservation’s California Farmland Conservancy Program, the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP), and the California Department of Transportation’s Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Program (EEM).  “We’re pleased to have been a part of this project, which will help ensure the viability of the local economy and its western heritage,” said Brian Leahy, head of the Department of Conservation’s Division of Land Resource Protection. “We congratulate the landowners, land trust and our funding partners on the completion of this easement.”

Tom Hallenbeck, District 9 Director for the California Department of Transportation in Bishop said “The Centennial Ranch was a good opportunity for the department to meet the goals of our EEM program, help preserve this beautiful valley, and work in partnership with the other funding partners.”

Photo by Stephen Ingram.

Eastern Sierra Land Trust works with willing landowners to preserve vital lands in the Eastern Sierra region for their scenic, agricultural, natural, recreational, historical, and watershed values. For more information about this and other conservation easements, visit ESLT’s website at www.eslt.org.

About the Department of Conservation’s California Farmland Conservancy Program: Begun in 1996, the CFCP has provided $77.4 million in funding to permanently shield 52,293 acres of the state’s best and most vulnerable agricultural land from development. Landowners and trusts are encouraged to contact the Division of Land Resource Protection for information about the program and potential funding. For details, visit www.conservation.ca.gov/dlrp

About the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP): The federal FRPP is a voluntary easement program that protects productive agricultural land by providing funds for the purchase of conservation easements to limit conversion of farm and ranch lands to non-agricultural uses. NRCS partners with state, tribal or local governments, and non-governmental organizations to fund the acquisition of conservation easements or other interests in land from landowners. More information is available at www.ca.nrcs.usda.gov.

About the California Department of Transportation’s Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation (EEM) Program: The Transportation Blueprint Legislation of 1989 established the EEM. The EEM allocates ten million dollars annually, to local, state, and federal agencies, and nonprofit organizations for grants to provide additional mitigation for projects beyond what was required. More information is available at http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/LocalPrograms/EEM/homepage.htm.

Call to Photographers

ESLT invites you to submit work to a juried show for our 4th annual Art for Conservation Show & Sale planned for the summer of 2012. ESLT is grateful to have the opportunity to partner with talented photographers to benefit ESLT’s work to preserve Eastern Sierra lands.

This year’s Art for Conservation Show & Sale opens on Tuesday, June 26, 2012 at the G2 Gallery in Venice Beach, California.  The G2 Gallery is a wonderful venue to show and sell art, all for a good cause!  Forty percent of all sales will support ESLT’s work preserving Eastern Sierra lands, with sixty percent of each sale going to the artist.  The show will be well publicized in the Los Angeles area and the Eastern Sierra. The Show & Sale will run through Monday, August 5, 2012. A reception honoring the artists will be held Saturday June 30.

HOW TO SUBMIT ART:

Photographers are requested to submit up to five digital images of their work for consideration. Work may be color or black and white. Subject matter should be nature or wildlife from the Eastern Sierra Nevada region. This region is generally defined as being those areas of Inyo, Mono and Alpine counties east of the crest. Please contact ESLT with questions about the regional boundaries. No slides or prints will be accepted. Digital images must be 96 ppi, sRGB color space, not to exceed 15 inches horizontally and 10 inches vertically, saved as JPEG quality 9, and sent to art@eslt.org by February 28, 2012. Each image must be named with the artist’s last name, a title or unique number, and size of unframed piece (for example: Smith_ -Owens Valley sunrise,-_15x10.jpg). Contact information must accompany submissions.

Declined images will not be returned and will not be kept on file after the jurying is completed.  ESLT assumes no responsibility or liability for undelivered or deleted files and emails.

NOTIFICATION OF ACCEPTANCE:

Eight photographers will be chosen by the juried panel.  If your artwork is selected, you will be notified electronically by April 28, 2012.

PRESENTATION OF ARTWORKS:

Work for this show must be gallery ready. Final presentations must be matted with white matte and framed in solid black frame. Artists will be responsible for shipping or delivering their artwork to the G2 Gallery. When photographers are accepted, we will provide detailed submission guidelines for the 2012 Art for Conservation Show & Sale. Photographers who are selected for the show will be asked to sign a contract and provide a one-page photographer’s statement and bio in a word document (.doc) or PDF format.

For more information on Eastern Sierra Land Trust’s 2012 Art for Conservation Show and Sale, contact art@eslt.org or call us at (760) 873-4554.  ESLT is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, organized and existing under the laws of the State of California.

We look forward to receiving your submissions!

Dreaming of Wide Open Spaces

As 2011 comes to a close, I can truly say this has been the most exciting year I have experienced at Eastern Sierra Land Trust. In just the past six months we have completed five conservation projects totaling over 1500 acres of treasured Eastern Sierra land preserved for perpetuity. From the expansion of migration corridors that will forever ensure safe passage for wildlife to the preservation of a family farm first homesteaded in the 1860s, we truly have reason to celebrate.

I have been fortunate to have been part of ESLT since its inception. Watching it grow to an organization that has truly made a difference is both exciting and very satisfying. In our beginning, I dreamed that good things might result from our work. But the level of success that has been accomplished in such a short period of time is something truly astonishing. And when I reflect for a moment upon the strength of the committed and passionate ESLT Board of Directors, members and staff that make up this organization, I realize that no one should be astonished. It is the combined efforts of hundreds of visionary, caring and dedicated people who have worked together to accomplish a lot.

Twentieth century poet Dom Helder Camara said “When we are dreaming alone it is only a dream. When we are dreaming with others, it is the beginning of reality.” I want to thank all of you “dreamers” that have joined me, to make the “reality” of Eastern Sierra Land Trust what it is today: a positive force working on behalf of the wide open spaces of this beautiful region.

I leave you with one more favorite quote. It was Margaret Mead who said “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” With your support, may more dreams become reality as we continue our work together.

Happy New Year Everyone!

Click here if you would like to make a doantion now.

Big Gains in Voluntary Land Conservation

The first census of land trusts in five years found 10 million new acres conserved nationwide since 2005, an increase of 27%!!  The National Land Trust Census, released by the Land Trust Alliance, shows that during the same time period, the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund, a major federal conservation program, added just over 500,000 acres and saw a 38% funding cut. The census is available online at www.lta.org/census.

A total of 47 million acres—an area over twice the size of all the national parks in the contiguous United States—are now protected by land trusts.  A greater percentage of the new acreage comes through local and state land trusts like Eastern Sierra Land Trust.  In California, land trusts conserved over 700,000 acres between 2005 and 2010, a 34% increase in land protected.

Yednock Conservation Easement-Photo Courtesy of Rick Kattelmann

“Californians value their land, and we are conserving it at the community level,” said ESLT Executive Director Karen Ferrell-Ingram. “Here in the Eastern Sierra, we are investing in our future with land projects that ensure clean water, local food, and places to play for our children and for generations to come.”

Since 2005 Eastern Sierra Land Trust has preserved nine separate properties for a total of 6662 acres.

We’re grateful to our communities, partners, and supporters for caring so much about the future of this beautiful region.  Thank you!

Important Wildlife Migration Corridor Expanded

ESLT members and partners save more critical habitat

In an exciting new project, John and Ivie Wilson, longtime landowners in Swall Meadows, have just sold 60 acres of critical deer habitat to Eastern Sierra Land Trust (ESLT) for permanent preservation. To ensure that wildlife have room to roam, ESLT works with farsighted landowners who want to permanently protect the critical habitats on their land.

Landowners John and Ivie Wilson permanently preserve 60 acres of critical deer migration habitat in Swall Meadows.

John Wilson is the great-grandson of Owens Valley pioneer Joseph Swall. These newly preserved 60 acres are the last remaining of the 1,000 acres that Joseph Swall purchased in 1910.  John and his sister, Joann Huffman, remember their dad, Robert J. Wilson, patrolling the land in his airplane to make sure trespassers weren’t bothering the deer.  R.J. ran the ranch after Joseph Swall retired to Bishop, and soon found out that the high elevation fruit ranch was a risky enterprise so he started a successful construction business.  “My dad would be very pleased to see that the last piece of land will be left open space to allow a critical migration corridor to the Round Valley wintering ground,” said John Wilson.

ESLT partnered with California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) and received a grant from the Wildlife Conservation Board to purchase the property from the Wilsons.  ”This is an important and strategic acquisition to protect migration habitats that benefit the Round Valley Deer herd.  The acquisition was made possible only by the cooperative partnership of the landowner, Eastern Sierra Land Trust, Department of Fish and Game, and the Wildlife Conservation Board,” stated Jon Wilcox, Senior Land Agent for the Wildlife Conservation Board.  The Wilson’s commitment to wildlife preservation is evident because they have sold the property to ESLT at a significant discount from fair market value.

Combined with adjacent land owned by CDFG (also purchased from the Wilsons) and ESLT’s existing conservation easements, this property helps ensure a safe passage through the migration bottleneck for many species of wildlife.  “We will manage this land for wildlife, from deer to golden eagles to migrating Monarch butterflies.  This is a wonderful day for wildlife and the people of California who value the amazing natural wonders of the Eastern Sierra” commented Karen Ferrell-Ingram, ESLT executive director.  The Round Valley mule deer herd travels through the migration corridor twice a year. In the spring the herd migrates north and west to the high Sierra and then makes the opposite trip south in the fall—funneling thousands of animals right through several growing communities!  It was this miracle of migration that first prompted the founding members of ESLT to start a nonprofit here dedicated to preserving vital lands for people and wildlife.

The Round Valley mule deer herd is one of five migrating deer herds in the Eastern Sierra. The natural phenomenon of large mammal migration is threatened around the world and in the Eastern Sierra.  With the continued support of its members and the Eastern Sierra community, ESLT will keep working to preserve wildlife migration corridors in the Eastern Sierra.

Land trusts play a significant role throughout the United States in preserving and stewarding the nation’s wildlife habitats, scenic lands, and family farms and ranches by partnering with private landowners.  There are currently over 47 million acres preserved by land trusts across the country, twice the size of all National Parks combined.  It is the members and volunteers of these nonprofit organizations which help bring about these significant accomplishments.   A recent census by the national Land Trust Alliance shows that in 2010, there were almost 5 million land trust members and 350,000 volunteers throughout the US.

Preserving the Rural Character and Prime Soils of Mono County

602 acre Alfalfa Farm in Hammil Valley Preserved

Eastern Sierra Land Trust’s latest conservation project is a beautiful farm tucked under the towering White Mountains, north of Bishop.  Richard Moss and his wife Barbara have preserved their organic alfalfa farm, known as Cinnamon Ranch, in the Hammil Valley. The Moss’ purchased the ranch in 1970, making alfalfa hay the primary agricultural product from the ranch. These long-time landowners retain title and management of their property, while designating how their land may be used now and in the future.  “Preserving a ranch like this is what a local land trust is created to do.  This family contributes so much to our community, including producing food and crops with sustainable practices that benefit all of us.  ESLT is excited to assist them and to help ensure that their land stays beautiful and productive forever,” commented Karen Ferrell-Ingram, executive director of ESLT.

ESLT helps local farmers preserve their prime farmland in the Hammil Valley.

Cinnamon Ranch has a history of over 150 years, dating back to the first recorded landowner, William Hamil (original spelling), who founded the ranch in 1864. The Sinnamon family (more original spelling), ranchers from northern Mono County who capitalized on the Bodie gold mining boom, acquired the land in 1900. The ranch became a significant crossroads in Mono County, with a railroad station and county road servicing the ranch.

Agriculture remains an integral part of Mono County’s economy and regional identity, with field crops like alfalfa contributing 40% of Mono County’s agricultural income. The property’s important scenic value to residents and visitors to the Eastern Sierra provides travelers along Highway 6 with a taste of Mono County’s rural character.

Eastern Sierra Land Trust works with local farmers like the Moss family to sustain financially viable agricultural operations on their land against rising pressures to subdivide. “It is important to me that this land remains open for agriculture and not be split up. That way it can always provide a home and a way of life for my family like it does now. After seeing many of the farms in Lancaster where I grew up turned to dust and subdivisions, I always knew that I wanted this land to remain available for farming,” said Richard Moss.

The property’s important scenic value to residents and visitors to the Eastern Sierra provides travelers along Highway 6 with a taste of Mono County’s rural character.

Funding for this project has been provided by the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, an agency of the State of California,  the Farm and Ranchland Protection Program at the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and ESLT.

“We are proud to have partnered on protecting this beautiful and prosperous land in the Eastern Sierra region,” said Michael Bilancione, NRCS California realty specialist.  “Because the vast majority of this region is public lands, private farms and ranches are under increased pressure to be converted to non-agricultural uses.  Now, the Cinnamon Ranch prime soils and wildlife habitat will be protected for generations to come.”

About the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP): The federal FRPP is a voluntary easement program that protects productive agricultural land by purchasing conservation easements to limit conversion of farm and ranch lands to non-agricultural uses. NRCS partners with state, tribal or local governments, and non-governmental organizations to acquire conservation easements or other interests in land from landowners. More information is available at www.ca.nrcs.usda.gov.

Looking Back on My AmeriCorps Year at ESLT

As my AmeriCorps year comes to an end, I almost feel like I just started at ESLT! It’s probably because the year has been a whirlwind of activity and exciting new experiences. My recent AmeriCorps graduation gave me an opportunity to reflect on my time here, and on the impact of the Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership (SNAP) in general.

The SNAP Program places 27 talented and creative young people at different environmental non-profits all over the Sierra Nevada. Whenever I meet with these people for trainings, I am always inspired by their energy and passion for their environmental careers, but also for life in general. We really have the Sierra Nevada Alliance to thank for bringing these amazing people to the places in the Sierra that we love. To learn more about this program and the Sierra Nevada Alliance, visit their website.

This really does seem to be the time of year to give thanks- at least I’m feeling that way! I’m so grateful for the staff at ESLT and how welcome they have made me feel, right from the beginning. The people who work here care deeply about the mission of ESLT and the about Eastern Sierra. I’ve really enjoyed working with them.

Meeting the challenges of taking on a new job allowed me to grow both personally and professionally. Some of the things I learned this year were a new found self confidence, the ability to put on an educational event from start to finish, skills to recruit and manage volunteers, and an understanding of how outreach and education support an non-profit organization. I also learned more about how conservation easements work, the relationships between land owners and a land trust, and about taking on a habitat restoration project on conservation land.

Below are photos of some of the highlights of my service.

Local third graders learn about their state flower, the California poppy, and how to grow sunflowers in the ESLT Garden as a part of the Sunflower Project

Exploring Benton Ponds with students from Edna Beaman Elementary during the Birds in the Classroom Field Trip

Monitoring an ESLT conservation easement property that is rich with cultural resources

Checking out wildlife tracks with local kids during Family Day at ESLT's Crowley Hilltop Preserve

Teaching guests at the Naylon Celebration about apple orchards and the history of the Naylon property

Cutting invasive bulrush at Benton Ponds as part of the native fish restoration project

Thanks to everyone for a great year at ESLT!

- Hillary

Three generations of AmeriCorps members at ESLT! From left to right: Sarah Spano, Serena Dennis, and Hillary Behr

Giving Thanks for Volunteers

This time of year, many of us are preparing to gather with friends and family to give thanks for the things in our life that deserve our gratitude. Here at ESLT, we wanted to take a moment to do that as well, and so last week we held a Volunteer Appreciation Dinner.

The evening was filled with good cheer, many thanks, and celebration of the time our volunteers have given. ESLT would not be able to do the work we do without our volunteers.

We took a moment to thank Hillary, our AmeriCorps member volunteer, for giving over 1700 hours in the past year. Stay tuned in our blog and coming Winter Newsletter to hear from Hillary on how her year of service went.

From left to right: ESLT Volunteers Kathy Varnum, Mollie Scott, and Barbara Oriti.

And most of all, we thanked our volunteers for giving more than 2,000 hours of their time, skills, and passion.

Are you interested in volunteering and would like to find out more? Contact us, and join us at our Volunteer Orientation, held annually in February.

ESLT Volunteers at the 2011 Orientation.

Battling Bulrush at Benton Ponds

Last week, a newly hired ESLT crew started work removing hardstem bulrush at Benton Ponds, as part of the speckled dace restoration project. For more information on this project, check out our previous blog post: Enhancing Habitat for Native Fish through Partnerships.

The first order of business for this hardy group of individuals was to don waders, plunge into the cold water, and start hacking a channel so that the California Department of Fish and Game weed cutting boat could gain access to the areas of the lake most choked by bulrush.

Although hardstem bulrush is a native plant, it is able to aggressively colonize open water, and has significantly reduced the surface area of these ponds. Open water is important in providing the amazing migratory bird habitat that is found at Benton Ponds, and as we clear the bulrush and replace it along the banks with three square rush, this habitat will  improve. Open water will be very important in removing the  non-native Sacramento perch and establishing the native speckled dace.

ESLT's AmeriCorps member, Hillary, starts clearing a path.

“It’s been great to get out in the field on one of our easements this past week and do work that is really making a difference for the wildlife that thrives in and around these ponds. I’ve enjoyed spending time here and leading trips on this property over the past 10 months, and this is a great way to finish up my service.” – Hillary Behr, ESLT AmeriCorps member

Crew Member Paul Satterthwaite breaks trail into years of accumulated bulrush thatch, in what used to be open water.

Crew member Sarah Musselman rakes cut bulrush up from the water onto the bank.

Crew Leader Mike Davis pitches bulrush on to the bank after the boat channel has been completed.

“When I think about why I do this work I think of one my predecessors who, when faced with the question “What good are native fish?” liked to retort “What good are you?”  In a way my work is an effort to answer that question.  It’s about making a modification to the landscape that will, without doubt, improve the status of imperiled native fish in the Owens Valley.  It’s my contribution to the solution.  The most important reason for doing this work is because there simply aren’t many people out there doing it.  If it weren’t for us and the work we’re doing on the Bramlette property, the species (speckled dace) would be significantly worse off.” – Mike Davis, Crew Leader

An overview of the area of the pond that has been taken over by bulrush. The hidden crew cuts through a forest of rushes.

The completed channel!

Stay tuned for more updates and success stories as the battle continues!

A Celebration in Pictures

On Saturday, October 22, 2011, ESLT celebrated the preservation of 104 acres in the Round Valley mule deer wildlife migration corridor. We hope you will enjoy these few highlights from the celebration.

ESLT had several interpretive tables to share information. Here, attendees could taste test various apple varieties that grow on the conservation easement.

ESLT's AmeriCorps member Hillary teaches how to peel and slice the apples the old-fashioned way.

ESLT would like to thank our partners, California Department of Fish and Game, and the California Deer Association, for making this conservation easement possible.

Thank you to all who contributed to the feast of food: Great Basin Bakery for sandwiches, Joseph's Bi-Rite Market, Vons, and Gayle Woodruff for her culinary talents and creativity!

Attendees enjoyed a walking tour of the conservation easement, learning about the wildlife migration corridor and apple orchard.

And ESLT would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all our members and supporters, who joined us in celebrating this historic moment, and whose support allows us to continue the important work of preserving the vital lands of the Eastern Sierra.

Did you miss the celebration? Learn more about the Naylon Conservation Easement on our website.