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 …continue reading
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. John Wilson is the great-grandson of …continue reading
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 …continue reading
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 …continue reading
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. Did you miss the celebration? Learn more about the Naylon Conservation Easement on our website.
We invite all to join us for the celebration of ESLT's newest completed conservation easement in Swall Meadows, Mono County. This is a special celebration on Saturday, October 22, 2011 from 11am to 2pm, with live music, walking tours, and refreshments. Please RSVP by calling David at 760-873-4554. This will be a unique opportunity to tour ESLT's newest conservation easement, to learn about the wildlife migration corridor, and the history of Swall …continue reading
[10/12/2011 - We are no longer accepting applications for this contract work, thanks!] Eastern Sierra Land Trust is looking to contract with a couple hardy souls to provide assistance to a current restoration project on the Benton Hot Springs Ranch conservation easement. Specifically, this contract will be responsible for the removal of an unwanted aquatic plant species in order to improve habitat for important wildlife, and paving the way for an exciting …continue reading
For five years now, ESLT has maintained a successful and ever-growing relationship with the Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership (SNAP). The SNAP program places twenty-seven AmeriCorps members at different conservation agencies and organizations throughout the Sierra Nevada to conduct watershed restoration and monitoring, watershed education, and volunteer recruitment and support. ESLT has had the opportunity to work with five talented young women, who have served the Eastern Sierra community through educational …continue reading
In early 2008 after working closely with several key partners, Eastern Sierra Land Trust (ESLT), along with landowner Bill Bramlette, finalized permanent preservation for the important 900 acre Benton Hot Springs Ranch. This property includes numerous springs and seeps, ponds, and both wet and dry alkali meadows. The protection of wetlands and riparian areas is crucial in arid regions because of their role as critical wildlife habitat. The property is managed as …continue reading
"The thing I like about ESLT is that I believe in private property rights, and working with them allows me to still own my property while working towards protecting and preserving it," said Bob Naylon. Photo by Stephen Ingram. When Bob Naylon traveled to the Eastern Sierra in the 1980s, he was looking for a large open piece of land to call home. "I found this piece of Swall Meadows …continue reading