Lake County Land Trust protects, shares important properties; management plans underway for newest acquisitions
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – While its main fundraiser was canceled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lake County Land Trust is hard at work creating plans for its two recently acquired properties.
The Lake County Land Trust was created over a quarter of a century ago to preserve and protect the beautiful natural areas in Lake County.
Since its inception, this nonprofit charitable organization has been successful in preserving hundreds of acres of biodiverse habitat for the benefit of all.
The Land Trust owns four properties and three conservation easements, and together with the Nature Conservancy manages the Boggs Lake Preserve on Mt. Hannah.
The group’s most recent acquisition, funded by the State’s Wildlife Conservation Board and donors, is a 200-acre parcel which is part of the Land Trust’s Big Valley Wetlands Preservation Project along the shores of Clear Lake.
The Wright property purchase was the Land Trust’s biggest property acquisition to date.
“These acquisitions are only made possible with community support,” said Land Trust Board President Val Nixon. “Thanks to the combined efforts of many, this diverse wetland habitat is now protected forever.”
Owning properties, however, requires much more than the purchase of land. Following a successful acquisition, a plan must be created for public use. In the long-term, that plan must be implemented and the property must be managed.
The Land Trust’s two-fold goal is to protect land for its biodiverse value and scenic beauty while encouraging people to enjoy the land, inspiring them to live in balance with nature.
Currently, two of the trust’s properties are open for public enjoyment: Rabbit Hill in Middletown and Boggs Lake Preserve near Cobb.
The Land Trust Board, staff and volunteers are now creating management and public access plans for its two recent acquisitions, the 200-acre Wright property and the Melo property, both located within the Big Valley Wetlands.
The Land Trust first inventories plants and animals, identifying threatened or endangered species. Time is spent eradicating invasive species. Signs are created, identifying the land’s status as protected by the Land Trust. Properties are cleaned of all trash, fences and gates are repaired, and hiking paths are created.
This initial cleanup then transitions into regular maintenance that is in accordance with a fire protection and resilience plan: continual weeding out of invasive species, management of buildings and structures to ensure stability and longevity, and regular mowing of hiking paths to keep them user-friendly. Mitigation and rehabilitation to alleviate wildfire or heavy rain damage are often required.
Surveys are conducted regularly, using both GIS technology and on-site personal observation to ensure that grounds are safe and well-managed.
Trails are developed throughout the landscape and dotted with thoughtful educational panels that interpret the natural world in ways that bring it to life, encouraging respect for the natural surroundings. Resting places, picnic tables, shade structures and gates are introduced in the least disruptive way possible.
Structured field trips and standalone educational programs are offered to students, nature days and guided hikes occur on a schedule, and fundraisers are hosted to raise money for all of the above.
This year the Land Trust’s main fundraiser, its annual Dinner with Direction, has been canceled due to the pandemic.
The Lake County Land Trust envisions a bright future where its properties are places of inspiration and education, where curiosity about the natural world is ignited, galvanizing people to care for nature as nature cares for all who inhabit this world.