BISHOP, CA: Eastern Sierra Land Trust (ESLT) is excited to announce it has been awarded a 2024 Project Advancement Grant from the California Council of Land Trusts (@calandtrusts) to help conserve critical habitat in Mono County. This grant will support ESLT’s “Wetlands for the Future: Tribal Partnership in Protecting Critical Habitats to Achieve California’s 30×30 Goals” project.  

The Antelope Lake property, a 205-acre property located in Adobe Valley, Mono County, California, is characterized by its rare high desert ephemeral lakes, wetlands, meadows, sagebrush scrub, and pinyon-juniper forests. The grant will enable ESLT to carry out thorough project evaluation and due diligence to establish a conservation easement on the property. The project ultimately aims to protect and preserve a diverse array of critical habitats, including alkali wetlands, alkali meadows, ephemeral spring-fed lakes, sagebrush steppe, and pinyon-juniper woodlands.  

“This funding will be instrumental in protecting critical wetland habitat and advancing our partnerships with Tribal communities,” said Mark Drew, ESLT’s Executive Director. “We are incredibly grateful to the California Land Trust Network for recognizing the importance of this project, which will benefit both the environment and the local community.”  

The project aligns with California’s “Pathways to 30×30” initiative and the Natural and Working Lands Climate Smart Strategy. ESLT will be collaborating with Tribal partners to develop a co-stewardship plan and in doing so, help us continue to strengthen partnerships to ensure a sustainable Eastern Sierra for generations to come.   

The Project Advancement Grant Program is funded by the Wildlife Conservation Board (@wildlifeconservationboard). 

To learn more about the Project Advancement Grant recipients and ESLT’s conservation efforts, please visit www.calandtrusts.org