ESLT's first Family Day was a huge success! Twenty people of all ages experienced Crowley Hilltop Preserve for the first time and learned about the plants and wildlife that live there. Thank you to everyone that participated and to our wonderful volunteers! I had a really great time sharing this property with the public. Everyone learned something about the mission …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
On Saturday, August 13th, ESLT will open Crowley Hilltop Preserve to the public for Family Day from 9am-11am. As part of the Community Connections program, ESLT hosts events to awaken wonder and curiosity about the natural environment in children. If kids have fun outside and begin to ask questions about how the natural world works, they will develop a connection and become the next generation of stewards and caretakers of our land. …continue reading
written by David Woodruff, ESLT Deputy Director Eastern Sierra landowner Tina Bundy Nappe and her family have permanently preserved her 60 acres for future generations. Her land, know as Willow Flat, which includes a half a mile of the Little Walker River, has now been preserved with a conservation easement, a voluntary binding land protection agreement between the landowner and Eastern Sierra Land Trust (ESLT). The Nappe family retains ownership and management …continue reading
We are happy to report that David Woodruff recently joined ESLT in June as our new Deputy Director! He is a great addition to the ESLT team. His work experience is from the for-profit world, having a background working in the hospitality industry at a variety of different positions including departmental management, sales, marketing and finance. His first visit to the Eastern Sierra was on a return trip home to Southern California …continue reading
We would like to take a moment to thank our supporters, who generously gave and made this evening possible. ESLT Art for Conservation Show & Sale Thank you to Minaret Village Shopping Center; Bluebird Imaging; Great Basin Bakery; Kendra Knight, curator; Mammoth Brewing Company; Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory; Sierra Paint & Drywall; Snowcreek Resort; Sonoma Wine Company; Valley Florist; and …continue reading
written by Piper Wright, ESLT high school intern Educating both children and adults about the value of land conservation is an important part of ESLT's mission. The various conservation lands that ESLT has can be an excellent educational tool: getting young children out on the land can spark their interest in wildlife and the natural world around them. Our project began in early February with an idea to partner with the Eastern …continue reading
The festivities at ESLT's 10th birthday party. Familiar faces, new friends, a lively band, good food and great company—all the ingredients for a successful party! ESLT had just the right mix Saturday to celebrate 10 years of land preservation. The energy in the room was contagious. Lots of proud moments of what has been accomplished in the first 10 years of ESLT's existence were shared. What started with the vision of a …continue reading
This last Monday Hillary and I ventured out to the ponds on the conservation easement at Benton Hot Springs Ranch to collect some data for the habitat improvement project that we are conducting at that location. This expeditionbenefited from Hillary's expert canoehandlingskills (see video below) which were required in order tomaneuver the boat along transects to measure and map water depthacross the reservoir, all in light winds! We also had help from …continue reading
The Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance, announced that Eastern Sierra Land Trust has been awarded accredited status. "Accredited land trusts meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever," said Commission Executive Director Tammara Van Ryn. "The accreditation seal lets the public know that the accredited land trust has undergone an extensive, external review of the governance and management of its …continue reading