Dear Friends, There are truly no words for these feelings - I think crying and hugging one another come closer to expressing what is bursting inside. Our close-knit community was hit hard on February 6th by the devastatingly intense Round Fire. A devastating wildfire earlier this month ravaged homes and habitat in the Eastern Sierra. Photo © Jerry Dodrill. The statistics tell one part of the firestorm's story: 7,000 burned …continue reading
Our recent Lands & Legacy Celebration was simply amazing filled with inspiration, good food and company, and visions of the preserved open spaces in the Eastern Sierra's future. By the time we returned to the office the following Tuesday, my email in-box and our office voicemail were packed with messages from folks letting us know what a great time they had. Many said it was the "best ESLT event ever," which means …continue reading
Last week, ESLT summer intern Jessie O'Dell joined Ali and Sara - ESLT's AmeriCorps Members and Education Coordinators - for some fun in the field, removing invasive Bull thistle from the Benton Ponds. This summer, Eastern Sierra Land Trust has some extra help around the office and in the field. We are thrilled to welcome Claire Jellison and Jessie O'Dell to the ESLT family as summer interns! Both of these …continue reading
On Friday, September 21, 2012, Eastern Sierra Land Trust Executive Director Karen Ferrell-Ingram was awarded the Frank Wells Last Best Place Award by the Sierra Nevada Alliance at their annual conference in South Lake Tahoe... Press Release [PDF]
It is officially fall now and the nights are cooling down quickly. Aspen groves are starting to change color and the wildlife are on the move. We recently captured some activity on a conservation easement property located in Swall Meadows, we thought you would all enjoy some of these cool shots. [slideshow] -Aaron
Did you know that lands preserved by ESLT in partnership with private landowners have included what was once the highest elevation production orchard in the Country, the first farm established in Hammil Valley (also a railroad stop), and a portion of one of the earliest ranches in Big Meadows, which we now know as Bridgeport? Apple orchard in Swall Meadows Working in land conservation we spend a lot of time …continue reading
3pm - Pine Creek Rd./Hwy 395: The trip began with Aaron Johnson, our Lands Director, welcoming over 20 people to our event and explaining the itinerary. 3:45pm: We drove to Round Valley Rd. and Tim Taylor, a wildlife biologist from Department of Fish and Game explained the habitat, diet and migration pattern of the mule deer that winter in this region. We had some great questions about predator species and causes of …continue reading
An update on ESLT's work to preserve the Round Valley Mule Deer Migration Corridor Drum roll please . . . to date, ESLT has helped private landowners preserve 269 acres of open space in the Round Valley mule deer migration corridor. That is almost a square half mile! Which begs the question, is 269 acres enough? Enough is when the Round Valley mule deer have free and open access through the migration …continue reading
. . . preserved 224 acres of critical wildlife habitat. Naylon Conservation Easement (104 acres) and Wilson Conservation Project (60 acres) preserves critical habitat in the Round Valley mule deer migration corridor, ensuring safe passage for the mule deer during their bi-annual migration through Swall Meadows. Willow Flat Conservation Easement preserves 60 acres near the Sonora Junction, including a half mile stretch of the Little Walker River. The property provides the West …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