About Us
For over 20 years, the Lake County Land Trust has been protecting and preserving local lands. We are committed to protecting wildlife habitats and native plants, using resources wisely, and making the natural environment accessible for all, through guided hikes, field trips, special events, and designated public access areas. The Land Trust owns and/ or manages five large properties as well as over 80 acres of conservation easements. Get to know us! For more information on the history of the Land Trust, please click here.
Click to view our most up-to-date Conservation Priority Plan
For over 20 years, the Lake County Land Trust has been protecting and preserving local lands. We are committed to protecting wildlife habitats and native plants, using resources wisely, and making the natural environment accessible for all, through guided hikes, field trips, special events, and designated public access areas. The Land Trust owns and/ or manages five large properties as well as over 80 acres of conservation easements. Get to know us! For more information on the history of the Land Trust, please click here.
Click to view our most up-to-date Conservation Priority Plan
Our Accomplishments
- Acquisition of the Rodman Ranch and Preserve – The Lake County Land Trust’s signature project is the Rodman Ranch and Preserve, commonly called Rodman Slough, on the north end of Clear Lake. Acquisition of this property involved gathering resources from State, Federal, and County sources, as well as private funding to purchase and preserve valuable upland oak habitat and wetland habitat. Finally, in 1999, the Land Trust was able to complete the purchase of this property. The preserve consists of 240 acres, owned by the Land Trust and the Department of Fish and Game, plus another 40 acres owned by the County of Lake. Significant funding for this project came from the State Wildlife Conservation Board. (Learn more about Rodman Preserve.)
- Construction and Operation of the Rodman Preserve Nature Education Center - In 2007 a brand new nature education center was completed at the Rodman Preserve. The land trust was able to raise almost $150,000 locally to pay for the renovation of an old farm house on the property. Volunteers are leading walks, presenting programs, and working on installing interpretive and educational displays. (Learn more about Rodman Preserve Nature Education Center)
- Nature Walks offered at Rodman Preserve - Through its volunteer program the land trust has been able to offer twice monthly nature education walks at the preserve the first Saturday of each month, weather permitting. Nature education programs are also offered at the Center.
- Black Forest Acquisition – The Lake County Land Trust was able to save the 255 acres old growth Douglas fir forest on the slopes of Mount Konocti. Known as the Black Forest, the property was slated to be logged, but the land trust, again, with the help of local contributors, was able to hold on to the property until it was finally purchased by the Bureau of Land Management in 2003. (Learn more about the Black Forest.)
- Rabbit Hill – A small 9.5-acre park in Middletown, including 2 acres that are home to numerous rare and endangered plants, such as the Konocti Manzanita, is owned and managed by the Lake County Land Trust. (Learn more about Rabbit Hill.)
- Melo Wetland Preserve - The Lake County Land Trust was able to purchase the 34 acre property in 2016. The property is the first acquisition in the Big Valley Wetlands Protection Project, a project to protect the largest block of remaining wetlands and riparian area along the shore of Clear Lake. The Melo Preserve contains oak woodlands, pasture, wetlands and riparian forest. (Learn more about the Melo Wetland Preserve)
- Wright Wetland Preserve - The Lake County Land Trust was able to purchase the 201 acre property in 2020. The property is the largest Land Trust property and the second purchase in the Big Valley Wetlands Protection Project. The Wright Preserve contains oak woodlands, pasture, wetlands and riparian forest. It includes the possibility of restoring 32 acres of shoreline wetlands, critical to the health of the Clear Lake ecosystem. (Learn more about the Wright Wetland Preserve.)
- Land Conservation Priority Plan – The trust has formulated an extensive Lake County Land Trust Conservation Priority Plan, outlining lands of highest conservation priority and at risk for development in the County. The plan summarizes the Lake County Land Trust’s efforts at identifying and ranking unique areas/ecosystems in Lake County in order to guide our conservation prioritization efforts. Two workshops were held and attended by land trust board members and 17 experts in local land use and natural resources issues. Information gathered at this workshop was used to formulate the conservation priority plan. (Learn more about the Conservation Priority Plan.)
- Membership on Planning and Resource Management Committees – Members of the board of directors of the Lake County Land Trust have represented the trust for many years on various conservation and planning committees and organizations in the county. The trust was represented on the Lake County Grading Ordinance Committee, a group that reviewed and updated the County of Lake’s important Grading Ordinance, a document vital to the protection of hillside habitats and for preventing erosion into Clear Lake. The trust serves on the Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) for the Mendocino National Forest. This is a federal committee that oversees funding of conservation projects. The money for these projects comes from a federal law passed in 2000 guaranteeing counties receive a specific amount of money equal to the money that historically came as a result of federal timber sales and other forest receipts that are no longer available. The trust has had input involving the rehabilitation of meadows, trails, campgrounds, and preservation of vital bat cave habitat. Members of the board have participated in the development of two Area Plan committees put in place for updating the Lake County General Plan, and the land trust is involved with the Blueprint Planning Advisory Committee, a committee with the goal of developing a preferred growth scenario for the county, looking at issues of sprawl, transportation, open space, agriculture, and more.
- Community Outreach – Over the years since its founding, the Lake County Land Trust has been involved in community outreach by offering information presentations to local service groups and schools, participating in a variety of nature education events, and continuing its field trips and programs at the Rodman Preserve. The Land Trust was an initial sponsor and co-producer of the local Heron Festival and continues to participate in that event. Earth Day festivities will often find a Land Trust booth offering information and educational hand-outs. The Land Trust also attends the annual Pear Festival in Kelseyville. The Trust holds a Spring Celebration and an annual Dinner, called Dinner with Direction, encouraging both Land Trust members and other supporters to attend, socialize, and learn about the efforts and progress being made by the Lake County Land Trust.
