The Lake County Land Trust was formed and officially incorporated
as a 501 (c) (3) charitable non-profit organization in 1993. A small group of
friends who saw the need for expanded conservation efforts in Lake
County got together to form the Trust. Founding members were:
Susanne Scholz, Roberta Lyons, John Graham, Glenn Dishman, Mary
Tulanian-Benson, Michael Friel, Judy Cox, Kim Clymire and Sibyl
Day.
Mary Tulanian-Benson was the first secretary and took on the job
of filing incorporation papers. Roberta Lyons served as president
from 1993-1999 and Glenn Dishman was a very able treasurer for the
first seven years of the Trust's life. Initial jobs and projects
included development of a brochure and statement of purpose;
setting up guidelines for the types of property that the Trust
would work to preserve, and getting educated about the various
funding sources available for purchase of land for conservation
and preservation purposes.
The Trust's first project was completed in 1999 with the
acquisition of Rodman Ranch and Slough on the north shore of Clear
Lake on the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff. This 442-acre property bordering
Rodman Slough and Clear Lake had long been known for its valuable
wildlife habitat. Home to one of the largest Great Blue Heron
rookeries in Northern California, and also containing nesting
sites for Osprey, Western Grebes, and a variety of other birds
and mammals - the Rodman Ranch and Slough still remained
unprotected. A variety of development proposals for the property
had been presented to the County Planning Department and when the
Lake County Land Trust stepped in, the land was once again for
sale and being touted as an excellent site for a housing
development, golf course and marina.
With the able advice and help of Lakeport attorney and long-time
Kelseyville resident, Peter Windrem, the Trust was able to
negotiate an option to purchase the property and set about working
to acquire the $1.2 million needed to buy the land. The very
successful "Adopt-A-Nest" campaign brought in over $30,000 from
mostly local individuals and was used to make two installments of
the option payment. The Lake County Record Bee published a
list of donors for the campaign on a regular basis and this
continuous publicity generated a great deal of interest.
Adopt-A-Nesters were awarded a beautiful certificate with a
picture of a nesting heron at the Rodman rookery.
After over a year of working to secure a variety of funding
sources from the federal and state governments, the County of
Lake, private buyers for part of the property, and a private
foundation, the Trust was able to purchase the Rodman Ranch and
Slough property. Presently, the Lake County Land Trust owns 132
acres, which includes oak
grasslands, wetland habitat, and a small ranch house that has been renovated to
serve as a Nature Center for the Preserve on the corner of
Westlake Road and the Nice-Lucerne cutoff. The California
Department of Fish and Game owns 108 acres of wetlands; Rodman
Ranch Vineyard owns 162 acres on the south side of the
Nice-Lucerne cutoff and the County of Lake owns 40 acres on the
lake near the Rodman Slough Bridge.
The Trust offers guided walks of the property on Saturdays throughout the year. The Lake County Land Trust's Rodman Slough
project has been featured in both Sunset Magazine (April 2001) and
in Birdscapes (Spring/Summer 2002). The full-color articles tell
the story of the acquisition project and feature beautiful color
photographs of the property and its nesting herons.
Other projects of the Lake County Land Trust include acquisition
of the Black Forest, a 255-acre forest on the slopes of Mt.
Konocti. The trust worked with the Bureau of Land Management and
the State Wildlife Conservation board to secure funding to
purchase the forest. The Land Trust initially purchased the land
with help from private lenders, a loan from Lake Community Bank,
and monthly pledges from 52 individuals dedicated to
preserving the forest. The project was completed in September of
2004 with the Bureau of Land Management now holding title to the
land, which will be dedicated to open space and wildlife habitat.
Also helping with this project was the Resources Legacy Fund
Foundation through its Preserving Wild California Program.
The Trust also owns the 9.5-acre Rabbit Hill and Chaparral
Preserve in Middletown. Rabbit
Hill is located in the midst of Middletown and at one time was a
nature sanctuary established by Mr. and Mrs. Hamann in honor of
their deceased daughter. The property was deeded by the Hamanns to
an out-of-county Audubon Society, but because of the distance it
was difficult for the Society to look after the property so they
were happy to turn it over to the Lake County Land Trust. The
Trust has succeeded in cleaning up the area extensively and a
picnic table has been placed there with the help of the Lake
County Community Services Department. The Trust has also taken
oral histories of Middletown "old-timers" who remember the Hamanns
and the sanctuary. It is hoped that continued local interest will
spur volunteers to help on projects to improve Rabbit Hill.
The goal of
the Lake County Land Trust is to preserve land permanently and
when possible provide public access for aesthetic and recreational
uses. The Trust can hold Conservation Easements which are a
creative way to preserve land in perpetuity while still
maintaining private ownership.
Land trusts are private, non-profit corporations that work to
protect land for various values. Most of the land trusts
nation-wide are involved with protecting land with sensitive and
important natural habitat, although some trusts work to protect
historical properties or scenic areas. The Lake County Land Trust
was formed to protect and preserve wetlands, wildlife habitats,
forests, watersheds, riparian stream corridors, lakeside areas,
and other properties with unique scenic, cultural, agricultural,
educational, or historical value in Lake County, California. The
Trust works only with willing sellers and has no power of eminent
domain. The Trust works cooperatively with landowners, private
groups and governmental agencies. Funding for land acquisition
comes from State and Federal sources as well as private
corporations and donations
The Lake County Land Trust has grown to a 11-member board of
directors and sends out hundreds of newsletters on a quarterly
basis. Donations to the Trust are
tax-deductible and the Trust provides a tax letter to all donors. The Lake County Land Trust
accounts are reviewed every year by a qualified tax consultant.
Pete McGee, Middletown, manager of the Montesol Ranch, is
president; Tom Gilliam, III, of Lakeport, is vice-president;
Jon Ambrose, Hidden Valley Lake, is secretary; and, Kristine Groff,
Lakeport, is treasurer. Other board members include: Michael Friel,
Lower Lake; Nina Marino, Kelseyville; Brad
Barnwell, Lakeport; Roberta Lyons, Lower Lake; Susanne LaFaver, Hidden Valley Lake; Christian Ahlmann, Clearlake; and Tom
Smythe, Kelseyville. Catherine Koehler serves
as the Trust's executive director.
Non Governmental
We are a
non-profit and non-governmental organization that works
cooperatively with land owners, private groups, and governmental
agencies.
