The Rodman Preserve
Rodman Preserve is open
The Lake County Land Trust’s Rodman Preserve at 6350 Westlake Rd. near Upper Lake will be open on Saturdays as of Feb. 4, 2023. Visitors are welcome on Saturday mornings and afternoons from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Please be aware that if conditions change due to rain and trails become impassable, the Preserve will once again close.
The Lake County Land Trust’s Rodman Preserve at 6350 Westlake Rd. near Upper Lake will be open on Saturdays as of Feb. 4, 2023. Visitors are welcome on Saturday mornings and afternoons from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Please be aware that if conditions change due to rain and trails become impassable, the Preserve will once again close.
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Sarah Brady of The Bird Rescue Center of Sonoma County releasing rehabilitated osprey released back into the wild at the Rodman Preserve . Video credit: Bob Schoenherr
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More about Rodman
The main purpose of this acquisition project was to preserve the natural habitat of the Rodman Ranch and to facilitate the continued health and existence of the many nesting, breeding, and feeding areas for wildlife.
The Trust manages the property for wildlife values and has a standing committee involved with trail development, signage, and management. The property is not open to the public on an unrestricted basis because of the sensitivity of wildlife habitat, but the Trust provides public access when requested and during special events. The goal is to develop appropriate trails, signage, and public access areas that are compatible with the needs of wildlife.
Self guided nature walks are held here every Saturday of the month. The Rodman Preserve gate will be open from 10 am - 2 pm. The preserve offers a moderate one and a half mile walk where visitors will see birdlife and even some mammals like foxes and coyotes. A Land Trust volunteer will be present at the nature center to welcome guests. Special field trips can be arranged by contacting the Lake County Land Trust. As funding and volunteer participation becomes available the hours of the center will be expanded.
For a map of Rodman Preserve, please click here.
The Trust manages the property for wildlife values and has a standing committee involved with trail development, signage, and management. The property is not open to the public on an unrestricted basis because of the sensitivity of wildlife habitat, but the Trust provides public access when requested and during special events. The goal is to develop appropriate trails, signage, and public access areas that are compatible with the needs of wildlife.
Self guided nature walks are held here every Saturday of the month. The Rodman Preserve gate will be open from 10 am - 2 pm. The preserve offers a moderate one and a half mile walk where visitors will see birdlife and even some mammals like foxes and coyotes. A Land Trust volunteer will be present at the nature center to welcome guests. Special field trips can be arranged by contacting the Lake County Land Trust. As funding and volunteer participation becomes available the hours of the center will be expanded.
For a map of Rodman Preserve, please click here.
Native California bunch grasses continue to flourish at the Rodman Preserve
By Roberta Lyons, LCLT board of trustees
The over 200 acre property known as the Rodman Preserve is a beautiful area of upland oak habitat and open meadows which feature a variety of grasses and forbes. Fortunately among the plethora of “non-native” grasses are also thriving numerous native California bunch grasses.
Thanks to the expertise of former Executive Director and now board member, Catherine Koehler, who is a general ecologist but also specializes in California’s native forbes and grasses, at least five different species of native bunch grasses have been identified on the preserve including: California Purple Needle Grass (Stipa pulchra); Squirrel Tail (Elymus elymoides); California Brome (Bromus carinatus) and Blue Wild Rye (Elymus Glaucous).
It has been amazing and heartening to find so many native grasses on this property and the result has been the creation of a modest native grass restoration project. Seeds from the grasses at Rodman Preserve have been collected, grown to seedlings, and then transplanted at the preserve. The current and most productive plan, however, is to hand weed around the biggest patches of native grasses that have been identified. This is an on-going project and the Land Trust is continuing to search for volunteers to participate in this project. The long term goal is to create a California native grass prairie at the preserve. Please join us in this effort.
By Roberta Lyons, LCLT board of trustees
The over 200 acre property known as the Rodman Preserve is a beautiful area of upland oak habitat and open meadows which feature a variety of grasses and forbes. Fortunately among the plethora of “non-native” grasses are also thriving numerous native California bunch grasses.
Thanks to the expertise of former Executive Director and now board member, Catherine Koehler, who is a general ecologist but also specializes in California’s native forbes and grasses, at least five different species of native bunch grasses have been identified on the preserve including: California Purple Needle Grass (Stipa pulchra); Squirrel Tail (Elymus elymoides); California Brome (Bromus carinatus) and Blue Wild Rye (Elymus Glaucous).
It has been amazing and heartening to find so many native grasses on this property and the result has been the creation of a modest native grass restoration project. Seeds from the grasses at Rodman Preserve have been collected, grown to seedlings, and then transplanted at the preserve. The current and most productive plan, however, is to hand weed around the biggest patches of native grasses that have been identified. This is an on-going project and the Land Trust is continuing to search for volunteers to participate in this project. The long term goal is to create a California native grass prairie at the preserve. Please join us in this effort.
Please enjoy the following YouTube video for drone footage and additional information about the Rodman Preserve. Video produced and narrated by LCLT member Bob Schoenherr.
