The Lake County Land Trust (LCLT) was formed and officially incorporated as a 501 (c) (3) charitable non-profit organization in 1993. A small group of friends, including Susanne Scholz, Roberta Lyons, John Graham, Glenn Dishman, Mary Tulanian-Benson, Michael Friel, Judy Cox, Kim Clymire and Sibyl Day saw the need for expanded conservation efforts in Lake County, and formed the Trust. Our first officers were Mary Tulanian-Benson, Secretary, with the job of filing incorporation papers; Roberta Lyons, President 1993-1999; and Glenn Dishman, who was Treasurer for LCLT’s first seven years. 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. LCLT's first project was completed in 1999 with the acquisition of Rodman Ranch and Preserve on the north shore of Clear Lake at the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff. This 442-acre property bordering Rodman Slough and Clear Lake was well known for its valuable wildlife habitat.  The Rodman Ranch and Preserve, home to one of the largest Great Blue Heron rookeries in Northern California and containing nesting sites for Osprey, Western Grebes, and many other birds and mammals, still remained unprotected.  A variety of development proposals for the property had been presented to the County Planning Department and when LCLT stepped in, the land was for sale and being touted as an excellent site for a housing development, golf course and marina. With the able skills of Lakeport attorney and long-time Kelseyville resident, Peter Windrem, the Trust negotiated an option to purchase the property.  Our very successful "Adopt-A-Nest" campaign brought in nearly $40,000 from mostly local individuals toward the $1.2 million purchase price of the land and enabled the Trust to pay for the option and provided a timeline of one year to accomplish the acquisition. The Lake County Record Bee’s continuous publicity for this campaign 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. It took over a year to purchase the Rodman Ranch and Preserve. Funding sources came from the California Department of Fish and Game through the Wildlife Conservation Board, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the National Fish and Wildlife Service, the County of Lake, and the State Department of Parks and Recreation. The Conservation Fund, a national conservation organization, also assisted the Trust by providing bridge financing until the project could be completed.