Mother Lode Land Trust News
Harvest Party!
This year’s third annual Harvest Party in Jackson, CA was a great success! A collaborative effort between Mother Lode Land Trust, Amador Trails Stewardship, and Zola Exchange, the harvest party is our annual thank you to the community for supporting our conservation efforts and an opportunity to showcase our historic C&C Ranch in Amador County.
Ellie, Amanda, and Bob Dean (MLLT board member) spend time with Smokey Bear.
We were blessed with beautiful sunny weather. Our loyal supporters as well as new friends enjoyed browsing items from local makers and learning about our nonprofit partners. The kids were busy trick-or-treating with the vendors, jumping in the bounce-house, picking out pumpkins, and exploring the community farm. There was plenty of great food and drink from local vendors, and we all enjoyed hanging out with Smokey Bear!
Our new path funded by the Land Trust Alliance Western Innovation Grant improves the accessibility of the community garden.
Bradley Booker and his team worked tirelessly to get the space ready with improvements made possible by our funding partners. We are so thankful the Land Trust Alliance awarded Mother Lode Land Trust a Western Innovation Grant this year to support our efforts to improve the accessibility with a packed gravel trail and two new Grit off-road wheelchairs. The chairs are now available for use by the public to use on less accessible trails. Please contact us if you would like to borrow one of these chairs to explore the outdoors.
Amada Brashear, MLLT’s stewardship director, tries out the Grit freedom chair now available for
public use.
A special thanks goes to Curtis Carl and friends who generously donated their time and talent to provided festive music for the event. Each year’s Harvest Party has been bigger and better than the last. Be sure to join us next year on the third Saturday of October.
Ellie Routt, MLLT’s executive director, getting ready to sell tasty beverages to festival goers.
Fall Festival Fun!
This October MLLT will hold its third annual Harvest Party at the community farm at C&C Ranch in Jackson. Tour the Heritage Rose Garden presented by Master Gardeners of Amador County. Participants can enjoy live music, great local food, vendors, community, and mountain bike rides on the ranch. Thanks to all who have contributed to planning this year’s events. See below for more information.
Bennett Juniper Field Work
Mother Lode Land Trust staff and volunteers traveled to the Bennett Juniper preserve on July 29th and 30th to monitor and work on the property. Participants escaped the heat of the lower elevations to enjoy some beautiful late-blooming wildflowers in the high country.
The Bennett Juniper is the land trust’s newest fee acquisition property. In 2023 MLLT accepted the property from Save the Redwoods League. The 3-acre parcel is surrounded by Stanislaus National Forest in Tuolumne County. The site is publicly accessible from dawn to dusk, when the Forest Service roads are open for the season.
The Bennett Juniper is the largest juniper of any type listed in the National Register of Big Trees. It stands at 78 feet tall with a DBH of 12.7 feet, and is likely to have reached its atypical size because of access to plenty of water from its location in the Sardine Meadow. The magnificent tree is believed to be one of the oldest junipers in the region. While once thought to be as old as 3,000 years, recent interpretations of data place the tree between 2,000 and 2,300 years old.
Staff and volunteers were busy installing signs, adding height to a fence by the tree, repairing a footbridge, and painting benches and bridges. It’s always a treat to be able to work in such a scenic setting.
If you are interested in participating in a volunteer workday, please contact us to be on our contact list. We appreciate partners in protecting special places of the Mother Lode and Central Sierra region.
ARCD Healthy Soils: Restoring Water on Working Lands Event - September 6th
Healthy Soils: Restoring Water on Working Lands
Farmers and ranchers,
join the Tuolumne County Resource Conservation District and conservation partners for a free event to learn about soil and water conservation on working lands in the Sierra Nevada foothills and mountains.
Date: 9/6/2024
Time: 9:30AM - 2:00PM
Location: Tuolumne Community Center - 18411 Bay Ave, Tuolumne, CA 95379
* Water & coffee to be provided. Please bring a lunch.
* Presentations will take place indoors and outdoors, please dress accordingly.
Funding for this event provided by California Department of Food & Agriculture as part of the CDFA Climate Smart Agriculture Programs.
New Bicycle Skills Park Opens to the Public
New Bicycle Skills Park Opens to the Public
A budding partnership between the Mother Lode Land Trust and Amador Trail Stewardship culminated in the May 24th ribbon cutting ceremony of the new Bicycle Skills Park. Riders of all ages came out to celebrate with the community and ride their bikes around the new trails. Rental bikes were also on hand, free of charge for those wanting to try out the park. The new bike park has a track that includes rollers, berms, and balancing features which allow new riders to learn how to safely handle their bikes, develop mountain biking basics, and gather experience to transition to bigger and longer trails. More advanced riders “took to the hill” and rode the more difficult trails on the adjacent 200-acre C&C Ranch. Located at 1334 Jackson Gate Road, the C&C Ranch Bicycle Skills Park is open to the public 7-days a week from dawn to dusk.
This Bicycle Skills Park was made possible through community collaboration and many hours of tireless volunteer work. A Memorandum of Understanding was created between the Mother Lode Land Trust (landowner) and Amador Trail Stewardship (project partner) for the development of the site which enabled Amador Trail Stewardship to secure a $5,000 grant from Athletic Brewing out of San Diego from their “2 for Trails Program” that helped cover the infrastructure costs at the park. Local businesses pitched in with donations or discounted rates to help with construction. Special thanks to: Grady Landscaping, Rubini Tree Service, Jackson Bike and Board, and Coffee Tree for their generous contributions! Amador Trail Stewardship Volunteers and coaches donated time to develop the site. Bradley Booker led the group who in the end most likely broke a record for the most volunteer hours ever worked on a project. Without his hard work, the vision of the Amador Trail Stewardship Board of Directors, none of this would have been possible.
Amador Trail Stewardship (“ATS”) is a local, Amador County based non-profit committed to bringing outdoor recreation opportunities to the residents and visitors of Amador County by providing access to and maintenance of multi-use trail systems the enhance our local economy. ATS’s Amador Mountain Biking Club helps Amador County youth learn the safe practices, skills, and etiquette to become lifelong riders and ambassadors of mountain biking. Amador Mountain Biking Club aims to instill youth with healthy lifestyle practices, empathy and graciousness towards all trail users, and active participation in making positive changes in their community. The new Bicycle Skills park gives the Club a place to introduce youth to their programs. Amador Mountain Biking Club meets each Wednesday at 5:30pm for club rides open to all ages, through August. Visit www.amadortrailstewardship.org for more information.
Mother Lode Land Trust (“MLLT”) is a locally based regional non-profit Land Trust whose mission is to preserve the historic character of the Mother Lode. This is achieved by placing conservation easements on agricultural land and open space; and by purchasing special places outright so the public can enjoy them for generations to come. MLLT owns two Preserves in Amador County that are open to the public for passive recreation: Erickson Ranch in Sutter Creek and C&C Ranch in Jackson. Hiking, mountain bike riding, and horseback riding are all allowed uses on the Preserves. The C&C Ranch on Jackson Gate Road was donated to MLLT in 2011 by the Chichizola-Cuneo Family and is home to the Amador Community Garden, Master Gardener’s Heritage Rose Garden, the Historic Chichizola Store (Zola Exchange), and now the Bicycle Skills Park.
Long Gulch Ranch Trail Trial Horseback Riding Event
Photo by: TomTyshko
Last month, Long Gulch Ranch participated in a two-day Trail Trial horseback riding event. Janet Heuer, a Long Gulch neighbor and volunteer, reported a great turnout. Participants spotted several bears during their pre-rides and enjoyed seeing the deer, rabbits and witnessed a great grey owl hunting in the meadow. It was a successful event with an abundance of laughter, challenging obstacles, and enjoyable scenery. According to Ms. Heuer, “Everyone enjoyed the beautiful rides through Long Gulch and the neighboring ranches. The weather was perfect, the streams were running and the green meadows boasted wildflowers.”
In preparation for the event, Ms. Heuer and her team of volunteers worked hard to clear the overgrown trail that connects to Forest Service land. Now the trail can be enjoyed by visitors. A big thank you to Ms. Heuer and her team for all their hard work on the trail!
Mother Lode Land Trust is pleased to offer passive recreational uses such as horseback riding and nature observation at Long Gulch Ranch. We look forward to further collaboration with neighbors and other users of Long Gulch Ranch including citizen science projects and youth events.
Long Gulch Ranch is a 576-acre Mother Lode Land Trust owned property protected for open space and wildlife habitat near Pine Mountain Lake, outside of Groveland, CA. It is available for passive recreational uses from dawn to dusk.
Photo by: TomTyshko
We would like more communities to have access to natural areas like Long Gulch Ranch. If you support our mission, please consider visiting our donation page to support us in our efforts to protect more special spaces for the enjoyment of future generations.
Revitalizing the Chichizola Store
We at the Mother Lode Land Trust (MLLT) are excited to share the vision and progress of the revitalization of the Chichizola Historic Site. Nestled in California's gold country, this site holds historical significance and the potential to become even more of vibrant hub for education and community engagement.
The Chichizola Historic Site tells the story of Augustino Chichizola, who established a general store in 1850. The site evolved, becoming a vital part of the community until its closure in the late 1970s. Today, it stands as a testament to the resilience of those who shaped the history of the Mother Lode region.
At MLLT, we recognize the importance of preserving our heritage while making it accessible to all community members. We're undertaking capital projects to transform the Chichizola Historic Site into a welcoming and educational space, especially for children from schools in Amador and Calaveras counties.
Our proposed capital projects aim to address the site's current limitations, including safety concerns and inadequate facilities. These improvements will enhance the site's functionality and pave the way for educational programs and activities.
Community outreach lies at the heart of our efforts. We've been actively engaging with local schools, community groups, and organizations to ensure that the revitalized Chichizola Historic Site meets the needs and interests of our target population. Through partnerships and collaborations, we're working to create enriching experiences for visitors of all ages and backgrounds.
Our ultimate goal is to create a safe, vibrant, and inclusive space where history comes alive and communities come together. With the completion of the capital projects, we envision a future where the Chichizola Historic Site serves as a beacon of education, inspiration, and empowerment for generations to come.
Stay tuned for updates, stories, and opportunities to get involved. Together, we can preserve the past, enrich the present, and build a brighter future for all.
Stay connected with MLLT and the Chichizola Historic Site project by following our blog and social media channels. Together, let's write the next chapter in the history of our community.
More classes!
Zola, the creative force behind the local community center located at the CnC Ranch, is constantly expanding the range of classes offered to cater to diverse interests.
Among the latest additions to the schedule are knitting, pine needle basket weaving, and purse making. These hands-on workshops provide participants with opportunities to explore their artistic side and learn new skills while creating unique handmade items.
Last weekend, despite the rainy weather, Zola and a group of talented makers organized a makers market in the charming wagon barn during the Master Gardener's event. The weather conditions may have posed a challenge, but it didn't dampen the spirits of the participants or the enthusiasm of the attendees.
Each maker showcased their unique creations, ranging from intricate knitted garments to skillfully woven pine needle baskets and handcrafted purses. The event was a resounding success, with each maker selling multiple items and thoroughly enjoying the communal atmosphere within the cozy barn. The makers market not only provided a platform for local artisans to share their work but also fostered a sense of community and appreciation for handmade goods.
Healthy soils for grazing lands
Amador RCD Healthy Soils Program is hosting an educational field day June 5th at PT Ranch, near Ione, for ranchers, grazing land managers and owners on range seeding planning considerations and cultivating healthy soil for forage production in the Sierra Nevada region. There will be a number of speakers presenting on various related topics. Click here to register.
Ratto Ranch Earth Day "Wildflower Walk" on Table Mountain-
Tuolumne County Land Trust Press Release- April 3, 2024
Ratto Ranch Earth Day "Wildflower Walk" on Table Mountain-
On April 20, the public will have an opportunity to visit this historic private ranch, and celebrate the 10th anniversary of the conservation easement. The Tuolumne County Land Trust and Mother Lode Land Trust are hosting the event which will showcase Table Mountain and other features on the 240 acre property. The unique wildflowers, vernal pools, and geology will be explored along with the ranch operations and film history. The event begins at 10 am at 10500 Ratto Road and will end at 3pm. Glen White and Jeff Tolhurst, from Columbia College will join other topic experts in guided tours of the property.
Come prepared for a moderate hike and the weather. Bring your camera, sturdy shoes (that may get wet), a lunch, water, and other needed personal items. Please carpool if possible, since parking is limited. There will be no charge for this family-friendly event, but donations are welcome. Please arrive before 10am for the registration and orientation.
Ratto Ranch is located about 2 miles from Sonora in the Shaws Flat area. Take Jamestown Rd. to Ratto Road. The ranch is at the end of the 1/2 mile paved road. Call 209.743.2033 with questions.
Ratto Ranch Conservation Easement-
Since 1985, the Tuolumne County Land Trust (TCLT) has been working to protect special places in Tuolumne County. In 2014, TCLT completed a conservation easement protecting the natural, agricultural, and historic values of the Ratto Ranch. The organization completed a video about this project and the benefits of conservation easements. This 15 minute video is available for presentation by request and is also available for sale.
TCLT is an all-volunteer organization with non-profit (501c3) status. The board of directors meet monthly, on the 2nd Wednesday of each month. TCLT currently has openings to serve on the board of directors. The organization relies on donations and volunteers to accomplish its mission. If you are interested, please contact the land trust at; tuolumnecountylandtrust@yahoo.com or phone (209) 743-2033.
Brian Kermeen, President
Tuolumne County Land Trust
happy spring
Happy Spring!
Spring has sprung on the C&C Ranch, an MLLT 180-acre ranch in Jackson, CA. On a recent sunny March day I took an early spring monitoring walk to observe the greening up of the property and document conditions.
Monitoring is an important part of a land trust’s work. It involves the inspection of a property to ensure its conserved values are protected. Typically notes of observations and photos are taken to document conditions or changes.
This year, house finches, acorn woodpeckers, jays, geese, turkey, deer, and signs of coyote were spotted. Blue dicks, rusty popcorn flower, common fiddleneck, and buckbrush ceanothus are some of the early wildflowers in bloom.
We are getting ready to monitor the rest of our conserved properties throughout our five-county service area and are looking for volunteers to help us out. Volunteers get a chance to visit some amazing, protected areas while doing meaningful work. It involves driving to site (sometimes remote), meeting with landowners, walking around the property, documenting changes, and taking photos. Volunteers can choose which sites they want to visit. Contact Amanda if you think this is an opportunity for you (amanda.motherlodelandtrust@gmail.com).
Spring ahead at the C and C Ranch
As spring rolls in we welcome the blossoms, blooms, and the new season’s offerings. At the C and C ranch property in Jackson, an exciting season is also budding ahead.
Community garden plots are available for reservation now, and soon the site will be full of new plant starts and anticipation. To reserve a garden bed, please visit: https://motherlodelandtrust.org/community-garden
An accessible pathway from the parking lot is being planned and is slated for spring construction, making the access to the garden beds and prop house smooth. Along with the development, we are acquiring 2 adaptive trail chairs for tours of our property. Stay tuned for more details as the program dates and details are announced.
To the west of Jackson Gate road, a park and open space are being established, including a bicycle skills park thanks to a partnership with Amador Trail Stewardship. Last year the group developed the foundation for the park when they hosted a youth cycling league at the ranch. After being awarded grant funding, the group is making safety and access improvements to open the site to the public. Stay tuned for the opening dates, information on the league can be found at https://www.amadortrailstewardship.org/ambc
If you have not stopped by the garden site, it’s time to plan a visit. Upcoming events include:
Plant sale
Rose garden tours
New adventures at the historic store
The Zola Exchange is an artistic cooperative housed in the historic Chichizola family store complex, owned and stewarded by the Mother Lode Land Trust. The Zola Exchange continues the legacy of the Chichizola family by bringing community together in what was the first general store in Amador County. Zola Exchange is a place where creatives artists and makers come together to sell their creations and share their passions, Zola Exchange encompass selling spaces, class space, exhibit space and eventually museum space displaying artifacts and information about the Chichizola's.
Alicia Barber, the Creative Director and founder of Zola speaks with passion about the opening of this community resource where she says, "We look forward to providing an experience and space where people can exchange thoughts, creations, and knowledge with our community. A place where artists of all styles and experiences can come together to teach, learn and grow or simply let their creative ideas flow
Zola Exchange is open Tuesday-Saturday 11-4:30
1324 Jackson Gate Rd. Jackson Ca. 95642
For space rental, class schedules, or other
information please
E-mail zolaexchange@gmail.com
$3.4 million available for farmers looking to improve soil health!
The following exciting opportunity was forwarded to us by Anna Mariscal, the Healthy Soils Natural Resources Specialist with Amador Resource Conservation District.
Are you an agricultural producer in Nevada, Placer, El Dorado, Amador, Alpine, Calaveras, Tuolumne, or Sacramento counties interested in improving your soil health? The Central Sierra Healthy Soils Program will offer free technical assistance and has $3.4 million available for direct-to-farmer grants from California Department of Food and Agriculture! To learn more and submit an interest form, check out our website: www.centralsierrahsp.com.
The Central Sierra Healthy Soils Program is pleased to share that we have received $4M in funding from the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Healthy Soils Program Block Grant in partnership with Resource Conservation Districts in seven counties in the Central Sierra. This funding is dedicated to providing free technical assistance and distributing $3.4 million in direct-to-farmer grants to improve soil health for farmers and ranchers in Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, El Dorado, Amador, Calaveras, Tuolumne, and Alpine counties. This project is administered in collaboration with the Placer Resource Conservation District, Amador Resource Conservation District, and El Dorado & Georgetown Divide Resource Conservation Districts.
This funding will ensure that at least one project is awarded in each of these eight counties. Additionally, at least 25% of the budget is allocated to producers who identify as Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers (SDFRs), for which multilanguage assistance and services will be provided when necessary. After these requirements have been fulfilled, the remaining project funding and support will be approved on a first-come, first-served basis.
Agricultural producers operating in the counties mentioned above who are interested in receiving free technical assistance, working to improve soil health, and implementing conservation practices on their farm or ranch can fill out an interest form at the following link: Central Sierra Healthy Soils Program"
Translation services are available!
#centralsierrahsp #healthysoilsprogram #sierrafoothills #centralvalley
CDFA link: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064489252558
The Future is Now: Preserving the Mother Lode Region's Natural Heritage
The Future is Now: Preserving the Mother Lode Region's Natural Heritage
Long Gulch Ranch in Tuolumne County-Once Slated for Development Now Protected and Open to the Public
The Mother Lode Land Trust has dedicated decades to facilitating the conservation of properties for future generations, helping with the preservation of the natural beauty of the Mother Lode Region. Despite protecting over 12,000 acres, our work is far from complete, as we strive to safeguard the agricultural and natural landscapes that define our rural region. Unfortunately, critical areas of habitat and agricultural lands continue to be lost to the encroaching tides of suburban-style development.
Bay Area Development that could be the future of the Mother Lode Region
However, there is hope in the form of conservation easements (CEs). These permanent deed restrictions placed on properties by individual landowners prohibit further development, ensuring that the land remains protected even after it changes ownership. This powerful tool offers an effective means of safeguarding our region's heritage and preserving it for generations to come.
Where we see the future?
The Value of Preserving Your Land
Land holds immense value, both monetarily and sentimentally. While society assigns dollar amounts to properties through appraisals, we attribute deeply personal and communal values to the land. Recognizing the significance of both real estate and cultural values, the Mother Lode Land Trust works within these dual realms to conserve our natural treasures.
For many landowners, the desire to protect their properties stems from a combination of financial and emotional considerations. Conservation easements offer tangible financial benefits, such as tax incentives and potential funding opportunities. However, it is often the deep attachment to the land, the love of its natural beauty and the memories it holds, that seals the decision to pursue a conservation easement.
By partnering with the Mother Lode Land Trust, landowners can simultaneously secure financial benefits and derive personal satisfaction from their conservation efforts. We provide unparalleled support throughout the process, ensuring that your wishes are honored and your land remains protected for generations to come.
Join Us in Shaping the Future
Donated Conservation Easement near Sutter Creek
If you share our vision of preserving the Mother Lode Region's natural landscapes for future generations, we invite you to join our cause. Contact the Mother Lode Land Trust today to explore how you can protect your family's property from future development while potentially securing funding opportunities.
As part of our commitment to community engagement, we are actively conducting planning and outreach programs. Keep an eye out for upcoming public meetings in Calaveras County, where we will share insights into our initiatives and provide further information on how you can get involved.
Together, we can ensure that the future of the Mother Lode Region remains as extraordinary as its history.
Happy 2024!
As I write this short note, winter has yet to arrive in full force. But, looking back to the beginning of 2023 we know the snow can arrive with a vengeance! While the snowpack in the Sierra was record setting for 2023 we have been working hard at setting new records ourselves. Here at the Mother Lode Land Trust we have had more public engagement and more public events than ever before. Thanks to people like yourself we have had many victories in fundraising, events, outreach and new land acquisition.
Newly Protected Long Gulch Ranch
Land Acquisition
The California Strategic Growth Council approved a Sustainable Lands Conservation Program grant last month providing the remaining funding needed to permanently protect an additional 319 acres in the Pine Mountain Lake area outside of Groveland. Earlier, MLLT received the first half of the funding from Sierra Nevada Conservancy through their Strategic Land Conservation program. Together, these two agencies will make it possible to expand the existing Long Gulch Preserve to 895 acres—protecting an important agricultural resource, providing recreational opportunities for residents, and ensuring long-term conservation of habitat for great gray owl and other species.
The global headquarters for the Mother Lode Land Trust , the historic Chichizola and Cuneo Ranch has been the site of community garden expansion, a new mountain bike club, a new store manager and continued successful partnership with our partners like the Rose Garden, Amador Trail Stewardship, and Master Gardeners.
Photo by Karen Orso
Our newly acquired Erickson Ranch, an oak dotted property with beautiful views of the High Sierra and the Valley is being well used by the community. A special thanks to Karen Orso for the amazing photo of the hawk above!
This includes our partners Amador County Library, California State Library and Wild Intent Yoga who have been hosting free yoga classes on the property in Sutter Creek.
Finally, we have reached a lot of land owners with our outreach program, which is designed to help us to spread the word about our conservation efforts to folks throughout our region. Our next outreach meeting is being planned for Mokelumne Hill. Stay tuned for details!
As always, we could not do any of this without the continued support of individuals like yourself. Please consider making a tax deductible donation today!
Thank you for a great year and all your support of the Mother Lode Land Trust!
319 Acres Protected
The California Strategic Growth Council approved a Sustainable Lands Conservation Program grant last week providing the remaining funding needed to permanently protect an additional 319 acres in the Pine Mountain Lake area outside of Groveland. Earlier this year MLLT received the first half of the funding from Sierra Nevada Conservancy through their Strategic Land Conservation program. Together, these two agencies will make it possible to expand the existing Long Gulch Preserve to 895 acres—protecting an important agricultural resource, providing recreational opportunities for residents, and ensuring long-term conservation of habitat for great gray owl and other species.
Stay tuned for updates on this exciting project including when MLLT purchases the property, the Long Gulch expansion area opens to public access, and we’ll have volunteer work crew opportunities.
These big conservation wins are made possible by supporters like you. Land trusts depend on donations for the many hours of back-end work including researching conservation opportunities,negotiating with landowners, applying for land acquisition grants, and maintaining protected lands. Your continued support results in protected acres!
You Make Giving Tuesday!
November 28th is Giving Tuesday
Nationwide the land trust network is rising to new levels helping landowners conserve and protect their properties for future generations. Thanks to people like you the Mother Lode Land Trust is also on the rise! We have now protected over 12,000 acres of land in the Mother Lode region of the Sierra Nevada. With a dedicated staff, board, and volunteer network we have also expanded public access and environmental education.
Our increased action and success depends on help from people like you. That is why we are asking folks to donate to the Mother Lode Land Trust on Giving Tuesday, November 28! The Amador Community Foundation will match a portion of your Giving Tuesday donation helping your dollar do even more! We have big plans for the coming year, and we need your help to make these plans happen!
Exciting Events at C&C Ranch
Harvest Party
This October MLLT held its second annual Harvest Party at the community farm at C&C Ranch in Jackson.
Thanks to all who contributed to the event’s success. The day began at the Heritage Rose Garden with a well-attended California native plants class presented by Master Gardeners of Amador County.
Participants learned about choosing and caring for native plants in their home gardens. Later, the Rose Garden committee hosted open garden day tours and a heritage rose sale to promote the use of the rare heritage rose varieties in our region.
Next, the crowds arrived to enjoy live music, great local food, vendors, pumpkin decorating, community, and mountain bike rides on the ranch.
C&C Ranch Improvements
Last week Briski Well Drilling drilled our new well allowing the expansion of the community farm at C&C Ranch. This project was the first phase of the community farm expansion project funded by the California Farmland Conservancy Program land improvement grant from California Department of Conservation. The purpose of the grant is to enhance long-term sustainable agricultural uses of protected land. The next phases of the project include new fencing and native plant, oak, and pollinator plantings. Stay tuned for more project updates!
Land use planning and private land conservation
In a perfect world there would be no need for a land trust organization like the Mother Lode Land Trust. Unfortunately, we are far from a perfect world. The need for a land trust is due to a lack of good comprehensive planning. Ideally, we could plan our cities and towns in a way that would provide for the needed open space and working lands. Our plans could maintain a sense of rural character and protect for biodiversity. But we have proven our inability to plan our communities in a way that works. Right now, in California, the richest state in the union, we see some of the largest homeless populations ever.
“Homelessness continues to grow in California: nationally, California has topped the list for the state with the largest homeless population for more than a decade. As of 2022, 30% of all people in the United States experiencing homelessness resided in California, including half of all unsheltered people (115,491 in California; 233,832 in the US).”(Public Policy Institute of California)
At the same time we also see continued fragmentation and development of our farmland. “California is losing 50,000 acres of agricultural land annually, according to the California Department of Conservation” (American Farmland Trust)
The Mother Lode Land Trust was not created to solve homeless but to conserve working lands in the Motherlode Region of California. The reasons that we are still needed, now more than ever, is the lack of long-range planning through out California. The State of California has consistently punted hard land use issues to the local municipalities.
In California, we are simultaneously failing at meeting basic housing needs and conserving finite resources. Current planning practices enable land-hungry luxury housing developments that contribute to these two leading problems of the state: homelessness and loss of habitat and agricultural land
Landowners themselves have the most durable defense against poor planning practices—conservation easements. Even governments cannot easily overturn private land that is protected by a conservation easement. On the other hand, if your land is simply designated or zoned as agricultural land then the elected officials can change that designation and zoning, even if you, the private landowner, disagree with their actions.
As we can see from the results of our sprawling car dependent communities it doesn’t appear that our planning process is running smoothly. When it comes to protecting your family’s heritage ranch, farm or working forest you cannot rely on the planning process to protect it.
This is where the Mother Lode Land Trust comes into play. We work with the private landowner to develop a conservation easement that once adopted by the two parties, and filed with the local government, the land becomes protected forever. If you are interested in finding out more about getting a conservation easement of your property please attend our meeting on October 18, at 6pm at the City Hall in Plymouth.
