Did you hear the big news? Keep reading for details about MLT's largest conservation easement to date, find out about upcoming events, and meet some of the young conservationists we have the pleasure of working with this summer.
Banner photo by Gregg Young, Potter Valley Tribe
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Lake Pillsbury and Eel River Lands Protected
MLT's Newest Conservation Easement Preserves Nearly 6,000 acres
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This month, thanks to our supporters, the Mendocino Land Trust completed its LARGEST conservation easement to date! 5,620 acres in the Eel River watershed, including the land around Lake Pillsbury, will now be forever protected from further development and habitat degradation. With the addition of these lands, the total acreage MLT has helped protect since 1976 is nearly 25,000 acres.
While the land protected by this conservation easement continues to be privately owned, MLT is now able to ensure perpetual protection of this rich wildlife area that is home to a great diversity of species. The river supports Chinook salmon and steelhead. Bald eagles and osprey are frequently seen around Lake Pillsbury – as well as a magnificent herd of wild tule elk at the northern end of the lake.
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MLT Welcomes Sean O'Rourke
Conservation Project Manager Joins MLT Team
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We were happy to welcome Sean to the MLT team in June 2022. Passionate about the environment, Sean studied Parks and Natural Resource Management as an undergraduate and immersed himself in several National Outdoor Leadership School wilderness expeditions as well as the study of permaculture. He started his career with the Peninsula Open Space Trust in the Bay Area. Sean’s interests and experience propelled him into a career focused on land use planning, permitting, and resource recovery, including working for the City of Fort Bragg and more recently in the composting industry. Sean moved to the Mendocino coast in 2006 with his wife and three dogs. After a brief hiatus in the Bay Area, Sean and family returned to the coast in 2013. Sean is thrilled and grateful to contribute his knowledge and skills to protect both natural and working landscapes of Mendocino County and beyond. Sean enjoys hiking, hunting for mushrooms, and growing food while watching the hummingbirds and pollinators in the garden.
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Introducing Mia and Khalil!
Interns Join the MLT Team for the Summer
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Khalil and Mia are joining the MLT team for 10 weeks this summer. They will participate in trail building, habitat stewardship, salmon habitat enhancement projects and get a taste of what is involved with documenting conservation values of potential project sites and the application process for a variety of grants.
Mia studies Environmental Studies and Landscape Architecture at the University of Oregon in Eugene. Her family has lived on the Mendocino Coast for several generations. Although Mia grew up in the Bay Area, she has of course visited Mendocino County frequently. She says: “As I’ve grown up coming here, I’ve watched the county grow and change and I’ve realized the importance of conserving the coast for the health and safety of the existing ecosystems and community. The surrounding environment is such a significant part of the culture of the Mendocino coast, and I believe that the Mendocino Land Trust’s goals are a keystone part of preserving that culture and uplifting the local community. It is an honor to have a hand in fostering and continuing that relationship with the coast and the people who reside here.”
Khalil is a student at Reed College majoring in environmental studies. He grew up in Berkeley, California. His interests include conservation science, ecological restoration, land use policy, and global food systems. Khalil has worked for several nonprofits in the Portland area doing outdoor/garden education in low-income schools. Khalil is this year’s Paul Siegel Conservation Internship recipient. We thank Paul and other supporters for funding opportunities that equip the next generation for conservation work.
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Remembering Bill Lemos
Mendocino Loses Long-Time Environmentalist and Teacher
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The Mendocino environmental and land conservation community lost a true great when Bill Lemos passed away in early June. Bill served on the Mendocino Land Trust Board of Trustees and had a leading role in its Big River committee, which shepherded the acquisition by MLT of 7,334 acres in the Big River estuary to protect it from logging. Senior MLT board member Chet Anderson says, “Bill was a great environmentalist. He had a major role in the effort to save Big River and open it up to public access.” In addition to his work with the Mendocino Land Trust, Bill taught at Mendocino High School for many years, where he founded the School of Natural Resources, creating an environment-focused curriculum and leading yearly wilderness trips for students. In 2009, he was elected to the California Outdoors Hall of Fame as the "greatest outdoor educator” – an honor he well deserved. All of us at the Land Trust are grateful for the great work Bill did and will miss his presence in our community.
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MLT Outdoor Social Club outings allow us to celebrate what conservation has accomplished locally and give people a chance to connect to the land in a variety of ways. |
Last minute special - we have space for 11 additional people to join us at our July 9 Nature Journaling class with local artist Mary-Ellen Campbell.
Apologies if you tried to register in the last week and got a message saying registration was closed =( That was Amy's error and she begs your forgiveness for her clumsy form set up. This time if you click the link to register and it says the program is full, it actually is.
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Everyone is invited to our August MLT Social Club "Sunset at Seaside Beach" on August 7. If conditions allow, you are welcome to stick around for stargazing with "Astronomer Gabe". Please RSVP on our event page if you plan to come. Hope to see you there!
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We are having a great time with our Family Field Trips pilot program. So far this year, these free bilingual programs have engaged 108 children and 27 of their caregivers in thoughtful connection to nature. We've hosted trips to to Low Gap park in Ukiah, Little Lake Valley in Willits, and Ten Mile Creek in Laytonville.
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Upcoming Volunteer Days!
Help Improve Habitat at MLT Preserves
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They are young, friendly, and full of energy! Please come and meet them.
Ed Welter, MLT's Stewardship Coordinator says:
"Right now, we can use all the help we can get at Navarro Point. The thistles are flowering, so it's the perfect time to find them and stop them from setting seed. It's also a great time to enjoy the many native wildflowers."
Saturday, July 9 from 9:30 am - 12 pm
Dress to get dirty. Bring gloves and water. Tools will be provided, but if you have a pair of hand clippers that you like using, feel free to bring them. Activities will include pruning along trail and removal of invasive blackberry and ivy. Meet at the south end of the Mendocino College Coast Center parking lot. If you arrive late, wander across the field and down the trail along the creek and you'll find us!
Thursday, July 14 from 10 am - 12 pm
Dress to get dirty. Bring gloves and water. Tools will be provided. Activities will include hacking out invasive thistle and taking in the gorgeous views. View meeting location in Google Maps
Saturday, July 16 from 10 am - 12 pm
Dress to get dirty. Bring gloves and water. Tools will be provided, but if you have a pair of hand clippers that you like using, feel free to bring them. Activities will include pruning along trail and invasive species removal. View meeting location in google maps.
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Nature Appreciation:
Wednesday Weed Day
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About the Theme: In June we decided to focus on weeds (not the "weed" Mendocino County is famed for!) but the undesirable plants that sometimes take over to the detriment of native flora and fauna.
Yes, it is true - you can now view our nature appreciations on MLT's website. We do all we can to protect you from pop-ups asking you to login or create an account. You don't have to be "social" to appreciate nature =)
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Which invasive plant is Art removing? Where did it originate? How did it come to be in California? |
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Read about how MLT volunteers "swept out the broom" along this popular MLT trail |
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Did you know this pretty plant alters the soil making it hard for native plants to reestablish? |
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Do you recognize this displaced relative of a garden favorite? It's invasive AND edible! |
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