In celebration of LCLT's 30th anniversary we continue OUR STORY. We started with humble beginnings in Part I, then got our feet wet with our first acquisition in Part II, and boldly worked with many to save Rodman Preserve from development in Part III and the Black Forest in Part IV. In Part V we developed a Conservation Priority Plan. Out of that plan came the decision to concentrate on saving the wetlands in the Big Valley of Kelseyville

The 32 acre Melo Wetland Preserve on Clipper Lane in Big Valley is the first property purchased as part of the Big Valley Wetlands Preservation Project. George and Lisa Melo, owners of the piece, waited six years for the Land Trust to be able to purchase the property.

It took that long for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to adopt a plan called Conceptual Area Protection Plan (CAPP) that the Lake County Land Trust developed in order to facilitate the purchase of lands between Clear Lake State Park and South Lakeport for their habitat value, a project known as the Big Valley Wetlands Preservation Project.

Finally, in 2016, a grant from the Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) was approved and purchase of the land occurred. The Melo Preserve is adjacent to the Holiday Cove development off of Reeves Lane in Big Valley.

It is an incredible wetland with acres of tules, riparian willow and cottonwood, oak trees and shrubbery. It is a place where Great Blue Herons and White Egrets forage and some Great Blues and Double-crested Cormorants can be spotted nesting in the trees on the perimeter of the property. There is a tule studded shoreline and a protected inland waterway that is especially popular with birds of all type. 

The site is open to the public for walking and a flat walking trail has been mowed around the perimeter of the property. During the last two winters of heavy rain, most of the land was flooded, making it even more desirable for birds and waterfowl. Click here for directions.