Carrizo Plain Conservancy

LAND CONSERVATION, EDUCATION, AND RESTORATION. THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUED RESTORATION PROJECTS ON OWNED LANDS, AND CONTINUED RESTORATION ACTIVITIES ON AN HISTORIC HOUSE OWNED BY THE NATURE CONSERVANCY. WE PURCHASED 24 LAND PARCELS TOTALING 60 ACRES IN AN OLD SUBDIVISION NEAR CARRIZO PLAIN NATIONAL MONUMENT AND RESTRICTED THOSE PARCELS TO PERMANENT OPEN SPACE USES. WE ALSO HELD THE FIFTH CONFERENCE KNOWN AS THE CARRIZO COLLOQUIUM DESCRIBING RECENT RESEARCH INTO NATURAL HISTORY ISSUES IN AND NEAR THE MONUMENT. THIS CONFERENCE WAS ATTENDED BY APPROXIMATELY 50 INTERESTED INDIVIDUALS.

THE ORGANIZATION PURCHASED 24 LAND PARCELS FROM A WILLING SELLER IN AN OLD SUBDIVISION NEAR CARRIZO PLAIN NATIONAL MONUMENT KNOWN AS CALIFORNIA VALLEY. THESE PARCELS ARE EACH 2.5 ACRES IN SIZE. THUS THE TOTAL ACREAGE PURCHASED WAS 60 ACRES. THE PURCHASE PRICE WAS $2,000 PER PARCEL FOR A TOTAL OF $48,000 PLUS CLOSING COSTS. THE ORGANIZATION PAID A DEPOSIT OF $5,000 AT THE BEGINNING OF THE ESCROW. THESE FUNDS WERE REPAID BY A GRANT FROM THE NATURE CONSERVANCY. NATURE CONSERVANCY ALSO PAID THE BALANCE OF THE PURCHASE PRICE AND CLOSING COSTS DIRECTLY TO THE ESCROW AND NOT TO THE ORGANIZATION.

THE ORGANIZATION DONATED $25,000 TO THE NATURE CONSERVANCY IN SUPPORT OF THAT ORGANIZATION'S PURCHASE OF A LARGE RANCH AT THE NORTHERN END OF THE CARRIZO PLAIN, IN JUNE 2022. IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE PROPERTY WILL BE PLACED INTO PERMANENT CONSERVATION AND MAY POSSIBLY BE TRANSFERRED TO A PUBLIC AGENCY OR AGENCIES IN THE FUTURE.

THE ORGANIZATION PARTNERED WITH ANOTHER ORGANIZATION TO HOST THE FIFTH CARRIZO COLLOQUIUM. THIS IS A CONFERENCE OF PERSONS INTERESTED IN NATURAL HISTORY AND OTHER ASPECTS OF THE CARRIZO PLAIN NATIONAL MONUMENT AND NEARBY CONSERVED LANDS. IT WAS A ONE DAY EVENT AND WAS ATTENDED BY APPROXIMATELY 50 PERSONS. THE COLLOQUIUM HAD BEEN DELAYED FROM 2021 DUE TO COVID RESTRICTIONS. FUNDS TO COVER THE COSTS OF THE COLLOQUIUM HAD BEEN PROVIDED BY SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS IN 2021.

THE ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN PARTNERING WITH THE NATURE CONSERVANCY WHICH OWNS A HISTORIC RANCH HOUSE IN CARRIZO PLAIN NATIONAL MONUMENT AND NEEDS CERTAIN STRUCTURAL AND COSMETIC IMPROVEMENTS TO MAKE IT USABLE FOR VISITORS. WORK IN 2022 WAS SUSPENDED DUE TO THE DISCOVERY THAT THE WELL SUPPLYING WATER TO THE HOUSE HAD A DAMAGED WELL CASING WHICH WILL NECESSITATE REPLACEMENT OF THE WELL. NECESSARY REVIEWS AND PERMITS ARE BEING OBTAINED TO UNDERTAKE THE NEW WELL INSTALLATION WHICH IS EXPECTED TO OCCUR IN 2023. A DEPOSIT OF $5,000 WAS MADE TO THE WELL DRILLING CONTRACTOR.