Eastern Sierra Land Trust

EASTERN SIERRA LAND TRUST (TRUST) WORKS WITH WILLING LANDOWNERS TO PROTECT OPEN SPACE AND PRESERVE VITAL LANDS IN INYO, MONO, AND ALPINE COUNTIES IN THE EASTERN SIERRA REGION FOR THEIR SCENIC, RECREATIONAL, HISTORICAL, AGRICULTURAL, BOTANIC, WATERSHED, AND WILDLIFE VALUES.

ESTABLISHED IN 2001, AND RECOGNIZED AS A NATIONALLY-ACCREDITED LAND TRUST IN 2010, WITH A RECENT RENEWAL OF ACCREDITATION IN 2022, THE EASTERN SIERRA LAND TRUST HOLDS ITSELF TO RIGOROUS STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE IN ORDER TO UPHOLD TRUST AND ENSURE THAT OUR CONSERVATION EFFORTS ARE PERMANENT.EASTERN SIERRA LAND TRUST (ESLT) WORKS TO PERMANENTLY SAFEGUARD THE EASTERN SIERRAS TREASURED LANDSCAPES FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. THROUGH CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIPS WITH WILLING LANDOWNERS, WE PROTECT EASTERN SIERRA LANDS FOR THEIR SCENIC, AGRICULTURAL, NATURAL, RECREATIONAL, HISTORIC, AND WATERSHED VALUES. IN OUR 23 YEARS OF SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY, ESLT HAS PROTECTED MORE THAN 23,000 ACRES OF CRITICALLY IMPORTANT WILDLIFE HABITAT, SCENIC MARVELS, AND AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES AGAINST THE THREAT OF POORLY PLANNED DEVELOPMENT AND SPRAWL THROUGH OUR WORKING FARMS AND RANCHES, CRITICAL HABITATS, AND STEWARDSHIP PROGRAMS.

ESLTS COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS PROGRAM PROVIDES PEOPLE OF ALL AGES WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT WITH THE LAND AND CULTIVATE A SPIRIT OF STEWARDSHIP. IN 2023, THE PROGRAM HOSTED 18 PUBLIC EVENTS, CERTIFIED 6 NEW POLLINATOR GARDENS, AND HELD 20 YOUTH EDUCATION EVENTS. PUBLIC EVENTS INCLUDED GARDENFEST, WORLD MIGRATORY DAY NATURALIST WALK, AND INVOLVEMENT IN THE BISHOP PRIDE FESTIVAL AND BLUESAPALOOZA AT MAMMOTH LAKES. ESLT ORGANIZED HIGHWAY CLEANUPS AT HIGHWAY 395 AND PARTICIPATED IN THE GREAT SIERRA RIVER CLEANUP AT THE ARTESIAN WELLS. WITH 6 NEW GARDENS CERTIFIED IN 2023, THE EASTSIDE POLLINATOR GARDEN PROJECT GREW TO A TOTAL OF 171 POLLINATOR GARDENS. POLLINATOR MIXERS WERE ALSO HELD THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER, GATHERING INTERESTED GARDENERS AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.SUNFLOWER KIDS A PROGRAM THAT EDUCATES BISHOP ELEMENTARY THIRD-GRADERS ABOUT POLLINATORS, NATIVE PLANTS, AND GARDENING AND THE EARTH DAY YOUTH ART CONTEST CONTINUED IN 2023.

ESLTS LAND CONSERVATION PROGRAM CONTINUED TO WORK WITH FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL CONSERVATION PARTNERS TO HELP PROTECT PRIVATE LANDS CONTAINING AGRICULTURAL, ECOLOGICAL, HISTORICAL, AND CULTURAL VALUE. IN 2023, ESLT COMPLETED THE DESERT CREEK RANCH CONSERVATION EASEMENT IN NEVADA, PROTECTING 1,128 ACRES OF LAND, UTILIZING PARTNER FUNDING FROM NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION SERVICE (NRCS), NEVADA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE (NDOW), AND A DONATION FROM THE LANDOWNER. ESLT CONTINUED TO MONITOR ITS GROWING PORTFOLIO OF 26 CONSERVATION PROJECTS, TOTALING OVER 21,000 ACRES OF CONSERVED LAND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAND TRUST ALLIANCE STANDARDS AND PRACTICES. THE ORGANIZATION GATHERED VOLUNTEERS FOR STEWARDSHIP DAYS AT CONWAY RANCH AND GREEN CREEK PRESERVE AND MADE SIGNIFICANT HEADWAY WITH INVASIVE WEED MANAGEMENT AND MEADOW RESTORATION. IN ADDITION, THREE RANCH TOURS WERE OFFERED AS PART OF THE 2023 LANDS AND LEGACY CELEBRATION.