OPEN SPACES The latest news from the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy
Vol. 11 No. 1
Working to Protect The Ojai Valley’s Future - Today
Summer 2004
Key River Habitat Protected OVLC Now Protecting Over Three Square Miles of the Ojai Valley n April 7, 2004, the Ojai Valley protected by a conservation easement servationists are optimistic this effort Land Conservancy and State and remain with the Wallevik Family will become the cornerstone of a largCoastal Conservancy complet- (see article below). er strategy to work with landowners to ed a thirty-acre land protection effort of Open space advocates and con- safeguard over three miles of the midold growth forest and riparian dle reach of the Ventura River and habitat at the confluence of San lower San Antonio Creek. Long Antonio Creek and the Ventura term, the OVLC plans to link this River. The new preserve will stretch of riparian habitat with the become a unit of the Ventura Rancho El Nido Unit of the River Preserve and is located Preserve, four miles to the north. immediately adjacent to Highway This project was funded by a 33 and the Ojai Valley Bike and $362,000 grant from bonds proBridle Path near Oak View and vided through the California Casitas Springs. voter initiative, Proposition 50. The successful effort means The OVLC also received addithe OVLC will now protect an tional funding for developing a important stretch of endangered management plan and expenses species habitat along with almost associated with completing the one half mile of year round transaction. Please visit www.ovlc.org and stream. The OVLC will own click on the ‘Preserve’ link approximately half the acreage, Wintertime at the confluence of the Ventura River and San Antonio Creek to learn more. while the remaining land will be
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Ranch Family Protects A Portion of Ojai Valley’s Heritage couldn’t have a better neighbor than the an additional 16-acres of land along the Ventura River and “W eConservancy,” explains Lars Wallevik. “We really San Antonio Creek. “The Conservancy staff was so easy to believe in what they are doing to protect this Valley.” Lars’ family has owned a 260-acre ranch along Santa Ana Road since 1982. In addition to high quality riparian and oak/walnut woodlands habitat, a portion of the ranch is used for growing avocados and raising cattle. Last year, the Walleviks decided to sell 14-acres of the ranch along Highway 33 north of Casitas Springs. Even though the escrow Sanne and Lars Wallevik at their ranch. and negotiations can be more Lars’ family worked complicated than a regular real with the Conservancy estate transaction, they chose to to protect the sell the land to the OVLC along Confluence Property with a conservation easement on
work with, very professional,” adds Lars. I recommend contacting them if you are considering ways to conserve your land.” The OVLC and the Walleviks plan to continue their joint conservation work by seeking additional grant opportunities to reduce erosion, remove non-native invasive plants and improve wildlife habitat in the conservation easement area. This collaboration received a big boost when the Wallevik family generously pledged $10,000 toward stewardship of the easement and adjacent preserve. Lars is also talking to neighboring ranch owners about the benefits of working with the OVLC and his wife, Sanne is an invaluable volunteer at the OVLC’s office. Please see page 11 or visit www.ovlc.org and click on the “How To Help” link to learn more about Conservation Easements and how they benefit the community and landowners.