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Spring Newsletter 2013 Volume 20, Number 1
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The Proposed New VALLEY VIEW trails connect to the Pratt and Fuelbreak Road Trails via unmainPRESERVE – It’s Our Backyard! tained U.S. Forest Service trails,
creating dozens of miles of new hiking routes because of the new trail “loops” that would be created. Access to the trails on this property will be permanently protected for the benefit of the community.
The Scenic Backdrop of Ojai Visible above the tree line from most north-south running streets in central Ojai as well as many living room windows and front yards, the golden colored ridge midway up the northern side of the valley is not in the national forest like the green Nordhoff ridge behind it. This land above Shelf Road into which the Ojai Ojai Valley Land Conservancy P.O. Box 1092 • Ojai, CA 93024 370 W. Baldwin Rd. A-4 Tel. 805.649.6852 • Fax 649.8913 info@ovlc.org • www.ovlc.org The proposed Valley View Preserve is the backdrop of downtown Ojai. This property is north of Shelf Road, the golden colored ridge in the photo above. Photo By Gene Berry.
In December, after two the golden colored ridge lying up-
years of negotiation, the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy signed an agreement to buy and permanently protect as publicly accessible open space the largest, most visible private parcel remaining in Ojai. The proposed “Valley View Preserve” measures almost 1 mile east to west, and is roughly ½ mile deep. It is a significant part of the northern backdrop of our community and includes most of
hill of Shelf Road, the most used recreational trail in the Ojai Valley. At 195 acres, this proposed preserve encompasses 7% of the land within Ojai’s city limits. If OVLC is able to raise the $500,000 needed to complete the acquisition, two historic trails on the property will be reclaimed. One travels north from Shelf Road and connects with the historic Foothill Trail. Ultimately these
Board of Directors
Don Reed, President Sandy Buechley, Vice President Cricket Twichell, Secretary Nathan Wallace, Treasurer Mary Bergen Roger Essick Brian Holly Ann Oppenheimer
Staff
Sandy Buechley Margot Griswold Allan Jacobs Barbara Washburn
Greg Gamble, Executive Director Brian Stark, Conservation Director Darcy Gamble, Marketing & Membership Rick Bisaccia, Preserve Manager Marti Reid, Office Manager Lorraine Walter, Watershed Coordinator Todd Bertola, Restoration Technician Ron Singer, Nursery Manager Lauren Ward, Restoration Technician Nick Auringer, Restoration Technician