KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Lake County Land Trust is embarking on a new campaign to protect the county’s wetlands.
The campaign was announced at the group’s annual spring benefit dinner, held this past Monday at the Saw Shop Gallery Bistro in Kelseyville.
More than 80 people enjoyed the dinner, presented every year by the Saw Shop’s owner, Marie Beery, who donates the dinners, staff time and facility for this important Land Trust fundraiser.
During the dinner attendees learned about the history of the Land Trust and its past and current projects.
They also learned about the new project, dubbed the Big Valley Wetlands, which is an effort to protect some of the last remaining wetlands on Clear Lake.
The campaign is entitled “Protecting the Last of the Great Wetlands,” and it was revealed that the trust is embarking on a campaign to complete the purchase of a 31-acre keystone parcel located on Clipper Lane that includes beautiful native wetland and shoreline forest as well as upland wet meadow, pasture and oaks.
The Land Trust holds an option on the property, valid until March of 2014, to purchase the property for $225,000.
The trust has raised $20,000 towards this purchase and is determined to raise the required funding to complete this transaction.
The Land Trust is working with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife which is reviewing a conservation plan that has been developed by the trust for the Big Valley wetlands area.
Once that plan is approved, funding from different state and federal agencies could become available. Until then, the Land Trust must conduct a local campaign for the property on Clipper Lane.
The Lake County Land Trust is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to the protections of valuable natural habitats in Lake County.
For more information, you can contact trust Executive Director Catherine Koehler at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call Land Trust President Roberta Lyons at 707-994-2024.