Land Trust of Santa Cruz County

The Land Trust is hiring a Donor Relations Manager! https://landtrustsantacruz.org/careers/

The Donor Relations Manager will work directly with the Engagement Director to secure funds to support the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County by fulfilling donors’ interests and passions through aligned giving opportunities. This position will be responsible for supporting the Land Trust’s major gifts and planned giving programs.

Bonus perks include getting to enjoy and protect beautiful views like this!

A few weeks ago, a couple of concerned hikers found an abandoned baby skunk on the Yu-Kis trail at San Vicente Redwoods 🦨

The skunk didn’t appear to be injured but was very weak and in need of care. The two hikers scooped up the baby in a sweatshirt and brought it back to the trailhead where they were able to give it some water and seek out help. Our Access Assistant Aaron was onsite and made a quick call to Native Animal Rescue before heading into town to get the baby skunk the care it needed. The folks at Native Animal Rescue were pleased to share that they had a skunk expert on staff that day and accepted the baby with open arms! Aaron says “days like these showcase the collective strength of our incredible community, and I’m grateful to be a part of it.” Thank you to the hikers, Aaron, and of course Native Animal Rescue for caring for our amazing (and very cute 🥰 ) local wildlife!

Native Animal Rescue has a whole page on their website about when to, or not to rescue a baby animal that is very helpful if you ever come across one and are wondering what to do! https://www.nativeanimalrescue.org/to-rescue-or-not-to-rescue/

It is with deep sadness that we share the recent passing of Claire Etienne, a good friend and supporter of the Land Trust. As a part of her legacy, Claire bequeathed her family property in Pleasant Valley to the Land Trust. This historic and quite beautiful land is where her great uncle, Peter Hauer, created the Hauer apple around 1900—one of only two varieties said to have originated in the Pajaro Valley. https://landtrustsantacruz.org/articles/honoring-the-legacy-of-claire-etienne/

Happy 4th of July from these two golden eagles at Rocks Ranch! 🦅

peep those bad boys in the front 👀

Photo thanks to near a bait trap for their wok collaring pumas on the property!

The Land Trust of Santa Cruz County collaborated and worked with local Emergency Medical Service providers for years during the planning phases of the trails at San Vicente Redwoods. Since the trails opened in late 2022, we continue to work together to ensure all is going according to plan. The Land Trust works closely with , County Fire, and Santa Cruz Search and Rescue to ensure their staff are familiar with the trails, access points, and the location of EMS gear.

We recently welcomed CALFIRE Fall Creek Station 31 and Santa Cruz County Fire Company 32 Bonny Doon Fire & Rescue to the trails to try out their new stokes basket litter wheel for patient evacuation. A stokes basket litter wheel is a tool used to rapidly and safely evacuate a patient and get them quickly to an ambulance or hospital. The equipment includes a basket with a wheel on the bottom similar to a bike tire that helps navigate the terrain and smoothly traverse rocks and hills. This evacuation tool is both comfortable for the patient and easy on the rescuers who might hike through difficult terrain for a few miles in the scorching heat or bad weather.

We look forward to more opportunities to sharpen skills and work together. We hope everyone stays safe and recreates in responsible ways. While the stokes basket is comfortable and the EMS professionals are trained, we hope there will be no reason to use it anytime soon. Stay safe everyone!👷

⚠️ HEAT ADVISORY⚠️ Temperatures will be reaching upper 90s to 100 at San Vicente Redwoods this week and weekend. San Vicente Redwoods is a recovering forest on a burn scar from the 2020 CZU fire, and there are areas on all trails that are very exposed to the sun.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO! 

🌲 Check conditions prior to your visit
🌲 Stay indoors during peak hours. Mornings and evenings are the best to be outside if necessary. 
🌲 Bring lots of water!
🌲 Wear comfortable, loose, and cool clothing
🌲 Wear sun protection
🌲 One more time for the people in the back, BRING EXTRA WATER!
 
First Sunday volunteer day update for 7/7/24: We will not be meeting for our volunteer day this month due to the heat advisory. 

The advisory is in effect for most of the county. Signing up for Cruz Aware is a great way to be notified of extreme weather, fire, and other emergency alerts. Be safe out there!

🌈 Celebrating Pride and the beauty of our native wildflowers this month and every month! Whether you’re hiking, biking, or enjoying some flowers, we invite everyone to enjoy and find peace in nature when visiting one of our properties
❤️🧡💛💚🩵💙💜

Swipe to see the full rainbow of our natural landscapes!

Big announcement for Byrne-Milliron Forest visitors: The Byrne-Milliron Forest will be temporarily closed to public access from July 1, 2024 - May 1, 2025 for a sustainable timber harvest.

The Land Trust’s comprehensive forest management plan for the property is based on maintaining stand characteristics that maximize productivity yet are sustainable over time, which is why the Byrne Forest is thriving! Trees are hand selected for removal so that nearby trees can grow more vigorously. Selection depends on the slope, the size of nearby trees, the ease of getting them out, the proximity of creeks, and more. Ecological benefits of selection forestry include improved wildlife habitat and increased carbon sequestration.

The harvest will be conducted by Big Creek Lumber and overseen by Land Trust staff.

These next two weeks are a great opportunity to enjoy the redwoods before the closure. We know this is a big change for our visitors, but we look forward to welcoming you back to a heathy and safe forest in 2025. We will miss you until then!

We'll be sure to post updates about the timber harvest while we are closed, and let you know as soon as we are ready to re-open!

You can learn more about the upcoming sustainable timber harvest on our website: https://landtrustsantacruz.org/protected-areas/byrne-milliron-forest/. Any questions can be directed to our Marketing and Communications Manager Vicki Lowell: [email protected]

County-based W**d Management Areas (WMAs), an initiative of the California Invasive Plant Council, work to stop the spread of invasive plants across California. A newly re-invigorated WMA in Santa Cruz County recently held their general meeting at the Land Trust's Watsonville Slough Farm! https://landtrustsantacruz.org/articles/managing-invasive-plants

The Byrne-Milliron Forest will be CLOSED all day Friday, June 14, 2024 to complete some road improvement work. 🌲

Thank you for your patience and understanding!

For more information, please visit our Byrne-Milliron page on our website: https://landtrustsantacruz.org/protected-areas/byrne-milliron-forest/

Thanks to all of the volunteers that came out to help work on trails with us for National Trails Day! We had hardworking groups at San Vicente Redwoods and Glenwood Open Space Preserve as a part of a huge collaborative effort led by !

At San Vicente Redwoods alone, volunteers cut back vegetation encroaching on over 4,000 feet of trail!

Next time you’re out on the trail, you can thank volunteers for their awesome work!

We're building wildlife connectivity at Rocks Ranch! 🐾 🪨

We protected this 2,600 acre property because it plays an essential part in supporting the Wild Things of our region. Building a wildlife crossing here is the next critical step in establishing linkage between the Santa Cruz and Gabilan Mountain ranges for pumas and other wildlife whose habitats have been increasingly constrained by highways and development.

Wild Things of Santa Cruz County: Wildlife Connectivity We are headed to Rocks Ranch! We protected this 2,600 acre property because it plays an essential part in supporting the Wild Things of our region. Building ...

We’re flying the Santa Cruz County flag up at San Vicente Redwoods!

Our County flag was designed in the early 80s, and has a pretty cool history that is woven in with the history of the official rainbow Pride flag:

“The County flag was designed by Ed Penniman, a Soquel resident. Mr. Penniman stated that the main symbol of the evergreen tree against a white background represents “reverence for nature and growth, upheld by a foundation of optimism and unity.” The five bands in rainbow colors at the bottom of the flag represent the five county districts non-specifically.” -Jens Pattke

“Ironically, a committee formed by the Board (of Supervisors) to recommend a design specifically said it should not contain a rainbow. Former committee member and Santa Cruz historian Sandy Lydon said designs were solicited from local schools. “It was pretty much nothing but rainbows and sea lions,” said Lyon (love this by the way 🥲)

Penniman’s design was sent to Paramount Flag Company in San Francisco for manufacturing where, in another twist, it was produced by the late Gilbert Baker, who created the LGBT rainbow flag that debuted at San Francisco’s 1979 Pride parade.” -Tony Russomanno

We are proud to fly our local flag up at SVR, and welcome everyone to enjoy nature on these amazing trails! 🏳️‍🌈

Happening Tuesday June 4th!

Join us for a Town Hall hosted by the Seymour Marine Discovery Center on Tuesday, June 4 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the La Feliz Room at 100 McAllister Way in Santa Cruz. This event is open to all to learn about the Water & Wildfire Protection Act. Hope to see you there!

Turning ashes from the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fire into beautiful works of art helps draw the connection between climate impacted areas and highlights the fire management taking place at San Vicente Redwoods. This recent From Ashes to Art workshop was a fun way to share stories, talk about trees, learn from one another, swap art tips, and build community! https://landtrustsantacruz.org/articles/from-ashes-to-art-at-san-vicente-redwoods

Thanks to Hilltromper for the story on Rocks Ranch! Love it! 🐾 🪨

Wildlife Crossing to Safety The Land Trust of Santa Cruz County helps mountain lions, badgers and other critters who risk death on highways that bisect their habitats.

We're hiring a Conservation Planning Intern!!
https://landtrustsantacruz.org/careers

The Conservation Planning Intern will assist the Santa Cruz County Planning Department and the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County by advancing two key projects: the creation of a Deed Restriction and Conservation Easement GIS Database, and the analysis of regional plans for resource protection and enhancement. This is a part-time, temporary position that will provide valuable experience in GIS, environmental planning, and resource management.

Applications will be reviewed until June 4th!

Climate change resilience was a core theme for attendees at the campaign launch of the Santa Cruz County Water & Wildfire Protection Act, which will be on the November ballot. The event, held at Corcoran Lagoon in Live Oak on May 17th, showcased support from Senator John Laird, Assemblymembers Gail Pellerin and Dawn Addis, Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley, Watsonville City Councilmember Eduardo Montesino and community leaders from throughout Santa Cruz County.

The Water and Wildfire Protection Act will make essential investments to protect natural water sources, reduce wildfire risks and improve parks and natural areas, as well as protect and enhance the health of the Monterey Bay and our beaches, forests and wildlife habitats. View the press announcement to learn more: https://www.sccforwaterandwildfireprotection.org/news/press-release-launch

The flowers at Bonny Doon Ecological Reserve are calling your name! Come enjoy our trails there before the blooms are gone for the year! 🌼

Join the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County staff this Saturday for a leisurely walk at one of Santa Cruz's birdwatching hotspots: Antonelli Pond!

Register here to join us for this free event!

Birdwatching Walk at Antonelli Pond - May 18 Join Land Trust staff for a guided birdwatching walk at our neighborhood park and urban gem—Antonelli Pond!

Come volunteer at Antonelli Pond on May 25th!

Register to join here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd-YpPXTBao-rzvacAzn8FJKiufIRESDS-qwOIifv2s_G6fhQ/viewform

An incredible shot of the northern lights this weekend near our Morgan Preserve in Scotts Valley! ✨

Though it was barely visible to the eye, this was captured with a long camera exposure to let in all of the light!

Thanks to Tristan for the photo!

Join us in showing your love and support for Santa Cruz County’s Wild Things!

From the Santa Cruz Mountains to the Gabilan Range, we are improving wildlife connectivity by protecting habitats and building wildlife crossings. We’re restoring flood-prone farmland back to wild wetland habitat. And we’re building trails that connect our community to Santa Cruz’s wild spaces. Let’s work together to preserve our outdoor spaces for all wild things, big and small! https://landtrustsantacruz.org/donate

Wild Things of Santa Cruz County Join us in showing your unwavering love and support for Santa Cruz County's Wild Things! From the Santa Cruz Mountains to the Gabilan Range, we are improving...

Learn what our Access and Stewardship staff have been up to recently!
https://landtrustsantacruz.org/articles/spring-access-stewardship-update

Help us spread the word!
https://landtrustsantacruz.org/careers

We are looking for a new team member at the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County to help support the diverse ecosystems of Santa Cruz County! 🌼🐾

We are hiring an Accounting and Membership Clerk to processes financial transactions, compile reports, and provide administrative support for the organization. The Accounting and Membership Clerk works with a high degree of accuracy and confidentiality and communicates clearly and professionally with internal and external stakeholders.

This is a full time in-office position with excellent benefits and a great work environment! The salary range for this position is $24-$30 per hour.

Learn more about the position and how to apply: https://landtrustsantacruz.org/careers

Students from the San Jose Latino College Prep Academy recently got hands-on experience at San Vicente Redwoods! 🌲🌲 Thanks to Climate Resilient Communities for helping to making it happen!
https://landtrustsantacruz.org/articles/students-get-hands-on-experience-at-san-vicente-redwoods

Join us for a big community celebration for National Trails Day on Saturday, June 1 with ! We’re hosting volunteer trail work events at San Vicente Redwoods and Glenwood Open Space Preserve!

Sign up to snag your spot at San Vicente Redwoods here: https://secure.everyaction.com/nmN7rO_BVUa8KoWeJeH6cA2

Or sign up for Glenwood Open Space Preserve here: https://secure.everyaction.com/R_WVCapOrkWvBTmpGhA-2Q2

We’ll spend a few hours maintaining trails, then head over to Woodhouse Blending & Brewing for a well-deserved party.

Expect good times, sunshine, and lots of freebies: all volunteers will receive good karma, plus free lunch, free beer from Woodhouse, and an entry into a volunteer raffle full of outdoor goodies!

Read the recent article about us in Santa Cruz Style about our wildlife crossing projects! 🐾
https://landtrustsantacruz.org/articles/in-santa-cruz-style-getting-from-here-to-there

We are looking for a new team member at the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County to help support the diverse ecosystems of Santa Cruz County! 🌼🐾

We are hiring an Accounting and Membership Clerk to processes financial transactions, compile reports, and provide administrative support for the organization. The Accounting and Membership Clerk works with a high degree of accuracy and confidentiality and communicates clearly and professionally with internal and external stakeholders.

This is a full time in-office position with excellent benefits and a great work environment! The salary range for this position is $24-$30 per hour.

Learn more about the position and how to apply: https://landtrustsantacruz.org/careers

Coverage from SFist on the Highway 17 puma! 🐾 🎉

First Mountain Lion Spotted Going Through Santa Cruz Highway Wildlife Crossing: VIDEO Ten months after the Laurel Curve wildlife tunnel under Highway 17 through the Santa Cruz Mountains was completed, a mountain lion used the crossing for the first time.