Benton Hot Springs Valley Conservation Easement—900 Acres

Location: East of Old Benton, Mono County

Date Completed: Easement purchased in January 2008

Program Area : Working Farms and Ranches

Special Values: This conservation easement, three miles west of Benton, preserves the wildlife habitat, water resources, grazing lands, and scenic vistas found on the property. The property includes extensive alkali meadows on the valley floor, a plant community that is uncommon and declining in other areas; wet meadows, important to many wildlife species; springs, seeps, ponds and creeks creating riparian habitat that supports migrating waterfowl and songbirds, aquatic invertebrates and many other species. The property also includes other natural resources such as upland areas with sagebrush scrub, providing habitat for deer, bobcat, mountain lion and other mammals; and scenic viewsheds from adjacent public lands and state and county roads.

This project was made possible through the support of the California Resources Agency's Sierra Nevada-Cascade Conservation Grant Program, California Farmland Conservancy Program, California Council of Land Trusts, Defenders of Wildlife, ESLT members, and landowner, Bill Bramlette.

Location: Northeast of Mono Lake, adjacent to HWY 167, 6 miles from the Nevada border, Mono County

Date Completed: Easement donated in December 2007

Program Area :Mono Basin

Special Values: This easement preserves the natural habitat and scenic vistas found in the Mono Basin.  The property is about one mile from the Cedar Hills property, which is also an ESLT conservation project.  Wildlife that utilize the property include mule deer, mountain lion, American badger, coyote, black-tail jack rabbit, and others.

Location: Northeast of Mono Lake, Mono County

Date Completed: Subsurface Mineral Rights donated and deed restrictions placed in July 2007

Program Area :Mono Basin

Special Values: This area, known as Cedar Hills, due to the abundance of Utah junipers, is home to pronghorn antelope, sage grouse, mule deer, mountain lions, and many other species of wildlife. 

Subsurface Mineral Rights and Deed Restrictions: Although BLM now owns the property, ESLT was deeded the subsurface mineral rights to ensure that mining will never take place on the land. Also, the deed restrictions that were placed on the property will make certain that the property is managed for its natural habitats and the ESLT is charged with monitoring for the compliance of those restrictions. 

Location: Benton Valley, Mono County

Date Completed: Easement purchased in 2005

Program Area : Working Farms and Ranches

Special Values: On the Montgomery Creek Ranch, organic alfalfa is farmed on prime soils and portions of the ranch are used for cattle grazing. The easement protects the water resources found on the ranch, restricting any export of water from the valley. Originally homesteaded in 1876, the ranch was named after the dramatic 13,441 foot Montgomery Peak, which towers above it.

Big Hot Springs Ranch Conservation Easement - 75 acres

Location: Bridgeport Valley, Mono County

Date Completed: Easement donated in 2005

Program Area : Wildlife and Plant Communities

Special Values: The Big Hot Springs Ranch property borders Scenic Highway 395. Mono Lake mule deer herd and other wildlife utilize the bitterbrush/sagebrush scrub. Pinyon pine and Sierra juniper trees provide good bird habitat. The property is contiguous with expansive meadows and riparian habitat owned by the Big Hot Springs Ranch partners.

Location: Swall Meadows, Southern Mono County

Date Completed: Easement donated in 2004

Program Area : Wildlife and Plant Communities

Special Values: The Lowery Conservation Easement protects winter range and migration corridor for the Round Valley mule deer herd.  Other wildlife such as mountain lion, grey fox, yellow-bellied marmot, golden eagle and more utilize the varied habitats found on the property.  The Lowery easement is bordered on two sides by Inyo National Forest and shares a boundary corner with another ESLT easement property.

Location: Swall Meadows, Southern Mono County

Date Completed: Easement donated in 2003

Program Area : Wildlife and Plant Communities

Special Values: The McAfee Conservation Easement protects critical winter range and migration corridor for the Round Valley mule deer herd.  Other wildlife such as mountain lion, coyote, bobcat, long-tailed weasel, and western rattlesnake utilize the property. Goods stands of antelope bitterbrush provide essential winter food for mule deer. This property borders Inyo National Forest and a deep gorge containing a creek and abundant wildlife habitat.

Location: Swall Meadows, Southern Mono County

Date Completed: Easement donated in 2003

Program Area : Wildlife and Plant Communities

Special Values: The Ingram Conservation Easement protects critical winter range and migration corridor for the Round Valley mule deer herd.  Other wildlife such as mountain lion, grey fox, coyote,western bluebird, red-tail hawks and more utilize the meadows and riparian areas found on the property.  Good stands of antelope bitterbrush provide essential winter food for mule deer. This property shares a property corner with another ESLT easement property.