FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 4/8/08
CONTACT: Larry Freilich, Executive Director (760) 873-4554
Karen Ferrell-Ingram, Lands Director (760) 873-4554
Cheryl Chipman, Investments Opportunities Coordinator (760) 873-4554
The Eastern Sierra Land Trust Awarded Grants from the Sierra Nevada Conservancy
BISHOP--The Eastern Sierra Land Trust has been awarded two grants from the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, an agency of the state of California, for nearly $100,000, to carry out projects in the Eastern Sierra. The grants were awarded from the California Proposition 84 funds, which voters approved in 2007.
The Eastern Sierra Land Trust will receive funding needed to complete a Watershed Assessment and Plan for the East Walker River watershed near Bridgeport, CA. This assessment, the last of four watershed studies in Mono County, will complete work to identify land uses affecting water quality and quantity in all of the County’s major water drainages.
The fundamental goal is to help land managers and owners understand the physical and biological processes related water quality problems within the watershed in sufficient detail to develop strategies for addressing those problems. The study will take into account historical information and current land practices.
Another grant was awarded the Eastern Sierra Land Trust for use in educating the public about the work of land trusts, in general, and more specifically to inform the community about our work in the Eastern Sierra. Our community outreach work includes a public event at the Benton Hot Springs Ranch near Old Benton on May 10th. “Celebrating Conservation”, celebrates the collaboration between rancher Bill Bramlette and the Eastern Sierra Land Trust in the preservation of 900 acres of working ranchland, meadows, and wetlands through the use of a conservation easement. The Benton Hot Springs Ranch easement preserves the important habitat and grazing lands permanently, with no further development or subdivision allowed. The event will include speakers, walking tours, birding opportunities, a BBQ, and a subsequent restoration effort on the land. The public is invited to attend this free event on May 10th, from 3-5 pm to participate in any or all of the activities. For more information call 760-873-4554 or visit www.easternsierralandtrust.org.
“It is an honor to have our programs funded by the Sierra Nevada Conservancy and we thank them for the good work they are doing throughout the Sierra. We look forward to collaborating with our partners to achieve the goals of these two grants, which will really benefit local communities,” stated Eastern Sierra Land Trust Lands Director, Karen Ferrell-Ingram.
The Eastern Sierra Land Trust is a nonprofit organization that works with willing landowners to protect vital lands in the Eastern Sierra for their scenic, recreational, historical, agricultural, botanic, watershed and wildlife values.