The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County (LCSLO) is a non-profit land trust organization that has been operating in San Luis Obispo County, California since 1984. The LCSLO is dedicated to the voluntary and collaborative preservation and improvement of lands that hold significant scenic, agricultural, habitat, and cultural values. Their work aims to benefit both the local community and wildlife that depends on these lands.

Land acquisition, preservation and restoration

The objectives of the LCSLO (Land Conservation and Stewardship Land Office) are as follows:

1. Preservation of vital conservation lands for the benefit of future generations: The LCSLO aims to safeguard significant conservation lands to ensure their availability and integrity for the well-being of future communities.
2. Rehabilitation of deteriorated habitat resources to reinstate their ecological advantages to the environment: The LCSLO strives to restore degraded habitats, thereby revitalizing their environmental benefits and enhancing the overall health of the local ecosystem.
3. Implementation of restoration and management practices for protected conservation lands: The LCSLO is dedicated to executing effective strategies for the restoration and sustainable management of conserved lands, ensuring their long-term viability and ecological functionality.

Land Preservation and Restoration Projects

The LCSLO (Land Conservation and Stewardship Land Office) has actively participated and remains engaged in numerous initiatives focused on land preservation, creek restoration, and dune restoration across various regions in SLO County. These efforts encompass areas such as the north coast, San Luis Obispo Creek, Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes/Black Lake Canyon, as well as Paradise Beach in northern Santa Barbara County.

Examples of Restoration/Preservation Sites/Programs

• The LCSLO (Land Conservation and Stewardship Land Office) has been actively involved in various conservation projects aimed at preserving natural areas and promoting sustainable land use. Here are some notable examples:
  1. Monterey Pine Forest Protection Program: Since 1986, the LCSLO has acquired more than 400 lots in Cambria, California, with the specific goal of safeguarding one of the rare and endemic Monterey Pine forests along the Pacific Coast.
  2. Hidden Springs Farm: Hidden Springs is a family-owned tree farm spanning 55 acres (220,000 m2) in Atascadero, CA. It consists of a combination of agricultural and natural areas, including diverse oak woodlands and a mile-long stretch of Graves Creek. The LCSLO collaborated with the Franks family to preserve the entire 55-acre property, which was zoned for agriculture and the last of its kind within the City of Atascadero. The LCSLO continues to monitor the site for conservation purposes.
  3. Greenbelt Protection Program: Through a partnership with the City of San Luis Obispo, the LCSLO played a role in preserving over 700 acres (2.8 km2) of significant landscapes as part of the visionary City Greenbelt Protection Program. This collaborative conservation project involved protecting 390 acres (1.6 km2) of the Brughelli farm on the south side of town and 315 acres (1.27 km2) of Union Pacific Railroad Properties along West Cuesta Ridge on the north side of town (Stenner Springs). The preservation of these agricultural lands near downtown helps safeguard the headwaters that contribute to local tributaries of SLO Creek. Funding for the project included support from the Department of Defense Army Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) Program with $350,000 provided towards the purchase of the Stenner Springs property.
  4. Reservoir Canyon: This project focuses on a significant streamside property containing a one-mile (1.6 km) stretch of upper San Luis Obispo Creek within a working cattle ranch. The LCSLO took on the restoration of this site after heavy rains caused severe erosion issues. Restoration efforts included the creation of deep shaded pools to provide habitat for steelhead trout, a federally listed threatened species. Before the restoration work began, over 200 steelhead trout were carefully caught and relocated.
  5. Pismo Preserve, Pismo Beach, California: The LCSLO is involved in the creation of the Pismo Preserve, a 900-acre regional park in Pismo Beach. The preserve features over 15 miles of multi-use trails designed for activities such as hiking, cycling, and horseback riding, providing opportunities for outdoor recreation and enjoyment of the natural surroundings.

Conservation planning

The Land Conservancy, or LCSLO, has actively engaged in various policy studies to contribute to informed decision-making and promote responsible land use practices. These studies include the City of San Luis Obispo Greenbelt Plan, a Community Separator Study conducted in 2006, an analysis of outdated subdivisions in rural areas in 2007, and collaborations with SLO County's Agricultural Land Conservation Program.

The LCSLO has specific objectives, which are as follows:

1. Prevent poorly planned development: The organization works to discourage haphazard or unsustainable development practices that could negatively impact natural areas and communities.
2. Protect drinking water sources: Recognizing the importance of clean and accessible drinking water, the LCSLO prioritizes efforts to safeguard water sources from pollution and degradation.
3. Promote family farmlands and ranches: The LCSLO supports the preservation and sustainable management of family-owned agricultural lands and ranches, which contribute to the local economy and cultural heritage.
4. Conduct conservation workshops for landowners and financial/estate planning experts: The LCSLO organizes workshops aimed at providing landowners with valuable information on conservation practices and collaborating with professionals in financial and estate planning to address related considerations.
5. Collaborate on landowner/rancher workshops with the University of California Cooperative Extension and other groups: The LCSLO forms partnerships with organizations like the University of California Cooperative Extension to develop workshops tailored to the needs of landowners and ranchers, fostering knowledge-sharing and promoting sustainable land management practices.

The LCSLO is currently involved in various planning projects, including:

1. Santa Rosa Creek Watershed Conservation Plan
2. San Luis Obispo Creek Fish Passage Improvement Program
3. San Luis Obispo Creek Watershed Enhancement Plan
4. City of San Luis Obispo Greenbelt Planning Project
5. Nipomo Creek Watershed Management Plan

Through these projects, the LCSLO aims to address conservation and enhancement needs in the respective areas, collaborating with stakeholders to achieve sustainable and resilient watershed management.

Education and outreach projects

The Land Conservancy operates a number of activities devoted to educating the public on water conservation, riparian protection, and oak habitat support. Activities are designed to:

• Provide information about and access to outdoor areas to help San Luis Obispo community members develop a personal land ethic and connection to the land.
• Provide meaningful volunteer opportunities for people to help them better understand the importance of land conservation/restoration while helping the Land Conservancy to achieve its goals.
• Collaboration with Growing Grounds Farms. Clients in Growing Grounds Farm's horticultural therapy program (Transitions-Mental Health Association) visit conservation sites to collect and propagate specimens and plant seedlings. The participants recognize that their efforts have value and that these activities provide a special way for them to expand their knowledge and skills while contributing to community conservation efforts.