Questions About the Conservancy

How can I be assured the 18,000 acres will be preserved in perpetuity?
Who runs the Conservancy?
How is the Conservancy funded?
How much public access is there to the private trails?

Questions About Land Management

What are the Conservancy’s restoration goals?
What is the status of the Cattle Grazing Program? How many cows does the Conservancy have?
How does the Conservancy manage invasive weeds on The Preserve?
What can the people do to enhance the Conservancy’s weed abatement activities?

Questions About Wildlife

How do I clean out my owl box?
How do you educate people on the presence of wildlife in their area, like mountain lions?
Wildlife Best Practices

Q&A

Questions About the Conservancy

How can I be assured the 18,000 acres will be preserved in perpetuity?

The Santa Lucia Preserve design incorporates cutting edge land protection tools including conservation easements and landowner agreements that ensure the permanent protection of over 90% of the total land area of The Preserve. A key element of this design is the Santa Lucia Conservancy, an independent land trust which partners with the landowners and staff of The Preserve to ensure the management, restoration, and protection of our natural habitat, wildlife, and scenic beauty. The Conservancy’s activities are funded by an endowment created through the original development design.

Who runs the Conservancy?

The Santa Lucia Conservancy was created in cooperation with nationally recognized land trusts, The Trust for Public Land (TPL) and The Sonoran Institute. The Sonoran Institute continues to oversee and accept the Conservancy as an affiliate. The non-member Board of Governors have the responsibility to protect the public interest by actively monitoring the ranching, recreational, research, educational and resource management activities, and enforcing the covenants, conditions, and restrictions contained in the grant deeds

How is the Conservancy funded?

The Rancho San Carlos Partnership committed a $25 million endowment to the Conservancy. The Partnership began contributing the endowment in five equal annual installments on December 31, 2004. Until completely funded, the Partnership’s obligation is secured independently appraised real estate. Additionally, the Partnership subsidizes the Conservancy’s operations until the Endowment is fully funded.

How much public access is there to the private trails?

The Conservancy does sponsor escorted hiking tours on The Preserve’s private trails. It is intended that these guided hikes will be small groups and absolute consideration will be taken not to affect the quiet enjoyment of private homeowners.

Questions About Land Management

What are the Conservancy’s restoration goals?

Rather than managing for a specific time in history (i.e. aiming to recreate what existed a hundred or five hundred years ago) our approach is forward-thinking. Our goal is to sustain the health, beauty and biodiversity of the 18,000 acres of protected lands within The Preserve over the next 100+ years, in close partnership with the 300 families who share this land. The Preserve is exceptionally diverse, supporting 5 biomes, over 50 distinct plant communities and over 1,000 species of plants and animals. Managing the land to maintain this diversity and resilience in the face of changing microclimates and new weeds and pathogens is our objective.

What is the status of the Cattle Grazing Program? How many cows does the Conservancy have?

The Conservation Grazing Program is an essential part of our land stewardship program, and we are excited about the early results of the grassland research that is part of the process. Significant reduction in thistle and thatch along the cattle’s grazing path are early indications of positive ecosystem impacts that are resulting from our grazing program. Under Leslie Dorrance’s leadership, the herd is in excellent health, and the grazing team is working well together as they slowly expand the reach and impact of the grazing efforts. The Conservancy’s herd currently includes 42 cattle, and the Dorrance Ranch seasonally lends us additional cows (currently, ~40) to help us meet our habitat goals.

How does the Conservancy manage invasive weeds on The Preserve?

Invasive weeds are rapidly expanding throughout California’s Central Coast, and The Preserve is not immune to this challenge. We are, however, fortunate to have a powerful partnership for weed management, which includes a dedicated Conservancy staff working closely with the Community Services District, Resident Services, landowners and contractors. The Conservancy has a Weed Management Plan with 5 main components:
1. A ‘prohibited plant list’ to avoid new weed infestations from landscaping;
2. A vigorous ‘search and destroy’ effort against ~10 high-impact noxious weed species which have been virtually eradicated from The Preserve;
3. A close partnership with the Community Services District focusing on 3 priority weed types (French broom, poison hemlock, and non-native thistles) with an aggressive treatment along roads and scenic areas and in proximity to sensitive habitat areas;
4. The use of carefully-managed cattle grazing to combat weeds and improve grassland health on approximately 2,000 acres of Wildlands and Openlands;
5. Supporting landowners in identifying and addressing weed infestations in Homelands and Openlands through the creation of a Preserve Landowners’ Guide to Weed Management emphasizing an “early detection, rapid response’ approach to avoiding new infestations.

What can the people do to enhance the Conservancy’s weed abatement activities?

A large number of Preserve landowners are working closely with the Conservancy to manage weeds in Openalnds and Homelands, and their work continues to be instrumental to getting weeds back under control. The Conservancy is in the process of bringing a full-time weed-management expert onto the team to help guide this effort and work in partnership with landowners. We are always available to work with owners on sustainable plans for Openlands weed management.

Questions About Wildlife

How do I clean out my owl box?

For owl boxes that have been used by birds in the previous year, the bedding will appear almost black with owl pellets and other sundry detritus. The material needs to be pulled out and replaced with 2” of fresh pine or alder shavings (no cedar or redwood shavings, the birds won’t use it). Pine shavings can be purchased at Hacienda Hay and Feed on Carmel Valley Road. Some of the owl boxes have hinged tops or bottoms, others may require unscrewing a panel to access the inside.
The chore of cleaning owl boxes should be done by the end of the year so it doesn’t interfere with birds setting up breeding for the spring.

How do you educate people on the presence of wildlife in their area, like mountain lions?

Finding this balance-providing information without creating anxiety-is one of the challenges of our work. Preserve landowners share The Preserve with over 1,000 species of animals and plants, including mountain lions. These iconic animals can be found in rural and residential areas throughout California but are rarely seen as they are quite shy, preferring to avoid people. We reach out to Preserve members and staff with wildlife-related education materials and advisories, Conservancy-led hikes, lectures, trail signs, email advisories, and website information. We are always available to answer questions about mountain lions and other wildlife on The Preserve.

Wildlife Best Practices

Living within a preserve means we are likely to encounter wildlife more frequently than in urban areas. The Conservancy and Preserve have outlined a few guidelines below should you come across our wild neighbors. It’s important to always use your best judgement to minimize risks of bites, scratches or disease transmission.

Injured Wildlife

• If it’s a weekday please call or text the Conservancy office at 831-626-8595.
• If there is no answer, call the SPCA at 831-373-2631. The SPCA will advise on next steps. Depending on the situation, you may be asked to bring the animal in.

Game Species (Deer, Turkey, Quail, Pig)

• All game species are managed by California Fish and Wildlife. Contact the Conservancy office at 831-626-8595.

Bird Strikes

• If a bird hits your home window or car, the best thing you can do is set it in a shaded spot and stay and monitor it for about an hour until it recovers.
• If the bird does not seem to revive and fly away, follow the directions for injured wildlife above.

Bird or Bats in House (Any Time of the Day)

• Shut off all interior lights, open all doors and windows and turn on the outdoor lights. In most cases, the animal will exit without any additional assistance.

Animal Entanglements or Entrapment (i.e. getting stuck in ponds, pools, construction fencing)

• Please reach out to Conservancy immediately. Keep in mind that animals entangled or entrapped are scared and scared animals can be dangerous. Placing a towel or blanket over the animals’ head to cover their eyes will immediately calm them down.
• If you’re advised to handle the animal and are able to (i.e. birds) always be careful of talons, beaks, hoofs, etc. Use your best judgement to minimize risk of bites, scratches or disease transmission.

Baby Animals

• If you come across a fawn in the grass, please leave it. Do not move it or touch it. Fawns are hardwired to stay still and not run. They can be left alone for up to 10 hours a day for the first several weeks of their life, until they can keep up with their mom.
• As a general rule, do not pick up, disturb or touch baby animals because mom is likely nearby.
• When in doubt, reach out to the Conservancy or the SPCA with additional concerns or questions.

Dead Animals

• In the case of a road collision or predator road kill that results in death of predators (i.e. birds of prey, bobcats, coyotes), please notify the Conservancy and they’ll pick up the carcass and send it to the Wildlife Diagnostics Lab in Davis, California, to test for rodenticides and viruses.
• Non-predators, please move the carcass off to the side of the road so it does not attract scavengers and increase the risk of another collision.
• If you hit a large animal (bobcat or larger) please notify Security and they’ll work with the Conservancy.
• If you come across a mountain lion kill (i.e. dead deer) on a trail, please take a photograph and notify the Conservancy. If the carcass is in the middle of the trail, it can be pulled off the trail. However, if it’s not impeding the trail, we recommend leaving the carcass for animals to scavenge.

Loose Cow or Horse

• If you see a cow or horse outside of a fenced, electric, or permanent area please notify Preserve Security. Security will then notify the Conservancy’s cattle team.

Large Predators on Property or on the Trail

• If you think there’s a large predator on your property or on a trail please:
  • Be attentive and aware
  • Ensure pets are on leash
  • Make noise (carry a whistle while hiking), talk or play music
• If you encounter a large predator on property or on a trail, please:
  • Remain calm
  • Make noise
  • Make yourself look big
  • Back away slowly while never turning your back