Dear friends,

Our first real storm of the season arrived Monday, more strident than the brief drenching of a couple of weeks ago. And just like that, in unison, the abundance of buckeyes on the north-facing slope across from my house have dropped their leaves. The earth is now carpeted in rust, and the buckeyes’ spindly branches cast a silver sheen. At our preserves, you might notice the fall vibrance of the sycamores, the acorns underfoot, and the rich scent of the newly damp soil. This season reminds us of nature’s resilience—and of the critical work we do to protect it.

In this issue of Currents, you’ll read about the California Council of Land Trusts awarding $1 million in grants to advance climate action and 30x30 goals—a tremendous boost for land trusts across our state, including SRT. We're also spotlighting recent work on fire resilience, as our team took part in the 2024 San Luis Obispo Prescribed Fire Training Exchange to bring essential fire management practices to our lands in the Carrizo Plain.

Other stories in this issue highlight the transformative experience of young people from Allensworth on a field trip with our staff in the Carrizo, our ongoing native plant conservation efforts, and the recent success of Proposition 4—an important win for conservation, wildfire prevention, and water security. We’re also thrilled to introduce you to the newest members of our SRT staff and to provide a preview of our upcoming year-end campaign, featuring our new Trailblazer Guide. Plus, don’t miss details on upcoming events at SRT, where we hope to connect with you.

We extend our deepest gratitude to the generations before us who have cared for the lands and waters of this unique region, and as always to you for the steadfast support that enables Sequoia Riverlands Trust to continue this vital work!

My best,

Logan

Logan Robertson Huecker, Executive Director, SRT

CCLT Awards $1M in Grants to Support Land Trusts' Climate and 30x30 Goals

The California Council of Land Trusts (CCLT) has awarded $1M in funding to 11 land trusts as part of the Capacity Building Grant Program to support land trusts and their partners in advancing the goals of 30x30 and the Natural and Working Lands Climate Smart Strategy (NWLCSS), and in building and sustaining partnerships.

CCLT received 54 applications, with requests of almost $6 million for a $1.1 million pool of available funds. Grants were awarded in four categories: 1) Organizational Capacity Building, 2) Building and Sustaining Partnerships, 3) Strategic Planning for Natural and Working Lands Climate Smart Strategy & 30x30, and 4) Demonstration Projects. Generous support for this grant program is provided by the California Department of Conservation through the Climate Smart Lands Management Program.

Sequoia Riverlands Trust has been awarded this grant alongside the 10 other land trusts. Out of the $1.1 million, SRT was awarded $75,000 which will go towards this specific region & need:

Geography: Tulare & San Luis Obispo Counties
Grant Purpose: Strategic Planning, Capacity Building, and Tribal Partnerships for the San Joaquin Valley and Carrizo Plain

Allensworth Summer Program Field Trip at the Carrizo

In July, SRT co-hosted a field trip with the California Valley Solar Ranch (CVSR) for the Allensworth Summer Program. The Allensworth Summer Program brought together young minds from Allensworth, Alpaugh, and Richgrove, all between the ages of 12 and 15, to explore innovative agricultural practices. The program had a particular focus on agricultural land repurposing and how it can be used to help achieve groundwater sustainability and provide multiple benefits to the well-being of the community, economy, and environment.

During the summer field trip, the students visited the CVSR facility in the Carrizo Plain to see how large-scale solar energy production, one potential use for repurposed agricultural land, can be conducted in an ecologically minded way. CVSR staff explained how the solar facility generated electricity and Ian Axsom, SRT’s Carrizo Land Steward, discussed the strategies used that allow wildlife to coexist within the solar arrays. These included arranging the solar arrays outside of important wildlife habitat areas, using fencing that allows medium and small animals to pass into the arrays, and seeding native vegetation under the solar panels. The students learned how these approaches have allowed many native species, including San Joaquin kit fox, giant kangaroo rat and San Joaquin antelope squirrel, to thrive in and around the solar facility while it provides low carbon energy for our communities. The students were engaged throughout the visit, asking thoughtful questions about the solar facility and the local wildlife.

The field trip and the broader Allensworth Summer Program got the young participants thinking critically about our collective land use and how we can design systems that provide for both human and wildlife needs, ultimately bettering the future for all.

Native Plant Spotlight

Eriogonum fasciculatum AKA California Buckwheat

California Buckwheat can be found gracing the hills at our beautiful Dry Creek Preserve. These evergreen shrubs bloom profusely from spring - fall. We absolutely love watching the blooms change colors throughout the seasons; from white, to pink, and finally this beautiful mahogany color in the fall time. These flowers are great for both fresh and dry flower arrangements.

These Buckwheats grow large, about 4' tall and 4' - 6' wide. They require very low water once they've been established, can handle full sun, and grow in almost any soil type.

Click below to view our inventory and check out Dry Creek Nursery!

View our Inventory!

Building Fire-Resilient Landscapes: SRT's Participation in the 2024 San Luis Obispo Prescribed Fire Training Exchange

In recent years, agencies, land owners and conservationists have acknowledged the need for more frequent controlled burns in California ecosystems to decrease the accumulation of dangerous fuels, improve ecological health, and restore landscapes that were once shaped by regular fires.

The San Luis Obispo Prescribed Fire Training Exchange (TREX) unites a variety of participants, including professional fire practitioners, tribal members, ranchers, land managers, and community members for 8 days of training in prescribed fire techniques and hands-on burning experience. This training event fosters important connections and networks, strengthening local capacity for fire management with the aim of increasing the use of prescribed fire in the Central Coast region, while keeping community values in mind.

SRT has been interested in using prescribed fire to benefit the lands we manage and so we were excited at the opportunity to participate in SLO TREX this October both as a land manager and our own Carrizo Land Steward, Ian Axsom, as a student in the training.

SRT managed lands in the Carrizo Plain served as one of two locations for the hands-on training. The SLO TREX crew burned nearly 200 acres of grassland on SRT lands, giving the students experience in a variety of skills,including firing and holding operations, burn unit preparation and mop-up, and taking on leadership assignments. The management goals of this fire were to control invasive species and promote the growth of native plants by removing dead vegetation and reducing competition and increasing the availability of soil nutrients. SRT Biologists will be collecting data on plant species occurring in the burned area next spring to compare to data collected last spring to allow us to track the progression of the plant community post-burn.

“The 2024 SLO TREX was an amazing training opportunity that gave me hands-on experience with basic prescribed fire operations and connected me with other people involved in bringing back good fire to our lands.” Ian Axsom says. “The training and the connections have given myself and SRT a foundation for incorporating prescribed fire into our land management, with the goal of improving the health of our lands.” Ian was able to qualify for Firefighter Type 2, a basic wildland firefighter certification through the SLO TREX, and he and SRT are looking forward to participating in future TREX training.

SLO TREX students burn tumbleweeds along fence.

SLO TREX students holding controlled fire at road

SLO TREX student leaders gather to discuss the burn plan for 200 acres of SRT managed lands in the Carrizo Plain

SLO TREX students and instructor observe the flames as the controlled fire moves through a section of grassland

Carrizo Land Steward Ian Axsom and other SLO TREX students on a training burn

SLO Trex students burn grassland invasive species

Evening Under the Oaks Recap

To view all the pictures from the evening, click here.

Meet Our New Team Members: Exciting Additions to Our Organization

Karen Vang, Finance Director

Tanner Statham, Land Stewardship Associate

Emily Boettger, Land Protection Outreach Specialist

Introducing SRT's Trailblazer Guide

As we close out another incredible year, we’re excited to announce the launch of SRT's Trailblazer Guide—a special year-end campaign designed to guide you through impactful opportunities to make a difference. In the coming weeks, be on the lookout for exclusive emails and mailings with all the details on how you can join us in blazing new trails, supporting our mission, and finishing the year strong.

SRT's Trailblazer Guide

Prop 4 Victory: A Win for Conservation, Wildfire Prevention, and Water Security

Last week's election will have complex implications for conservation programs at the federal level, but at the state level, we're thrilled to see that Prop 4 won a resounding victory. We're grateful that voters have approved critical funding to prevent wildfires, provide clean and safe drinking water, and protect irreplaceable natural and working lands. Among other investments, Prop 4 includes $200 million for the Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program (MLRP), which supports partnerships with willing landowners to conserve and restore retired agricultural land. SRT is actively working with current MLRP block grantees in the Southern San Joaquin Valley, and we hope that this additional funding will provide more opportunities to collaborate with farmers and other stakeholders on solutions to our region's challenges. We'll have more updates in the new year, but for now, we just want to thank everyone who helped to get Prop 4 across the finish line!