THE LAND CONSERVANCY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY

Featured Project: Lieff Alamo Creek Ranch

Conservation Donation and Working Partnership Completes Lieff Alamo Creek Ranch Project

In an act of keen vision and extraordinary generosity, landowners Bob & Gretchen Lieff have entered into a voluntary conservation agreement with The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County to permanently protect 250 acres of their rugged and beautiful south county ranch.  The landmark donation was completed in October 2009 and is the first phase of a two phase project – the second phase involved an additional 1,750 acres owned by the Lieff's that is habitat-rich, oak-studded ranchland. The Land Conservancy secured funding through a partnership with the California Wildlife Conservation Board. This partnership allowed us to complete the second phase of this project in November 2010 preserving a working ranch in perpetuity.

The Lieff Alamo Creek Ranch is immediately adjacent to Los Padres National Forest and sits in the shadows of Stanley Peak where it drains to Alamo Creek and the Cuyama River below.  With fantastic oak woodland, including coast live oak, blue oak, and valley oak, as well as areas of coastal scrub, chaparral, and serpentine soils, the Lieff Alamo Creek Ranch exhibits rich habitat diversity that supports abundant flora and fauna.  The property also contains about 38 acres of Class I and II soils in an alluvial plain where the Lieff's will continue to organically farm Syrah and Grenache vines, two Rhone grape varietals that have become popular with wine aficionados in recent years.

“We are honored to become conservation partners with Bob & Gretchen Lieff by working together to achieve their vision for this magnificent ranch.  They have a go-for-it attitude and have been rock solid in their commitment to this project.  We look forward to continuing our work with them and Wildlife Conservation Board in 2010 to permanently protect the entire ranch for the future.” – Bob Hill, Executive Director

To find out how a conservation easement can help preserve your ranch for continued agricultural use, visit the LANDOWNERS section of this website, or call our office at (805) 544-9096.  You can help support local conservation like this by joining as a member or making a donation.

If you are not a landowner and like projects like the Lieff Alamo Creek Ranch consider one of the follow ideas to help us complete more projects like this.

• Make a donation or renew your membership with LCSLO
• Volunteer during field work days, special events or on a committee
• Give a gift membership to a friend
• Consider including LCSLO in your estate plans
• Pass this Link or information on to a friend
• The more people who know about what we do the better chance we have
  of continued success on projects like this..